AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.53 Living Together (1st)

Numbered Discourses 4.53 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.53

6. Overflowing Merit – 6. Puññābhisandavagga

AN 4.53 Living Together (1st) – Paṭhamasaṁvāsasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was traveling along the road between Madhura and Verañja,

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipanno hoti.

1.2

as were several householders, both women and men.

Sambahulāpi kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca antarā ca madhuraṁ antarā ca verañjaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti.

1.3

The Buddha left the road and sat at the root of a tree,

Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle (…) nisīdi.

1.4

where the householders saw him.

Addasaṁsu kho gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ.

1.5

They went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them:

Disvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te gahapatī ca gahapatāniyo ca bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Householders, there are four ways of living together.

“Cattārome, gahapatayo, saṁvāsā.

2.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

2.3

A male zombie living with a female zombie;

Chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

2.4

a male zombie living with a goddess;

chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

2.5

a god living with a female zombie;

devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati,

2.6

a god living with a goddess.

devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

3.1

And how does a male zombie live with a female zombie?

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

3.2

It’s when the husband kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and uses alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. He’s unethical, of bad character, living at home with his heart full of the stain of stinginess, abusing and insulting ascetics and brahmins.

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī dussīlo pāpadhammo maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

3.3

And the wife is also … unethical, of bad character …

bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātinī adinnādāyinī kāmesumicchācārinī musāvādinī surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

3.4

That’s how a male zombie lives with a female zombie.

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

4.1

And how does a male zombie live with a goddess?

Kathañca, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

4.2

It’s when the husband … is unethical, of bad character …

4.3

But the wife doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. She’s ethical, of good character, living at home with her heart rid of the stain of stinginess, not abusing and insulting ascetics and brahmins.

bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

4.4

That’s how a male zombie lives with a goddess.

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, chavo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

5.1

And how does a god live with a female zombie?

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

5.2

It’s when the husband … is ethical, of good character …

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato adinnādānā paṭivirato kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato musāvādā paṭivirato surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

5.3

But the wife … is unethical, of bad character …

bhariyā khvassa hoti pāṇātipātinī …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyinī dussīlā pāpadhammā maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati akkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

5.4

That’s how a god lives with a female zombie.

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo chavāya saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

6.1

And how does a god live with a goddess?

Kathañca, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati?

6.2

It’s when the husband … is ethical, of good character …

Idha, gahapatayo, sāmiko hoti pāṇātipātā paṭivirato …pe… sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosakaparibhāsako samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ;

6.3

And the wife is also … ethical, of good character …

bhariyāpissa hoti pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā sīlavatī kalyāṇadhammā vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati anakkosikaparibhāsikā samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ.

6.4

That’s how a god lives with a goddess.

Evaṁ kho, gahapatayo, devo deviyā saddhiṁ saṁvasati.

6.5

These are the four ways of living together.

Ime kho, gahapatayo, cattāro saṁvāsāti.

7.1

When both are unethical,

Ubho ca honti dussīlā,

7.2

miserly and abusive,

kadariyā paribhāsakā;

7.3

then wife and husband

Te honti jānipatayo,

7.4

live together as zombies.

chavā saṁvāsamāgatā.

8.1

When the husband is unethical,

Sāmiko hoti dussīlo,

8.2

miserly and abusive,

kadariyo paribhāsako;

8.3

but the wife is ethical,

Bhariyā sīlavatī hoti,

8.4

bountiful, rid of stinginess,

vadaññū vītamaccharā;

8.5

she’s a goddess living

Sāpi devī saṁvasati,

8.6

with a zombie for a husband.

chavena patinā saha.

9.1

When the husband is ethical,

Sāmiko sīlavā hoti,

9.2

bountiful, rid of stinginess,

vadaññū vītamaccharo;

9.3

but the wife is unethical,

Bhariyā hoti dussīlā,

9.4

miserly and abusive,

kadariyā paribhāsikā;

9.5

she’s a zombie living

Sāpi chavā saṁvasati,

9.6

with a god for a husband.

devena patinā saha.

10.1

When both are faithful and bountiful,

Ubho saddhā vadaññū ca,

10.2

disciplined, living righteously,

saññatā dhammajīvino;

10.3

then wife and husband

Te honti jānipatayo,

10.4

say nice things to each other.

aññamaññaṁ piyaṁvadā.

11.1

They get all the things they need,

Atthāsaṁ pacurā honti,

11.2

so they live at ease.

phāsukaṁ upajāyati;

11.3

Their enemies are downhearted,

Amittā dummanā honti,

11.4

when both are equal in ethics.

ubhinnaṁ samasīlinaṁ.

12.1

Having practiced the teaching here,

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,

12.2

both equal in precepts and observances,

samasīlabbatā ubho;

12.3

they delight in the heavenly realm,

Nandino devalokasmiṁ,

12.4

enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

12.5

Tatiyaṁ.