4: The Book of the Fours
61. Worthy Deeds
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Blessed One …. The Blessed One said to him:
2"Householder, there are these four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world. What four?
(1) "One thinks: ‘May wealth come to me righteously!’ This is the first thing in the world that is wished for … and rarely gained in the world.
3(2) "Having gained wealth righteously, one thinks: ‘May fame come to me and to my relatives and preceptors!’ [n.744] Saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehi. In Buddhist monastic culture, the upajjhāya is the senior monk who presides over one's ordination. Thus the use of the word here, in a non-monastic context, is unusual. Mp explains the word in this passage as if it means friends, "because one's friends should be concerned about one's happiness and suffering (sukhadukkhesu upanijjhāyitabbattā)," but this explanation depends on an unconvincing word play. Upajjhāya is not connected to the verb upanijjhāyati (Skt upanidhyāyati), "to think of, to consider," but to ajjheti (Skt adhyeti), "to study, to learn from (a teacher)." This is the second thing … rarely gained in the world.
4(3) "Having gained wealth righteously and having gained fame for oneself and for one's relatives and preceptors, one thinks: ‘May I live long and enjoy a long life span!’ This is the third thing … rarely gained in the world.
5(4) "Having gained wealth righteously, having gained fame for oneself and for one's relatives and preceptors, living long and enjoying a long life span, one thinks: ‘With the breakup of the body, after death, may I be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world!’ This is the fourth thing … rarely gained in the world.
"These are the four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.
6"There are, householder, four other things that lead to obtaining those four things. What four? Accomplishment in faith, accomplishment in virtuous behavior, accomplishment in generosity, and accomplishment in wisdom.
7(1) "And what, householder, is accomplishment in faith? Here, a noble disciple is endowed with faith; he places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus: ‘The Blessed One is an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ This is called accomplishment in faith.
8(2) "And what is accomplishment in virtuous behavior? Here, a noble disciple abstains from the destruction of life … abstains from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness. This is called accomplishment in virtuous behavior.
9(3) "And what is accomplishment in generosity? Here, a noble disciple dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of miserliness, freely generous, openhanded, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing. This is called accomplishment in generosity.
10(4) "And what is accomplishment in wisdom? If one dwells with a heart overcome by longing and unrighteous greed, one does what should be avoided and neglects one's duty, so that one's fame and happiness are spoiled. If one dwells with a heart overcome by ill will … by dullness and drowsiness … by restlessness and remorse … by doubt, one does what should be avoided and neglects one's duty, so that one's fame and happiness are spoiled.
11"When, householder, a noble disciple has understood thus: ‘Longing and unrighteous greed are a defilement of the mind,’ he abandons them. When he has understood thus: ‘Ill will is a defilement of the mind,’ he abandons it. When he has understood thus: ‘Dullness and drowsiness are a defilement of the mind,’ he abandons them. When he has understood thus: ‘Restlessness and remorse are a defilement of the mind,’ he abandons them. When he has understood thus: ‘Doubt is a defilement of the mind,’ he abandons it.
12"When, householder, a noble disciple has understood thus: ‘Longing and unrighteous greed are a defilement of the mind’ and has abandoned them; when he has understood thus: ‘Ill will … Dullness and drowsiness … Restlessness and remorse … Doubt is a defilement of the mind,’ and has abandoned it, he is then called a noble disciple of great wisdom, of wide wisdom, one who sees the raṅge, [n.745] Ce and Ee āpāthadaso; Be āpātadaso. Mp Ce: "He sees whatever comes into raṅge, even a subtle matter that comes into raṅge" (taṁ taṁ atthaṁ āpātheti tameva passati, sukhumampissa atthajātaṁ āpāthaṁ āgacchatiyevā ti attho). one accomplished in wisdom. This is called accomplishment in wisdom.
"These are the four other things that lead to obtaining the four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.
13"With wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, the noble disciple undertakes four worthy deeds. What four?
(1) "Here, householder, with wealth acquired by energetic striving … righteously gained, the noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased and properly maintains himself in happiness; he makes his parents happy and pleased and properly maintains them in happiness; he makes his wife and children, his slaves, workers, and servants happy and pleased and properly maintains them in happiness; he makes his friends and companions happy and pleased and properly maintains them in happiness. This is the first case of wealth that has gone to good use, that has been properly utilized and used for a worthy cause.
14(2) "Again, with wealth acquired by energetic striving … righteously gained, the noble disciple makes provisions against the losses that might arise from fire, floods, kings, thieves, or displeasing heirs; he makes himself secure against them. This is the second case of wealth that has gone to good use … for a worthy cause.
15(3) "Again, with wealth acquired by energetic striving … righteously gained, the noble disciple makes the five oblations: to relatives, guests, ancestors, the king, and the deities. This is the third case of wealth that has gone to good use … for a worthy cause.
