AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.23 With Hatthaka (1st)

Numbered Discourses 8.23 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.23

3. Householders – 3. Gahapativagga

AN 8.23 With Hatthaka (1st) – Paṭhamahatthakasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Tree-shrine.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye.

1.2

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū:

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.3

“Bhikkhū, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has seven amazing and incredible qualities.

“sattahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhāretha.

1.4

What seven?

Katamehi sattahi?

1.5

He’s faithful,

Saddho hi, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.6

ethical,

sīlavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.7

conscientious,

hirīmā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.8

prudent,

ottappī, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.9

learned,

bahussuto, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.10

generous,

cāgavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

1.11

and wise.

paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako—

1.12

You should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has these seven amazing and incredible qualities.”

imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārethā”ti.

1.13

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

1.14

When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

2.1

Then a certain bhikkhu robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

2.2

Then Hatthaka went up to that bhikkhu, bowed, and sat down to one side. The bhikkhu said to Hatthaka:

Atha kho hatthako āḷavako yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ so bhikkhu etadavoca:

3.1

“Householder, the Buddha declared that you have seven amazing and incredible qualities.

“Sattahi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato.

3.2

What seven?

Katamehi sattahi?

3.3

He said that you’re faithful,

‘Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

3.4

ethical,

sīlavā …pe…

3.5

conscientious,

hirīmā …

3.6

prudent,

ottappī …

3.7

learned,

bahussuto …

3.8

generous,

cāgavā …

3.9

and wise.

paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako’ti.

3.10

The Buddha declared that you have these seven amazing and incredible qualities.”

Imehi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato”ti.

3.11

“But sir, I trust that no white-clothed lay people were present?”

“Kaccittha, bhante, na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano”ti?

3.12

“No, there weren’t any white-clothed lay people present.”

“Na hettha, āvuso, koci gihī ahosi odātavasano”ti.

3.13

“That’s good, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhante, yadettha na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano”ti.

4.1

Then that bhikkhu, after taking almsfood in Hatthaka of Āḷavī’s home, got up from his seat and left.

Atha kho so bhikkhu hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

4.2

Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him of what he had discussed with the householder Hatthaka. The Buddha said:

Atha kho so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

5.1

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena hatthakassa āḷavakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ.

5.2

Atha kho, bhante, hatthako āḷavako yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

5.3

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ etadavacaṁ:

5.4

‘sattahi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato.

5.5

Katamehi sattahi?

5.6

Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

5.7

sīlavā …pe…

5.8

hirīmā …

5.9

ottappī …

5.10

bahussuto …

5.11

cāgavā …

5.12

paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavakoti.

5.13

Imehi kho tvaṁ, āvuso, sattahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato’ti.

6.1

Evaṁ vutte, bhante, hatthako maṁ etadavoca:

6.2

‘kaccittha, bhante, na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’ti?

6.3

‘Na hettha, āvuso, koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’ti.

6.4

‘Sādhu, bhante, yadettha na koci gihī ahosi odātavasano’”ti.

7.1

“Good, good, bhikkhu!

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu.

7.2

That gentleman has few wishes.

Appiccho so, bhikkhu, kulaputto.

7.3

He doesn’t want his own good qualities to be made known to others.

Santeyeva attani kusaladhamme na icchati parehi ñāyamāne.

7.4

Well then, bhikkhu, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has this eighth amazing and incredible quality, that is, fewness of wishes.”

Tena hi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, imināpi aṭṭhamena acchariyena abbhutena dhammena samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārehi, yadidaṁ appicchatāyā”ti.

7.5

Tatiyaṁ.