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AN 3.79PTS AN 1.2251 min read

Fragrances

Gandhajātasutta

Some fragrances spread even against the wind.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.79Numbered Discourses 3.79
  • 0.28. Ānandavagga8. Ānanda

0.3GandhajātasuttaFragrances

1.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

2.1“Tīṇimāni, bhante, gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ.“Sir, there are these three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it.2.2Katamāni tīṇi?What three?2.3Mūlagandho, sāragandho, pupphagandho—The fragrance of roots, heartwood, and flowers.2.4imāni kho, bhante, tīṇi gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ.These are the three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it.2.5Atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?Is there a kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both ways?”

3.1PTS 1.226“Atthānanda, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti.“There is, Ānanda, such a kind of fragrance.”

3.2“Katamañca pana, bhante, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?“So what, sir, is that kind of fragrance?”

4.1“Idhānanda, yasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,“It’s when, Ānanda, in some village or town, a woman or man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.4.2pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo,They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.4.3vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.They live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

5.1Tassa disāsu samaṇabrāhmaṇā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti:Ascetics and brahmins everywhere praise them for these good qualities;5.2‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,5.3pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo,5.4vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.6.1Devatāpissa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti:even the deities praise them.6.2‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti,6.3pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo,6.4vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.6.5Idaṁ kho taṁ, ānanda, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatīti.This is the kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both.

7.1Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti,The fragrance of flowers <j>doesn’t spread against the wind,7.2Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā;nor sandalwood, pinwheel flowers, or jasmine;7.3Satañca gandho paṭivātameti,but the fragrance of the good <j>spreads against the wind;7.4Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyatī”ti.a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction.”

7.5Navamaṁ.