16(4) "Again, with wealth acquired by energetic striving … righteously gained, the noble disciple establishes an uplifting offering of alms—an offering that is heavenly, [n.746] Here Mp correctly derives sovaggika from sagga: Saggassa hitā ti tatr’upapattijananato sovaggikā. resulting in happiness, conducive to heaven—to those ascetics and brahmins who refrain from intoxication and heedlessness, who are settled in patience and mildness, who tame themselves, calm themselves, and train themselves for nibbāna. This is the fourth case of wealth that has gone to good use, that has been properly employed and used for a worthy cause.
17"These, householder, are the four worthy deeds that the noble disciple undertakes with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained. When anyone exhausts wealth on anything apart from these four worthy deeds, that wealth is said to have gone to waste, to have been squandered, to have been used frivolously. But when anyone exhausts wealth on these four worthy deeds, that wealth is said to have gone to good use, to have been properly used, to have been utilized for a worthy cause."
18"I’ve enjoyed wealth,
supported my dependents,
and overcome adversities.
I have given an uplifting offering
and performed the five oblations.
I have served the virtuous monks,
the self-controlled celibate ones.
[n.747] I have divided this verse and the next in line with the corresponding verses of AN5.51. Since Ce was edited by different editors who apparently did not collaborate, the same sets of verses in different volumes are sometimes divided differently. The division used at AN5.51, which groups together the several applications of wealth, seems to correspond better to the sense.
19"I have achieved whatever purpose
a wise person, dwelling at home,
might have in desiring wealth;
what I have done brings me no regret."
20Recollecting this, a mortal
remains firm in the noble Dhamma.
They praise him here in this life,
and after death he rejoices in heaven.
1Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
2"Cattārome, gahapati, dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. Katame cattāro?
Bhogā me uppajjantu sahadhammenāti, ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.
3Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yaso me āgacchatu saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehīti, ayaṁ dutiyo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.
4Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yasaṁ laddhā saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehi ciraṁ jīvāmi dīghamāyuṁ pālemīti, ayaṁ tatiyo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.
5Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yasaṁ laddhā saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehi ciraṁ jīvitvā dīghamāyuṁ pāletvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjāmīti, ayaṁ catuttho dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.
Ime kho, gahapati, cattāro dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ.
6Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ cattāro dhammā paṭilābhāya saṁvattanti. Katame cattāro? Saddhāsampadā, sīlasampadā, cāgasampadā, paññāsampadā.
7Katamā ca, gahapati, saddhāsampadā? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, saddhāsampadā.
8Katamā ca, gahapati, sīlasampadā? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti … pe … surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, sīlasampadā.
9Katamā ca, gahapati, cāgasampadā? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vosaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, cāgasampadā.
10Katamā ca, gahapati, paññāsampadā? Abhijjhāvisamalobhābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti. Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati. Byāpādābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti. Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati. Thinamiddhābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti kiccaṁ aparādheti. Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati. Uddhaccakukkuccābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti. Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati. Vicikicchābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti. Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.
11Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā abhijjhāvisamalobhaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati. Byāpādo cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā byāpādaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati. Thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati. Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati. Vicikicchā cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā vicikicchaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.
12Yato ca kho, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti. Byāpādo cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā byāpādo cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti. Thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti. Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti. Vicikicchā cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā vicikicchā cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, ariyasāvako mahāpañño puthupañño āpātadaso paññāsampanno. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, paññāsampadā.
Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ ime cattāro dhammā paṭilābhāya saṁvattanti.
13Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi cattāri pattakammāni kattā hoti. Katamāni cattāri?
Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati. Mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati. Puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati. Mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati. Idamassa paṭhamaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.
14Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi yā tā honti āpadā aggito vā udakato vā rājato vā corato vā appiyato vā dāyādato, tathārūpāsu āpadāsu pariyodhāya saṁvattati. Sotthiṁ attānaṁ karoti. Idamassa dutiyaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.
15Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi pañcabaliṁ kattā hoti – ñātibaliṁ, atithibaliṁ, pubbapetabaliṁ, rājabaliṁ, devatābaliṁ. Idamassa tatiyaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.
16Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā madappamādā paṭiviratā khantisoracce niviṭṭhā ekamattānaṁ damenti, ekamattānaṁ samenti, ekamattānaṁ parinibbāpenti, tathārūpesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ. Idamassa catutthaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.
17Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi imāni cattāri pattakammāni kattā hoti. Yassa kassaci, gahapati, aññatra imehi catūhi pattakammehi bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ime vuccanti, gahapati, bhogā aṭṭhānagatā apattagatā anāyatanaso paribhuttā. Yassa kassaci, gahapati, imehi catūhi pattakammehi bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ime vuccanti, gahapati, bhogā ṭhānagatā pattagatā āyatanaso paribhuttāti.
18Bhuttā bhogā bhatā bhaccā,
Vitiṇṇā āpadāsu me;
Uddhaggā dakkhiṇā dinnā,
Atho pañcabalī katā;
Upaṭṭhitā sīlavanto,
Saññatā brahmacārayo.
19Yadatthaṁ bhogaṁ iccheyya,
paṇḍito gharamāvasaṁ;
So me attho anuppatto,
kataṁ ananutāpiyaṁ.
20Etaṁ anussaraṁ macco,
ariyadhamme ṭhito naro;
Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
pecca sagge pamodatī"ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.