Balakaraṇīyavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 49.23–34

Linked Discourses 49.23–34

3. Balakaraṇīyavagga

3. Hard Work

Balakaraṇīyādisutta

Hard Work, Etc.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti;

“Mendicants, all the hard work that gets done depends on the earth and is grounded on the earth.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti.

In the same way, a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti?

How so?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati …pe…

It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. …

uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkarotī”ti.

That’s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.”

(Evaṁ balakaraṇīyavaggo sammappadhānavasena vitthāretabbo.)

(Tell in full as in SN 45.149–160.)

Dvādasamaṁ.

Balakaraṇīyavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Balaṁ bījañca nāgo ca,

Hard work, seeds, and dragons,

rukkho kumbhena sūkiyā;

a tree, a pot, and a spike,

Ākāsena ca dve meghā,

the atmosphere, and two on clouds,

nāvā āgantukā nadīti.

a ship, a guest house, and a river.