Sappurisasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.38

Numbered Discourses 8.38

4. Dānavagga

4. Giving

Sappurisasutta

A True Person

“Sappuriso, bhikkhave, kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti—

“Mendicants, a true person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people.

mātāpitūnaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, puttadārassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, dāsakammakaraporisassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, mittāmaccānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, pubbapetānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, rañño atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, devatānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti.

For the benefit, welfare, and happiness of mother and father; children and partners; bondservants, workers, and staff; friends and colleagues; departed ancestors; the king; the deities; and ascetics and brahmins.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāmegho sabbasassāni sampādento bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti;

It’s like a great rain cloud, which nourishes all the crops for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti—

In the same way, a true person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. …

mātāpitūnaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, puttadārassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, dāsakammakaraporisassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, mittāmaccānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, pubbapetānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, rañño atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, devatānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hotīti.

Bahūnaṁ vata atthāya,

A wise person living at home

sappañño gharamāvasaṁ;

benefits many people.

Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ pubbe,

Neither by day or at night do they neglect

rattindivamatandito.

their mother, father, and ancestors.

Pūjeti sahadhammena,

They venerate them in accord with the teaching,

pubbekatamanussaraṁ;

remembering what they have done.

Anāgāre pabbajite,

One of settled faith and good nature

apace brahmacārayo.

venerates the homeless renunciates,

Niviṭṭhasaddho pūjeti,

the mendicant spiritual practitioners,

ñatvā dhamme ca pesalo;

knowing their good-hearted qualities.

Rañño hito devahito,

Good for the king, good for the gods,

ñātīnaṁ sakhinaṁ hito.

and good for relatives and comrades.

Sabbesaṁ so hito hoti,

In fact, they’re good for everyone,

saddhamme suppatiṭṭhito;

well grounded in the true teaching.

Vineyya maccheramalaṁ,

Rid of the stain of stinginess,

sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.

they’ll enjoy a world of grace.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.