SN 12-21 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With Causation – Nidānavaggasaṁyutta > SN 17 Connected Discourses on Gains and Honor – Lābhasakkārasaṁyutta > SN 17.23 An Only Son

Linked Discourses 17.23 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.23

Chapter Three – 3. Tatiyavagga

SN 17.23 An Only Son – Ekaputtakasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are brutal …

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe…

A faithful laywoman with a dear and beloved only son would rightly appeal to him,

saddhā, bhikkhave, upāsikā ekaputtakaṁ piyaṁ manāpaṁ evaṁ sammā āyācamānā āyāceyya:

‘My darling, please be like the householder Citta and Hatthaka of Ãḷavī.’

‘tādiso, tāta, bhavāhi yādiso citto ca gahapati hatthako ca āḷavako’ti.

These are a standard and a measure for my male lay disciples, that is, the householder Citta and Hatthaka of Ãḷavī.

Esā, bhikkhave, tulā etaṁ pamāṇaṁ mama sāvakānaṁ upāsakānaṁ, yadidaṁ citto ca gahapati hatthako ca āḷavako.

‘But my darling, if you go forth from the lay life to homelessness,

Sace kho tvaṁ, tāta, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajasi;

please be like Sāriputta and Moggallāna.’

tādiso, tāta, bhavāhi yādisā sāriputtamoggallānāti.

These are a standard and a measure for my monk disciples, that is, Sāriputta and Moggallāna.

Esā, bhikkhave, tulā etaṁ pamāṇaṁ mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, yadidaṁ sāriputtamoggalānā.

‘And my darling, may you not come into possessions, honor, and popularity while you’re still a trainee and haven’t achieved your heart’s desire.’

Mā ca kho tvaṁ, tāta, sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇātūti.

If a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire comes into possessions, honor, and popularity it’s an obstacle for them.

Tañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇāti, so tassa hoti antarāyāya.

So brutal are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe…

evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.