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AN 4.61PTS AN 2.654 min read

Fitting Deeds

Pattakammasutta

Four things that are desirable, but hard to get; and how to get them through deeds of substance.

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

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.61Numbered Discourses 4.61
  • 0.27. Pattakammavagga7. Fitting Deeds

0.3PattakammasuttaFitting Deeds

1.1Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

2.1PTS 2.66“Cattārome, gahapati, dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ.“Householder, these four things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable are hard to get in the world.2.2Katame cattāro?What four?2.3Bhogā me uppajjantu sahadhammenāti, ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.The first thing is the wish: ‘May wealth come to me by legitimate means!’

3.1Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yaso me āgacchatu saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehīti, ayaṁ dutiyo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.The second thing, having got wealth by legitimate means, is the wish: ‘May fame come to me, together with my family and mentors.’

4.1Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yasaṁ laddhā saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehi ciraṁ jīvāmi dīghamāyuṁ pālemīti, ayaṁ tatiyo dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.The third thing, having got wealth and fame, is the wish: ‘May I live long, keeping alive for a long time!’

5.1Bhoge laddhā sahadhammena yasaṁ laddhā saha ñātīhi saha upajjhāyehi ciraṁ jīvitvā dīghamāyuṁ pāletvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjāmīti, ayaṁ catuttho dhammo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ.The fourth thing, having got wealth, fame, and long life, is the wish: ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’5.2Ime kho, gahapati, cattāro dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ.These are the four things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable, but hard to get in the world.

6.1Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ cattāro dhammā paṭilābhāya saṁvattanti.These next four things lead to the getting of those four things.6.2Katame cattāro?What four?6.3Saddhāsampadā, sīlasampadā, cāgasampadā, paññāsampadā.Accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom.

7.1Katamā ca, gahapati, saddhāsampadā?And what is accomplishment in faith?7.2Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:7.3‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’7.4Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, saddhāsampadā.This is called accomplishment in faith.

8.1Katamā ca, gahapati, sīlasampadā?And what is accomplishment in ethics?8.2Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti.It’s when a noble disciple doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.8.3Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, sīlasampadā.This is called accomplishment in ethics.

9.1Katamā ca, gahapati, cāgasampadā?And what is accomplishment in generosity?9.2Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vosaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.It’s when a noble disciple lives 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.9.3Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, cāgasampadā.This is called accomplishment in generosity.

10.1PTS 2.67Katamā ca, gahapati, paññāsampadā?And what is accomplishment in wisdom?10.2Abhijjhāvisamalobhābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti.When your heart is mastered by covetousness and immoral greed, you do what you shouldn’t, and fail to do what you should.10.3Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.Your fame and happiness fall to dust.10.4Byāpādābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti.When your heart is mastered by ill will …10.5Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.10.6Thinamiddhābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti kiccaṁ aparādheti.dullness and drowsiness …10.7Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.10.8Uddhaccakukkuccābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti.restlessness and remorse …10.9Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.10.10Vicikicchābhibhūtena, gahapati, cetasā viharanto akiccaṁ karoti, kiccaṁ aparādheti.doubt, you do what you shouldn’t, and fail to do what you should.10.11Akiccaṁ karonto kiccaṁ aparādhento yasā ca sukhā ca dhaṁsati.Your fame and happiness fall to dust.

11.1Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā abhijjhāvisamalobhaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.Knowing that ‘covetousness and immoral greed are corruptions of the mind’, that noble disciple gives them up.11.2Byāpādo cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā byāpādaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.Knowing that ‘ill will …’ …11.3Thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.‘dullness and drowsiness …’ …11.4Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.‘restlessness and remorse …’ …11.5Vicikicchā cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā vicikicchaṁ cittassa upakkilesaṁ pajahati.‘doubt is a corruption of the mind’, that noble disciple gives it up.

