SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 55 Linked Discourses on Stream-Entry – Sotāpattisaṁyutta > SN 55.41 Overflowing Merit (1st)

Linked Discourses 55.41 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 55.41

5. Overflowing Merit, With Verses – 5. Sagāthakapuññābhisandavagga

SN 55.41 Overflowing Merit (1st) – Paṭhamaabhisandasutta

“Bhikkhū, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā.

What four?

Katame cattāro?

It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro.

the teaching …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…

the Saṅgha …

saṅghe …pe….

Furthermore, they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to samādhi. …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro.

These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā.

When a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to measure how much merit they have by saying that

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ:

this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti.

It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.

Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

It’s like trying to measure how much water is in the ocean. It’s not easy to say

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde na sukaraṁ udakassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ:

how many gallons, how many hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of gallons there are.

‘ettakāni udakāḷhakānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasahassānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatasahassānī’ti vāti.

It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water.

Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāudakakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, when a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to measure how much merit they have by saying that

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, imehi catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ:

this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti.

It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”

Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

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

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Hosts of people use the rivers,

“Mahodadhiṁ aparimitaṁ mahāsaraṁ,

and though the rivers are many,

Bahubheravaṁ ratanagaṇānamālayaṁ;

all reach the great deep, the boundless ocean,

Najjo yathā naragaṇasaṅghasevitā,

the cruel sea that’s home to precious gems.

Puthū savantī upayanti sāgaraṁ.

So too, when a person gives food, drink, and clothes;

Evaṁ naraṁ annapānavatthadadaṁ,

and they’re a giver of beds, seats, and mats—

Seyyāni paccattharaṇassa dāyakaṁ;

the streams of merit reach that astute person,

Puññassa dhārā upayanti paṇḍitaṁ,

as the rivers bring their waters to the sea.”

Najjo yathā vārivahāva sāgaran”ti.