1"Bhikkhus, there are these four cases of deeds.[n.796] The Pāli word ṭhāna can mean place, possibility, occasion, situation, cause, case, etc. Mp glosses it with kāraṇa. To convey the appropriate meaning, I here render it sometimes as "case of a deed" and sometimes simply as "deed." What four? (1) There is a deed that is disagreeable to do which will prove harmful. (2) There is a deed that is disagreeable to do which will prove beneficial. (3) There is a deed that is agreeable to do which will prove harmful. (4) There is a deed that is agreeable to do which will prove beneficial.

1"Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni. Katamāni cattāri? Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati. Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati.

2(1) "Bhikkhus, take first the case of the deed that is disagreeable to do which will prove harmful. One considers that this deed should not be done on both grounds: because it is disagreeable to do and because it will prove harmful. One considers that this deed should not be done on both grounds.

2Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati – idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva na kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; imināpi naṁ na kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati; imināpi naṁ na kattabbaṁ maññati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva na kattabbaṁ maññati.

3(2) "Next, take the case of the deed that is disagreeable to do which will prove beneficial. It is in this case that one can understand who is a fool and who is a wise person in regard to manly strength, manly energy, and manly exertion. The fool does not reflect thus: ‘Although this deed is disagreeable to do, still it will prove beneficial.’ So he does not do that deed, and his refraining from it proves harmful. But the wise person does reflect thus: ‘Although this deed is disagreeable to do, still it will prove beneficial.’ So he does that deed, and it proves beneficial.

3Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati – imasmiṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhāne bālo ca paṇḍito ca veditabbo purisathāme purisavīriye purisaparakkame. Na, bhikkhave, bālo iti paṭisañcikkhati:  ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ na karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ akayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Paṇḍito ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati:  ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati.

4(3) "Next, take the case of the deed that is agreeable to do which will prove harmful. It is in this case, too, that one can understand who is a fool and who is a wise person in regard to manly strength, manly energy, and manly exertion. The fool does not reflect thus: ‘Although this deed is agreeable to do, still it will prove harmful.’ So he does that deed, and it proves harmful. But the wise person does reflect thus: ‘Although this deed is agreeable to do, still it will prove harmful.’ So he does not do that deed, and his refraining from it proves beneficial.

4Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati – imasmimpi, bhikkhave, ṭhāne bālo ca paṇḍito ca veditabbo purisathāme purisavīriye purisaparakkame. Na, bhikkhave, bālo iti paṭisañcikkhati:  ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Paṇḍito ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati:  ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ na karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ akayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati.

5(4) "Next, take the case of the deed that is agreeable to do which will prove beneficial. This deed is considered one that should be done on both grounds: because it is agreeable to do and because it proves beneficial. This deed is considered one that should be done on both grounds.

5Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ, tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati – idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ, imināpi naṁ kattabbaṁ maññati; yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati, imināpi naṁ kattabbaṁ maññati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva kattabbaṁ maññati.

"These, bhikkhus, are the four cases of deeds."

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri ṭhānānī"ti.

Pañcamaṁ.