Ādiyasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.41

Numbered Discourses 5.41

5. Muṇḍarājavagga

5. With King Muṇḍa

Ādiyasutta

Getting Rich

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“pañcime, gahapati, bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

“Householder, there are these five reasons to get rich.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

Firstly, with his legitimate wealth—earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow—a noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy.

mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

He makes his mother and father happy …

puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy …

Ayaṁ paṭhamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

This is the first reason to get rich.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes his friends and colleagues happy …

Ayaṁ dutiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

This is the second reason to get rich.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi yā tā honti āpadā—

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he protects himself against losses from such things as fire, water, kings, bandits, or unloved heirs.

aggito vā udakato vā rājato vā corato vā appiyato vā dāyādato—

tathārūpāsu āpadāsu bhogehi pariyodhāya vattati, sotthiṁ attānaṁ karoti.

He keeps himself safe.

Ayaṁ tatiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

This is the third reason to get rich.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi pañcabaliṁ kattā hoti.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes five spirit-offerings:

Ñātibaliṁ, atithibaliṁ, pubbapetabaliṁ, rājabaliṁ, devatābaliṁ—

to relatives, guests, ancestors, king, and deities.

ayaṁ catuttho bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

This is the fourth reason to get rich.

Puna 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.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he establishes an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins—those who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves—that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.

Ayaṁ pañcamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

This is the fifth reason to get rich.

Ime kho, gahapati, pañca bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

These are the five reasons to get rich.

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

Now if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons run out, he thinks:

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me parikkhayaṁ gacchantī’ti.

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are running out.’

Itissa hoti avippaṭisāro.

And so he has no regrets.

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā abhivaḍḍhanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

But if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons increase, he thinks:

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me abhivaḍḍhantī’ti.

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are increasing.’

Itissa hoti ubhayeneva avippaṭisāroti.

And so he has no regrets in both cases.

Bhuttā bhogā bhatā bhaccā,

‘I’ve enjoyed my wealth,
supporting those who depend on me;

vitiṇṇā āpadāsu me;

I’ve overcome losses;

Uddhaggā dakkhiṇā dinnā,

I’ve given uplifting religious donations;

atho pañcabalīkatā;

and made the five spirit-offerings.

Upaṭṭhitā sīlavanto,

I have looked after the ethical and

saññatā brahmacārayo.

disciplined spiritual practitioners.

Yadatthaṁ bhogaṁ iccheyya,

I’ve achieved the goal

paṇḍito gharamāvasaṁ;

for which an astute layperson

So me attho anuppatto,

wishes to gain wealth.

kataṁ ananutāpiyaṁ.

I don’t regret what I’ve done.’

Etaṁ anussaraṁ macco,

A mortal man who recollects this

ariyadhamme ṭhito naro;

stands firm in the teaching of the noble ones.

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

They’re praised in this life by the astute,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

Paṭhamaṁ.