The wise restrained in body, restrained in speech, restrained in mind — they are truly well-restrained.

Kāyena saṃvutā dhīrā atho vācāya saṃvutā manasā saṃvutā dhīrā — restrained in body, speech, and mind: the triple restraint that closes sequence 231-234. The three fields covered separately unite in the final synthesis.

Te ve suparisaṃvutā — they are truly well-restrained: su-parisaṃvuta is completely well-restrained, perfectly contained. The prefix su- indicates quality: not mere restraint but excellent restraint.

The closing of the anger vagga with this verse is significant. Anger (the chapter’s theme) can only be truly overcome when restraint encompasses all three fields of experience: body, speech, and mind. Partial restraint — bodily only, or verbal only — leaves cracks through which anger can manifest.

This triple discipline is the foundation of Buddhist sīla and corresponds exactly to the three doors of action (kamma) recognized by the tradition. The chapter on anger closes not with suppression of anger but with integral discipline that makes it unnecessary.