Dīghajāṇusutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.54

Numbered Discourses 8.54

6. Gotamīvagga

6. Gotamī

Dīghajāṇusutta

With Dīghajāṇu

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā koliyesu viharati kakkarapattaṁ nāma koliyānaṁ nigamo.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Koliyans, where they have a town named Kakkarapatta.

Atha kho dīghajāṇu koliyaputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho dīghajāṇu koliyaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Dīghajāṇu the Koliyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“mayaṁ, bhante, gihī kāmabhogino puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasāma, kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhoma, mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayāma, jātarūparajataṁ sādayāma.

“Sir, we are laypeople who enjoy sensual pleasures and living at home with our children. We use sandalwood imported from Kāsi, we wear garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and we accept gold and currency.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, bhagavā amhākaṁ tathā dhammaṁ desetu ye amhākaṁ assu dhammā diṭṭhadhammahitāya diṭṭhadhammasukhāya, samparāyahitāya samparāyasukhāyā”ti.

May the Buddha please teach us the Dhamma in a way that leads to our welfare and happiness in this life and lives to come.”

“Cattārome, byagghapajja, dhammā kulaputtassa diṭṭhadhammahitāya saṁvattanti diṭṭhadhammasukhāya.

“Byagghapajja, these four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Uṭṭhānasampadā, ārakkhasampadā, kalyāṇamittatā, samajīvitā.

Accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, uṭṭhānasampadā?

And what is accomplishment in initiative?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto yena kammaṭṭhānena jīvikaṁ kappeti—

It’s when a gentleman earns a living by means such as

yadi kasiyā, yadi vaṇijjāya, yadi gorakkhena, yadi issattena, yadi rājaporisena, yadi sippaññatarena—

farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, or one of the professions.

tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

He understands how to go about these things in order to complete and organize the work.

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, uṭṭhānasampadā.

This is called accomplishment in initiative.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, ārakkhasampadā?

And what is accomplishment in protection?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputtassa bhogā honti uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā, sedāvakkhittā, dhammikā dhammaladdhā.

It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.

Te ārakkhena guttiyā sampādeti:

He ensures it is guarded and protected, thinking:

‘kinti me ime bhoge neva rājāno hareyyuṁ, na corā hareyyuṁ, na aggi ḍaheyya, na udakaṁ vaheyya, na appiyā dāyādā hareyyun’ti.

‘How can I prevent my wealth from being taken by rulers or bandits, consumed by fire, swept away by flood, or taken by unloved heirs?’

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, ārakkhasampadā.

This is called accomplishment in protection.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, kalyāṇamittatā?

And what is accomplishment in good friendship?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto yasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā paṭivasati, tattha ye te honti—gahapatī vā gahapatiputtā vā daharā vā vuddhasīlino, vuddhā vā vuddhasīlino, saddhāsampannā, sīlasampannā, cāgasampannā, paññāsampannā—tehi saddhiṁ santiṭṭhati sallapati sākacchaṁ samāpajjati; yathārūpānaṁ saddhāsampannānaṁ saddhāsampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ sīlasampannānaṁ sīlasampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ cāgasampannānaṁ cāgasampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ paññāsampannānaṁ paññāsampadaṁ anusikkhati.

It’s when a gentleman resides in a town or village. And in that place there are householders or their children who may be young or old, but are mature in conduct, accomplished in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. He associates with them, converses and engages in discussion. And he emulates the same kind of accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, kalyāṇamittatā.

This is called accomplishment in good friendship.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, samajīvitā?

And what is accomplishment in balanced finances?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

It’s when a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’

Seyyathāpi, byagghapajja, tulādhāro vā tulādhārantevāsī vā tulaṁ paggahetvā jānāti: ‘ettakena vā onataṁ, ettakena vā unnatan’ti;

It’s like an appraiser or their apprentice who, holding up the scales, knows that it’s low by this much or high by this much.

evamevaṁ kho, byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

In the same way, a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’

Sacāyaṁ, byagghapajja, kulaputto appāyo samāno uḷāraṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘udumbarakhādīvāyaṁ kulaputto bhoge khādatī’ti.

If a gentleman has little income but an opulent life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman eats their wealth like a fig-eater!’

Sace panāyaṁ, byagghapajja, kulaputto mahāyo samāno kasiraṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘ajeṭṭhamaraṇaṁvāyaṁ kulaputto marissatī’ti.

