1.1“Dāliddiyaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?“Mendicants, isn’t poverty suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

1.2“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

2.1PTS 3.352“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko iṇaṁ ādiyati, iṇādānampi, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?“When a poor, penniless person falls into debt, isn’t being in debt also suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

2.2“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

3.1“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko iṇaṁ ādiyitvā vaḍḍhiṁ paṭissuṇāti, vaḍḍhipi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?“When a poor person who has fallen into debt agrees to pay interest, isn’t the interest also suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

3.2“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

4.1“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko vaḍḍhiṁ paṭissuṇitvā kālābhataṁ vaḍḍhiṁ na deti, codentipi naṁ;“When a poor person who has fallen into debt and agreed to pay interest fails to pay it when it falls due, they get a warning.4.2codanāpi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?Isn’t being warned suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

4.3“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

5.1“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko codiyamāno na deti, anucarantipi naṁ;“When a poor person fails to pay after getting a warning, they’re prosecuted.5.2anucariyāpi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?Isn’t being prosecuted suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

5.3“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

6.1“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko anucariyamāno na deti, bandhantipi naṁ;“When a poor person fails to pay after being prosecuted, they’re imprisoned.6.2bandhanampi, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?Isn’t being imprisoned suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

6.3“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

7.1“Iti kho, bhikkhave, dāliddiyampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, iṇādānampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, vaḍḍhipi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, codanāpi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, anucariyāpi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, bandhanampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino;“So mendicants, poverty, debt, interest, warnings, prosecution, and imprisonment are suffering in the world for those who enjoy sensual pleasures.7.2evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī natthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu—In the same way, whoever has no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities7.3ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyassa vinaye daliddo assako anāḷhiko.is called poor and penniless in the training of the Noble One.

8.1Sa kho so, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko saddhāya asati kusalesu dhammesu, hiriyā asati kusalesu dhammesu, ottappe asati kusalesu dhammesu, vīriye asati kusalesu dhammesu, paññāya asati kusalesu dhammesu, kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.Since they have no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, or wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities, they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.8.2Idamassa iṇādānasmiṁ vadāmi.This is how they’re in debt, I say.

9.1PTS 3.353So tassa kāyaduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu pāpikaṁ icchaṁ paṇidahati.In order to conceal the bad things they do by way of body, speech, and mind they harbor corrupt wishes.9.2‘Mā maṁ jaññū’ti icchati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti saṅkappati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti vācaṁ bhāsati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti kāyena parakkamati. So tassa vacīduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu …pe… so tassa manoduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu …pe… ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti kāyena parakkamati.They wish, plan, speak, and act with the thought: ‘May no one find me out!’9.3Idamassa vaḍḍhiyā vadāmi.This is how they pay interest, I say.

10.1Tamenaṁ pesalā sabrahmacārī evamāhaṁsu:Good-hearted spiritual companions say this about them:10.2‘ayañca so āyasmā evaṅkārī evaṁsamācāro’ti.‘This venerable acts like this, and behaves like that.’10.3Idamassa codanāya vadāmi.This is how they’re warned, I say.

11.1Tamenaṁ araññagataṁ vā rukkhamūlagataṁ vā suññāgāragataṁ vā vippaṭisārasahagatā pāpakā akusalavitakkā samudācaranti.When they go to a wilderness, the root of a tree, or an empty hut, they’re beset by remorseful, unskillful thoughts.11.2Idamassa anucariyāya vadāmi.This is how they’re prosecuted, I say.

12.1Sa kho so, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā nirayabandhane vā bajjhati tiracchānayonibandhane vā.That poor, penniless person has done bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re trapped in the prison of hell or the animal realm.12.2Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekabandhanampi samanupassāmi evaṁdāruṇaṁ evaṅkaṭukaṁ evaṁantarāyakaraṁ anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya, yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayabandhanaṁ vā tiracchānayonibandhanaṁ vāti.I don’t see a single prison that’s as grim, as vicious, and such an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke as the prison of hell or the animal realm.

13.1Dāliddiyaṁ dukkhaṁ loke,Poverty is said to be suffering in the world,13.2iṇādānañca vuccati;and so is being in debt.13.3Daliddo iṇamādāya,A poor person who has fallen into debt13.4bhuñjamāno vihaññati.frets even when spending the loan.

