AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.41 Getting Rich

Numbered Discourses 5.41 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.41

5. With King Muṇḍa – 5. Muṇḍarājavagga

AN 5.41 Getting Rich – Ādiyasutta

1.1

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

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

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:

1.3

“Householder, there are these five reasons to get rich.

“pañcime, gahapati, bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

1.4

What five?

Katame pañca?

1.5

Firstly, with his legitimate wealth—earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow—a noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy.

Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

1.6

He makes his mother and father happy …

mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

1.7

He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy …

puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

1.8

This is the first reason to get rich.

Ayaṁ paṭhamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

2.1

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes his friends and colleagues happy …

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

2.2

This is the second reason to get rich.

Ayaṁ dutiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

3.1

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he protects himself against losses from such things as fire, water, kings, bandits, or unloved heirs.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi yā tā honti āpadā—

3.2

aggito vā udakato vā rājato vā corato vā appiyato vā dāyādato—

3.3

He keeps himself safe.

tathārūpāsu āpadāsu bhogehi pariyodhāya vattati, sotthiṁ attānaṁ karoti.

3.4

This is the third reason to get rich.

Ayaṁ tatiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

4.1

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes five spirit-offerings:

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi pañcabaliṁ kattā hoti.

4.2

to relatives, guests, ancestors, king, and deities.

Ñātibaliṁ, atithibaliṁ, pubbapetabaliṁ, rājabaliṁ, devatābaliṁ—

4.3

This is the fourth reason to get rich.

ayaṁ catuttho bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

5.1

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he establishes an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins—those who avoid intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves—that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā madappamādā paṭiviratā khantisoracce niviṭṭhā ekamattānaṁ damenti ekamattānaṁ samenti ekamattānaṁ parinibbāpenti, tathārūpesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

5.2

This is the fifth reason to get rich.

Ayaṁ pañcamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

5.3

These are the five reasons to get rich.

Ime kho, gahapati, pañca bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

6.1

Now if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons run out, he thinks:

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

6.2

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are running out.’

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me parikkhayaṁ gacchantī’ti.

6.3

And so he has no regrets.

Itissa hoti avippaṭisāro.

6.4

But if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons increase, he thinks:

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā abhivaḍḍhanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

6.5

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are increasing.’

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me abhivaḍḍhantī’ti.

6.6

And so he has no regrets in both cases.

Itissa hoti ubhayeneva avippaṭisāroti.

7.1

‘I’ve enjoyed my wealth, supporting those who depend on me;

Bhuttā bhogā bhatā bhaccā,

7.2

I’ve overcome losses;

vitiṇṇā āpadāsu me;

7.3

I’ve given uplifting religious donations;

Uddhaggā dakkhiṇā dinnā,

7.4

and made the five spirit-offerings.

atho pañcabalīkatā;

7.5

I have looked after the ethical and

Upaṭṭhitā sīlavanto,

7.6

disciplined spiritual practitioners.

saññatā brahmacārayo.

8.1

I’ve achieved the purpose

Yadatthaṁ bhogaṁ iccheyya,

8.2

for which an astute lay person

paṇḍito gharamāvasaṁ;

8.3

wishes to gain wealth.

So me attho anuppatto,

8.4

I don’t regret what I’ve done.’

kataṁ ananutāpiyaṁ.

9.1

A mortal person who recollects this

Etaṁ anussaraṁ macco,

9.2

stands firm in the teaching of the noble ones.

ariyadhamme ṭhito naro;

9.3

They’re praised in this life by the astute,

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

9.4

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

9.5

Paṭhamaṁ.