12.1Yato ca kho, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā abhijjhāvisamalobho cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti.When a noble disciple has given up these things,12.2Byāpādo cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā byāpādo cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti.12.3Thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā thinamiddhaṁ cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti.12.4Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā uddhaccakukkuccaṁ cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti.12.5Vicikicchā cittassa upakkilesoti, iti viditvā vicikicchā cittassa upakkileso pahīno hoti.12.6Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, ariyasāvako mahāpañño puthupañño āpātadaso paññāsampanno.they’re called ‘a noble disciple of great wisdom, of widespread wisdom, who sees what matters, and is accomplished in wisdom’.12.7Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, paññāsampadā.This is called accomplishment in wisdom.12.8Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ ime cattāro dhammā paṭilābhāya saṁvattanti.These are the four things that lead to the getting of the four things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable, but hard to get in the world.

13.1Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi cattāri pattakammāni kattā hoti.There are four fitting deeds that a noble disciple does with the legitimate wealth he has earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.13.2Katamāni cattāri?What four?

13.3Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.To start with, with his legitimate wealth he makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy.13.4Mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.He makes his mother and father happy …13.5Puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy …13.6Mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.He makes his friends and colleagues happy …13.7Idamassa paṭhamaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.This is his first usage within means on a deserved and fitting cause.

14.1PTS 2.68Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi yā tā honti āpadā aggito vā udakato vā rājato vā corato vā appiyato vā dāyādato, tathārūpāsu āpadāsu pariyodhāya saṁvattati.Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he defends himself against threats from such things as fire, flood, rulers, bandits, or unloved heirs.14.2Sotthiṁ attānaṁ karoti.He keeps himself safe.14.3Idamassa dutiyaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.This is his second usage within means on a deserved and fitting cause.

15.1Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi pañcabaliṁ kattā hoti—Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes five spirit-offerings:15.2ñātibaliṁ, atithibaliṁ, pubbapetabaliṁ, rājabaliṁ, devatābaliṁ.to relatives, guests, ancestors, king, and deities.15.3Idamassa tatiyaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.This is his third expenditure in an appropriate sphere on a deserved and fitting cause.

16.1Puna 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.Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he establishes an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins—those who refrain from 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.16.2Idamassa catutthaṁ ṭhānagataṁ hoti pattagataṁ āyatanaso paribhuttaṁ.This is his fourth usage within means on a deserved and fitting cause.

17.1Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi imāni cattāri pattakammāni kattā hoti.These are the four fitting deeds that a noble disciple does with the legitimate wealth he has earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow.

17.2Yassa kassaci, gahapati, aññatra imehi catūhi pattakammehi bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ime vuccanti, gahapati, bhogā aṭṭhānagatā apattagatā anāyatanaso paribhuttā.Whatever wealth is spent on something other than these four fitting deeds is said to not be usage within means on a deserved and fitting cause.17.3Yassa kassaci, gahapati, imehi catūhi pattakammehi bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ime vuccanti, gahapati, bhogā ṭhānagatā pattagatā āyatanaso paribhuttāti.But whatever wealth is spent on these four fitting deeds is said to be usage within means on a deserved and fitting cause.

18.1Bhuttā bhogā bhatā bhaccā,‘I’ve enjoyed my wealth, <j>supporting those who depend on me;18.2Vitiṇṇā āpadāsu me;I’ve overcome losses;18.3Uddhaggā dakkhiṇā dinnā,I’ve given uplifting religious donations;18.4Atho pañcabalī katā;and made the five spirit-offerings.18.5Upaṭṭhitā sīlavanto,I have served the ethical and18.6Saññatā brahmacārayo.disciplined spiritual practitioners.

19.1PTS 2.69Yadatthaṁ bhogaṁ iccheyya,I’ve achieved the goal19.2paṇḍito gharamāvasaṁ;for which an astute layperson19.3So me attho anuppatto,wishes to gain wealth.19.4kataṁ ananutāpiyaṁ.I don’t regret what I’ve done.’

20.1Etaṁ anussaraṁ macco,A mortal man who recollects this20.2ariyadhamme ṭhito naro;stands firm in the teaching of the noble ones.20.3Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,They’re praised in this life,20.4pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

20.5Paṭhamaṁ.