AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.62 Debtlessness

Numbered Discourses 4.62 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.62

7. Deeds of Substance – 7. Pattakammavagga

AN 4.62 Debtlessness – Ānaṇyasutta

1.1

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Householder, these four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys sensual pleasures, depending on time and occasion.

“Cattārimāni, gahapati, sukhāni adhigamanīyāni gihinā kāmabhoginā kālena kālaṁ samayena samayaṁ upādāya.

2.2

What four?

Katamāni cattāri?

2.3

The happiness of ownership, using wealth, debtlessness, and blamelessness.

Atthisukhaṁ, bhogasukhaṁ, ānaṇyasukhaṁ, anavajjasukhaṁ.

3.1

And what is the happiness of ownership?

Katamañca, gahapati, atthisukhaṁ?

3.2

It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.

Idha, gahapati, kulaputtassa bhogā honti uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā.

3.3

When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness.

So ‘bhogā me atthi uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ.

3.4

This is called ‘the happiness of ownership’.

Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, atthisukhaṁ.

4.1

And what is the happiness of using wealth?

Katamañca, gahapati, bhogasukhaṁ?

4.2

It’s when a gentleman uses his legitimate wealth, and makes merit with it.

Idha, gahapati, kulaputto uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi paribhuñjati puññāni ca karoti.

4.3

When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness.

So ‘uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi paribhuñjāmi puññāni ca karomī’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ.

4.4

This is called ‘the happiness of using wealth’.

Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, bhogasukhaṁ.

5.1

And what is the happiness of debtlessness?

Katamañca, gahapati, ānaṇyasukhaṁ?

5.2

It’s when a gentleman owes no debt, large or small, to anyone.

Idha, gahapati, kulaputto na kassaci kiñci dhāreti appaṁ vā bahuṁ vā.

5.3

When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness.

So ‘na kassaci kiñci dhāremi appaṁ vā bahuṁ vā’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ.

5.4

This is called ‘the happiness of debtlessness’.

Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, ānaṇyasukhaṁ.

6.1

And what is the happiness of blamelessness?

Katamañca, gahapati, anavajjasukhaṁ?

6.2

It’s when a noble disciple has blameless conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako anavajjena kāyakammena samannāgato hoti, anavajjena vacīkammena samannāgato hoti, anavajjena manokammena samannāgato hoti.

6.3

When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness.

So ‘anavajjenamhi kāyakammena samannāgato, anavajjena vacīkammena samannāgato, anavajjena manokammena samannāgato’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ.

6.4

This is called ‘the happiness of blamelessness’.

Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, anavajjasukhaṁ.

6.5

These four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys sensual pleasures, depending on time and occasion.

Imāni kho, gahapati, cattāri sukhāni adhigamanīyāni gihinā kāmabhoginā kālena kālaṁ samayena samayaṁ upādāyāti.

7.1

Knowing the happiness of debtlessness,

Ānaṇyasukhaṁ ñatvāna,

7.2

and the extra happiness of possession,

Atho atthisukhaṁ paraṁ;

7.3

a mortal enjoying the happiness of using wealth,

Bhuñjaṁ bhogasukhaṁ macco,

7.4

then sees clearly with wisdom.

Tato paññā vipassati.

8.1

Seeing clearly, a clever person knows

Vipassamāno jānāti,

8.2

both kinds of happiness:

ubho bhoge sumedhaso;

8.3

the other kind is not worth a sixteenth part

Anavajjasukhassetaṁ,

8.4

of the happiness of blamelessness.”

kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasin”ti.

8.5

Dutiyaṁ.