Quick observation

Venerable Ānanda approached venerable Sāriputta, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

Friend, Sāriputta, how does the bhikkhu become a quick observer of meritorious things, thoroughly grasping a lot of them and not forget them.

Venerable Ānanda is learned. Could venerable Ānanda himself explain this?

Then, friend Sāriputta, listen carefully and attend!

Here, friend, Sāriputta the bhikkhu becomes clever in meanings, clever in the Teaching, clever in words, clever in roots and clever in the past and the future. Friend, with this much the bhikkhu becomes a quick observer of meritorious things, thoroughly grasping a lot of them does not forget them.

Friend, it is wonderful and surprising. These are good words of venerable Ānanda. We will remember venerable Ānanda as endowed with these five things. Venerable Ānanda is clever in meanings, clever in the Teaching, clever in words, clever in roots and clever in the past and the future.