14.1Tato anucaranti naṁ,And then they’re prosecuted,14.2bandhanampi nigacchati;or even thrown in jail.14.3Etañhi bandhanaṁ dukkhaṁ,Such imprisonment is true suffering14.4kāmalābhābhijappinaṁ.for someone who prays for pleasure and possessions.

15.1PTS 3.354Tatheva ariyavinaye,In the same way, in the Noble One’s training15.2saddhā yassa na vijjati;whoever has no faith,15.3Ahirīko anottappī,no conscience or prudence,15.4pāpakammavinibbayo.contemplates bad deeds.

16.1Kāyaduccaritaṁ katvā,∥After doing bad things16.2vacīduccaritāni ca;by way of body,16.3Manoduccaritaṁ katvā,speech, and mind,16.4‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti icchati.they wish, ‘May no one find me out!’

17.1So saṁsappati kāyena,Their behavior is creepy17.2vācāya uda cetasā;by body, speech, and mind.17.3Pāpakammaṁ pavaḍḍhento,They pile up bad deeds17.4tattha tattha punappunaṁ.on and on, life after life.

18.1So pāpakammo dummedho,That simpleton evildoer,18.2jānaṁ dukkaṭamattano;knowing their own misdeeds,18.3Daliddo iṇamādāya,is a poor person who has fallen into debt,18.4bhuñjamāno vihaññati.and frets even when spending the loan.

19.1Tato anucaranti naṁ,And when in village or wilderness19.2saṅkappā mānasā dukhā;they’re prosecuted19.3Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,by painful mental plans,19.4yassa vippaṭisārajā.which are born of remorse.

20.1So pāpakammo dummedho,That simpleton evildoer,20.2jānaṁ dukkaṭamattano;knowing their own misdeeds,20.3Yonimaññataraṁ gantvā,goes to one of the animal realms,20.4niraye vāpi bajjhati.or is trapped in hell.

21.1Etañhi bandhanaṁ dukkhaṁ,Such imprisonment is true suffering,21.2yamhā dhīro pamuccati;from which the attentive are released.21.3Dhammaladdhehi bhogehi,With confident heart, they give21.4dadaṁ cittaṁ pasādayaṁ.with wealth that is properly earned.

22.1Ubhayattha kaṭaggāho,That faithful householder of discernment22.2saddhassa gharamesino;holds a winning hand on both counts:22.3Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya,welfare and benefit in this life,22.4samparāyasukhāya ca;and happiness in lives to come.22.5Evametaṁ gahaṭṭhānaṁ,This is how, for a householder,22.6cāgo puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati.merit grows by generosity.

23.1Tatheva ariyavinaye,In the same way, in the Noble One’s training,23.2saddhā yassa patiṭṭhitā;whoever is grounded in faith,23.3Hirīmano ca ottappī,with conscience and prudence,23.4paññavā sīlasaṁvuto.wise, and ethically restrained,

24.1Eso kho ariyavinaye,is said to live happily24.2‘sukhajīvī’ti vuccati;in the Noble One’s training.24.3Nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ laddhā,After gaining pleasure not of the flesh,24.4upekkhaṁ adhitiṭṭhati.they concentrate on equanimity.

25.1Pañca nīvaraṇe hitvā,They give up the five hindrances,25.2niccaṁ āraddhavīriyo;constantly energetic,25.3Jhānāni upasampajja,and enter the absorptions,25.4ekodi nipako sato.unified, alert, and mindful.

26.1Evaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ,Truly knowing in this way26.2sabbasaṁyojanakkhaye;regards the ending of all fetters,26.3Sabbaso anupādāya,by not grasping in any way,26.4sammā cittaṁ vimuccati.their mind is rightly freed.

27.1Tassa sammā vimuttassa,∥To that unaffected one, rightly freed27.2ñāṇañce hoti tādino;with the end of the fetters of continued existence,27.3‘Akuppā me vimuttī’ti,the knowledge comes:27.4bhavasaṁyojanakkhaye.‘My freedom is unshakable.’

28.1Etaṁ kho paramaṁ ñāṇaṁ,This is the ultimate knowledge.28.2etaṁ sukhamanuttaraṁ;This is the supreme happiness.28.3Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ,Sorrowless, stainless, secure:28.4etaṁ ānaṇyamuttaman”ti.this is the highest freedom from debt.”

28.5Tatiyaṁ.