Avuṭṭhikasutta

Itivuttaka 75

So It Was Said 75

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Tatiyavagga

Chapter Three

Avuṭṭhikasutta

A Rainless Cloud

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“Mendicants, these three individuals are found in the world.

Katame tayo?

What three?

Avuṭṭhikasamo, padesavassī, sabbatthābhivassī.

One like a rainless cloud, one who rains locally, one who rains all over.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo avuṭṭhikasamo hoti?

And how is an individual like a rainless cloud?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sabbesaññeva na dātā hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇakapaṇaddhikavanibbakayācakānaṁ annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

It’s when an individual doesn’t give to anyone at all—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, supplicants, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo avuṭṭhikasamo hoti.

That’s how an individual is like a rainless cloud.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo padesavassī hoti?

And how does an individual rain locally?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ekaccānaṁ dātā hoti, ekaccānaṁ na dātā hoti samaṇabrāhmaṇakapaṇaddhikavanibbakayācakānaṁ annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

It’s when an individual gives to some but not to others—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, supplicants, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo padesavassī hoti.

That’s how an individual rains locally.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo sabbatthābhivassī hoti?

And how does an individual rain all over?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sabbesaṁva deti, samaṇabrāhmaṇakapaṇaddhikavanibbakayācakānaṁ annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.

It’s when an individual gives to everyone—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, supplicants, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo sabbatthābhivassī hoti.

That’s how an individual rains all over.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

These are the three individuals found in the world.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Na samaṇe na brāhmaṇe,

“They don’t share the food and drink

Na kapaṇaddhikavanibbake;

they have acquired

Laddhāna saṁvibhājeti,

with ascetics or brahmins,

Annaṁ pānañca bhojanaṁ;

with paupers, vagrants, or supplicants.

Taṁ ve avuṭṭhikasamoti,

They’re like a rainless cloud,

Āhu naṁ purisādhamaṁ.

they say, the meanest of men.

Ekaccānaṁ na dadāti,

They don’t give to some,

ekaccānaṁ pavecchati;

to some they provide.

Taṁ ve padesavassīti,

They rain locally,

āhu medhāvino janā.

so say the wise.

Subhikkhavāco puriso,

Compassionate for all beings,

sabbabhūtānukampako;

that person distributes

Āmodamāno pakireti,

abundant food upon request,

detha dethāti bhāsati.

saying, ‘Give! Give!’

Yathāpi megho thanayitvā,

The rain cloud rains forth,

gajjayitvā pavassati;

having thundered and roared,

Thalaṁ ninnañca pūreti,

drenching the earth with water,

abhisandantova vārinā.

soaking the uplands and valleys.

Evamevaṁ idhekacco,

Even so, such an individual,

puggalo hoti tādiso;

having accumulated wealth

Dhammena saṁharitvāna,

by legitimate means,

uṭṭhānādhigataṁ dhanaṁ;

through their own hard work,

Tappeti annapānena,

rightly satisfies with food and drink

sammā patte vanibbake”ti.

those who have become supplicants.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.