Nidhikaṇḍasuttaṁ: The Discourse on the Amount of Savings

Nidhikaṇḍasuttaṁ
The Discourse on the Amount of Savings

1. Nidhiṁ nidheti puriso gambhīre odakantike:
A man stores his savings in a deep pit close to water (thinking):

“Atthe kicce samuppanne atthāya me bhavissati,
“When a duty or need has arisen it will be there to help me,

2. rājato vā duruttassa, corato pīḷitassa vā,
to free me from a king if slandered, or from molestation

iṇassa vā pamokkhāya, dubbhikkhe āpadāsu vā”.
from a thief, or from a debt, or famine, or accident.”

Etad-atthāya lokasmiṁ nidhi nāma nidhīyati.
For this kind of help, savings are stored up in the world.

3. Tāva sunihito santo gambhīre odakantike,
Although it is well stored in a deep pit, close to water,

na sabbo sabbadā eva tassa taṁ upakappati,
still, it cannot help him in all things on every occasion,

4. nidhi vā ṭhānā cavati, saññā vā 'ssa vimuyhati,
for perhaps those savings are removed from that place, or he forgets the signs (telling where they lie),

nāgā vā apanāmenti, yakkhā vā pi haranti naṁ,
or nāgas take them away, or yakkhas carry them off,

5. appiyā vā pi dāyādā uddharanti apassato,
or the heirs he dislikes extract them unseen,

yadā puññakkhayo hoti sabbam-etaṁ vinassati.
and when his merit comes to an end all of it will be destroyed.

6. Yassa dānena sīlena, saṁyamena damena ca,
But that woman or man who through giving, virtue,

nidhī sunihito hoti, itthiyā purisassa vā,
restraint, and self-control has well stored up his savings,

7. cetiyamhi va Sanghe vā, puggale atithīsu vā,
(placing them) in a shrine, or in the Sangha, or in an individual, or a guest,

mātari pitari vā pi, atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari,
or in his mother or father, also in an elder brother,

8. eso nidhi sunihito, ajeyyo anugāmiko.
those savings are well stored up, they follow one, they do not decay.

Pahāya gamanīyesu, etaṁ ādāya gacchati.
(Riches) he gives up when he has to leave (this life) but this goes along (with him).

9. Asādhāraṇa-m-aññesaṁ, acorāharaṇo nidhi,
It is not shared with others, no thief carries those savings away,

kayirātha dhīro puññāni, yo nidhi anugāmiko.
the wise man should make merit, (for) those savings follow one along.

10. Esa devamanussānaṁ sabbakāmadado nidhi,
These savings satisfy every desire of gods and men,

yaṁ yad-evābhipatthenti sabbam-etena labbhati.
whatever they wish for, through this (merit) they receive all.

11. Suvaṇṇatā, sussaratā, susaṇṭhānasurūpatā,
A good appearance, a good voice, a good shape, a good form,

ādhipaccaparivāro, sabbam-etena labbhati.
sovereignty, and a retinue, through this (merit) they receive all.

12. Padesarajjaṁ, issariyaṁ, cakkavattisukham-pi yaṁ,
A local kingship, an empire, and whatever happiness a Wheel-Rolling (King) has,

devarajjam-pi dibbesu, sabbam-etena labbhati.
also godly kingship in the heavens, through this (merit) they receive all.

13. Mānusikā ca sampatti, devaloke ca yā rati,
Human good fortune, delight in the world of the gods,

yā ca Nibbānasampatti, sabbam-etena labbhati.
even the attainment of Emancipation, through this (merit) they receive all.

14. Mittasampadam-āgamma, yoniso ca payuñjato,
With the attainment of (good) friends, devotion to systematic (thought),

vijjā vimutti vasībhāvo sabbam-etena labbhati.
there is the power of understanding and freedom, through this (merit) they receive all.

15. Paṭisambhidā, vimokkhā ca, yā ca sāvakapāramī,
The discriminations, and the liberations, and whatever perfections the disciples have,

Paccekabodhi, Buddhabhūmi, sabbam-etena labbhati.
Independent Awakening, the Buddhas' ground, through this (merit) they receive all.

16. Evaṁ mahatthikā esā, yadidaṁ puññasampadā,
So this is of great benefit, that is to say, the attainment of merit,

tasmā dhīrā pasaṁsanti paṇḍitā katapuññataṁ.
therefore the wise and intelligent (always) praise the making of merit.

Nidhikaṇḍasuttaṁ Niṭṭhitaṁ
The Discourse on the Amount of Savings is Finished

Source

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