AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.79 Fragrances

Numbered Discourses 3.79 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.79

8. Ānanda – 8. Ānandavagga

AN 3.79 Fragrances – Gandhajātasutta

1.1

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Sir, there are these three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it.

“Tīṇimāni, bhante, gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ.

2.2

What three?

Katamāni tīṇi?

2.3

The fragrance of roots, heartwood, and flowers.

Mūlagandho, sāragandho, pupphagandho—

2.4

These are the three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it.

imāni kho, bhante, tīṇi gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ.

2.5

Is there a kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both ways?”

Atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?

3.1

“There is, Ānanda, such a kind of fragrance.”

“Atthānanda, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti.

3.2

“So what, sir, is that kind of fragrance?”

“Katamañca pana, bhante, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?

4.1

“It’s when, Ānanda, in some village or town, a woman or man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

“Idhānanda, yasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,

4.2

They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. They’re ethical, of good character.

pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo,

4.3

They live at home with a heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.

5.1

Ascetics and brahmins everywhere praise them for these good qualities;

Tassa disāsu samaṇabrāhmaṇā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti:

5.2

‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,

5.3

5.4

vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.

6.1

even the deities praise them.

Devatāpissa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti:

6.2

‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,

6.3

pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo,

6.4

vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.

6.5

This is the kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both.

Idaṁ kho taṁ, ānanda, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatīti.

7.1

The fragrance of flowers doesn’t spread against the wind,

Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti,

7.2

nor sandalwood, pinwheel flowers, or jasmine;

Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā;

7.3

but the fragrance of the good spreads against the wind;

Satañca gandho paṭivātameti,

7.4

a good person’s virtue spreads in every direction.”

Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyatī”ti.

7.5

Navamaṁ.