Appamādasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.17

Linked Discourses 3.17

2. Dutiyavagga

2. Childless

Appamādasutta

Diligence

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,

“atthi nu kho, bhante, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

“Sir, is there one thing that secures benefits for both

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti?

this life and lives to come?”

“Atthi kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

“There is, Great King.”

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti.

“Katamo pana, bhante, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

“So what is that one thing?”

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti?

“Appamādo kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

“Diligence, Great King, is one thing that secures benefits for both

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcāti.

this life and lives to come.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati—yadidaṁ mahantattena;

The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint. So an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all.

evameva kho, mahārāja, appamādo eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

In the same way, diligence is one thing that secures benefits for both

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti.

this life and lives to come.”

Idamavoca …pe…

That is what the Buddha said. …

“Āyuṁ arogiyaṁ vaṇṇaṁ,

“For one who desires high delights

saggaṁ uccākulīnataṁ;

again and again—

Ratiyo patthayantena,

long life, beauty, and health,

uḷārā aparāparā.

heaven, and an eminent family—

Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,

the astute praise diligence

puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā;

in making merit.

Appamatto ubho atthe,

Being diligent, an astute person

adhiggaṇhāti paṇḍito.

secures both benefits:

Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho,

the benefit in this life,

yo cattho samparāyiko;

and in lives to come.

Atthābhisamayā dhīro,

An attentive one, comprehending the meaning,

paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.

is said to be astute.”