Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

3: The Book of the Threes

45. The Wise

1"Bhikkhus, there are these three things prescribed by the wise, prescribed by good people. What three? (1) Giving is prescribed by the wise, prescribed by good people. (2) The going forth is prescribed by the wise, prescribed by good people. (3) Attending upon one's mother and father is prescribed by the wise, prescribed by good people. These three things are prescribed by the wise, prescribed by good people."

2Good people prescribe giving,
harmlessness, self-control, and self-taming,
service to one's mother and father
and to the peaceful followers of the spiritual life. [n.404] Mp explains santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ as referring to those who support their parents (idha pana mātāpitu-upaṭṭhākā adhippetā), but I see the expression as referring to monastics, either as the recipients of service (upaṭṭhānaṁ) or of the giving (dānaṁ) mentioned in pāda a. Mp further construes santānaṁ as genitive plural of sant, "good, virtuous" (Mp: uttamaṭṭhena santānaṁ), but it is more likely to be "peaceful," from Skt śānta. Santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ is also at SN 1:10, I 5,4, where Spk I 28.2, glosses it with santakilesānaṁ paṇḍitānaṁ vā, "those with pacified defilements or wise ones." The Chinese parallel SĀ 995 (at T II 260c29) has , which means that in this transmission santānaṁ came down as Skt śāntānaṁ.

3These are the deeds of the good
which the wise person should pursue.
The noble one possessed of vision
goes to an auspicious world.

1"Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Dānaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Pabbajjā, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattā sappurisapaññattā. Mātāpitūnaṁ, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānaṁ paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattānīti.

2Sabbhi dānaṁ upaññattaṁ,
ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo;
Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṁ,
santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ.

3Sataṁ etāni ṭhānāni,
yāni sevetha paṇḍito;
Ariyo dassanasampanno,
sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan"ti.


Pañcamaṁ.

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