If a gentleman has a large income but a spartan life, there’ll be some who say: ‘This gentleman is starving themselves to death!’

Yato ca khoyaṁ, byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā, samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

But a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too frugal, thinking, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, samajīvitā.

This is called accomplishment in balanced finances.

Evaṁ samuppannānaṁ, byagghapajja, bhogānaṁ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—

There are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.

itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko.

Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.

Seyyathāpi, byagghapajja, mahato taḷākassa cattāri ceva āyamukhāni, cattāri ca apāyamukhāni.

Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains.

Tassa puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni vivareyya;

And someone was to open up the drains and close off the inlets,

devo ca na sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya.

and the heavens don’t provide enough rain.

Evañhi tassa, byagghapajja, mahato taḷākassa parihāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no vuddhi;

You’d expect that large reservoir to dwindle, not expand.

evamevaṁ, byagghapajja, evaṁ samuppannānaṁ bhogānaṁ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—

In the same way, there are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way.

itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko.

Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates.

Evaṁ samuppannānaṁ, byagghapajja, bhogānaṁ cattāri āyamukhāni honti—

There are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.

na itthidhutto, na surādhutto, na akkhadhutto, kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.

Seyyathāpi, byagghapajja, mahato taḷākassa cattāri ceva āyamukhāni, cattāri ca apāyamukhāni.

Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains.

Tassa puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya;

And someone was to open up the inlets and close off the drains,

devo ca sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya.

and the heavens provide plenty of rain.

Evañhi tassa, byagghapajja, mahato taḷākassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni;

You’d expect that large reservoir to expand, not dwindle.

evamevaṁ kho, byagghapajja, evaṁ samuppannānaṁ bhogānaṁ cattāri āyamukhāni honti—

In the same way, there are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way.

na itthidhutto, na surādhutto, na akkhadhutto, kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates.

Ime kho, byagghapajja, cattāro dhammā kulaputtassa diṭṭhadhammahitāya saṁvattanti diṭṭhadhammasukhāya.

These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life.

Cattārome, byagghapajja, dhammā kulaputtassa samparāyahitāya saṁvattanti samparāyasukhāya.

These four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Saddhāsampadā, sīlasampadā, cāgasampadā, paññāsampadā.

Accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, saddhāsampadā?

And what is accomplishment in faith?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:

It’s when a gentleman has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:

‘itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, saddhāsampadā.

This is called accomplishment in faith.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, sīlasampadā?

And what is accomplishment in ethics?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti.

It’s when a gentleman doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, sīlasampadā.

This is called accomplishment in ethics.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, cāgasampadā?

And what is accomplishment in generosity?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.

It’s when a gentleman lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, cāgasampadā.

This is called accomplishment in generosity.

Katamā ca, byagghapajja, paññāsampadā?

And what is accomplishment in wisdom?

Idha, byagghapajja, kulaputto paññavā hoti, udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

It’s when a gentleman is wise. He has the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Ayaṁ vuccati, byagghapajja, paññāsampadā.

This is called accomplishment in wisdom.

Ime kho, byagghapajja, cattāro dhammā kulaputtassa samparāyahitāya saṁvattanti samparāyasukhāyāti.

These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in lives to come.

Uṭṭhātā kammadheyyesu,

They’re enterprising in the workplace,

appamatto vidhānavā;

diligent in managing things,

Samaṁ kappeti jīvikaṁ,

they balance their finances,

sambhataṁ anurakkhati.

and preserve their wealth.

Saddho sīlena sampanno,

Faithful, accomplished in ethics,

vadaññū vītamaccharo;

bountiful, rid of stinginess,

Niccaṁ maggaṁ visodheti,

they always purify the path

sotthānaṁ samparāyikaṁ.

to well-being in lives to come.

Iccete aṭṭha dhammā ca,

And so these eight qualities

saddhassa gharamesino;

of a faithful householder of discernment

Akkhātā saccanāmena,

are declared by the one who is truly named

ubhayattha sukhāvahā.

to lead to happiness in both spheres,

Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya,

welfare and benefit in this life,

samparāyasukhāya ca;

and happiness in lives to come.

Evametaṁ gahaṭṭhānaṁ,

This is how, for a householder,

cāgo puññaṁ pavaḍḍhatī”ti.

merit grows by generosity.”

Catutthaṁ.