AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.31 With Sumanā

Numbered Discourses 5.31 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.31

4. With Sumanā – 4. Sumanavagga

AN 5.31 With Sumanā – Sumanasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ …pe… anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Then Princess Sumanā, escorted by five hundred chariots and five hundred royal maidens, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho sumanā rājakumārī pañcahi rathasatehi pañcahi rājakumārisatehi parivutā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho sumanā rājakumārī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Sir, suppose there were two disciples equal in faith, ethics, and wisdom.

“Idhassu, bhante, bhagavato dve sāvakā samasaddhā samasīlā samapaññā—

2.2

One is a giver, one is not.

eko dāyako, eko adāyako.

2.3

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyyuṁ.

2.4

When they have become gods, would there be any distinction or difference between them?”

Devabhūtānaṁ pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso, siyā nānākaraṇan”ti?

3.1

“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.

“Siyā, sumane”ti bhagavā avoca:

3.2

“As a god, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in five respects:

“yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ devabhūto samāno pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

3.3

divine lifespan, beauty, happiness, fame, and sovereignty.

dibbena āyunā, dibbena vaṇṇena, dibbena sukhena, dibbena yasena, dibbena ādhipateyyena.

3.4

As a god, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in these five respects.”

Yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ devabhūto samāno imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti”.

4.1

“But sir, if they pass away from there and come back to this state of existence as human beings, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”

“Sace pana te, bhante, tato cutā itthattaṁ āgacchanti, manussabhūtānaṁ pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso, siyā nānākaraṇan”ti?

4.2

“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.

“Siyā, sumane”ti bhagavā avoca:

4.3

“As a human being, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in five respects:

“yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ manussabhūto samāno pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

4.4

human lifespan, beauty, happiness, fame, and sovereignty.

mānusakena āyunā, mānusakena vaṇṇena, mānusakena sukhena, mānusakena yasena, mānusakena ādhipateyyena.

4.5

As a human being, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in these five respects.”

Yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ manussabhūto samāno imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti”.

5.1

“But sir, if they both go forth from the lay life to homelessness, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”

“Sace pana te, bhante, ubho agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, pabbajitānaṁ pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso, siyā nānākaraṇan”ti?

5.2

“There would be, Sumanā,” said the Buddha.

“Siyā, sumane”ti bhagavā avoca:

5.3

“As a renunciate, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in five respects.

“yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ pabbajito samāno pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

5.4

They’d usually use only what they’ve been invited to accept—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—rarely using them without invitation.

yācitova bahulaṁ cīvaraṁ paribhuñjati appaṁ ayācito, yācitova bahulaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ paribhuñjati appaṁ ayācito, yācitova bahulaṁ senāsanaṁ paribhuñjati appaṁ ayācito, yācitova bahulaṁ gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ paribhuñjati appaṁ ayācito.

5.5

When living with other spiritual practitioners, they usually treat them agreeably by way of body, speech, and mind, rarely disagreeably.

Yehi kho pana sabrahmacārīhi saddhiṁ viharati tyassa manāpeneva bahulaṁ kāyakammena samudācaranti appaṁ amanāpena, manāpeneva bahulaṁ vacīkammena samudācaranti appaṁ amanāpena, manāpeneva bahulaṁ manokammena samudācaranti appaṁ amanāpena, manāpaṁyeva bahulaṁ upahāraṁ upaharanti appaṁ amanāpaṁ.

5.6

As a renunciate, the one who was a giver would surpass the other in these five respects.”

Yo so, sumane, dāyako so amuṁ adāyakaṁ pabbajito samāno imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhātī”ti.

6.1

“But sir, if they both attain perfection, as perfected ones would there still be any distinction or difference between them?”

“Sace pana te, bhante, ubho arahattaṁ pāpuṇanti, arahattappattānaṁ pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso, siyā nānākaraṇan”ti?

6.2

“In that case, I say there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other.”

“Ettha kho panesāhaṁ, sumane, na kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ vimuttiyā vimuttin”ti.

7.1

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

7.2

Just this much is quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.

Yāvañcidaṁ, bhante, alameva dānāni dātuṁ alaṁ puññāni kātuṁ;

7.3

For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”

yatra hi nāma devabhūtassāpi upakārāni puññāni, manussabhūtassāpi upakārāni puññāni, pabbajitassāpi upakārāni puññānī”ti.

7.4

“That’s so true, Sumanā.

“Evametaṁ, sumane.

7.5

It’s quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit.

Alañhi, sumane, dānāni dātuṁ alaṁ puññāni kātuṁ.

7.6

For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.”

Devabhūtassāpi upakārāni puññāni, manussabhūtassāpi upakārāni puññāni, pabbajitassāpi upakārāni puññānī”ti.

8.1

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

8.2

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

9.1

“The moon so immaculate,

“Yathāpi cando vimalo,

9.2

journeying across the dimension of space;

gacchaṁ ākāsadhātuyā;

9.3

outshines with its radiance

Sabbe tārāgaṇe loke,

9.4

all the world’s stars.

ābhāya atirocati.

10.1

So too, a faithful individual,

Tatheva sīlasampanno,

10.2

perfect in ethics,

saddho purisapuggalo;

10.3

outshines with their generosity

Sabbe maccharino loke,

10.4

all the world’s stingy people.

cāgena atirocati.

11.1

The thundering rain cloud,

Yathāpi megho thanayaṁ,

11.2

its hundred peaks wreathed in lightning,

vijjumālī satakkaku;

11.3

pours down over the rich earth,

Thalaṁ ninnañca pūreti,

11.4

soaking the uplands and valleys.

abhivassaṁ vasundharaṁ.

12.1

Even so, an astute person accomplished in vision,

Evaṁ dassanasampanno,

12.2

a disciple of the fully awakened Buddha,

sammāsambuddhasāvako;

12.3

surpasses a stingy person

Macchariṁ adhigaṇhāti,

12.4

in five respects:

pañcaṭhānehi paṇḍito.

13.1

long life and fame,

Āyunā yasasā ceva,

13.2

beauty and happiness.

vaṇṇena ca sukhena ca;

13.3

Lavished with riches,

Sa ve bhogaparibyūḷho,

13.4

they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

13.5

Paṭhamaṁ.