The Buddha teaches on the king of mountains, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.48 The King of Mountains

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Katamāhi tīhi? Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti, tacapapaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti, pheggusārena vaḍḍhanti. Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati. Katamāhi tīhi? Saddhāya vaḍḍhati, sīlena vaḍḍhati, paññāya vaḍḍhati. Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

Yathāpi pabbato selo,
araññasmiṁ brahāvane;
Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya,
vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,
saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ idha;
Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti,
puttadārā ca bandhavā;
Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca,
ye cassa anujīvino.

Tyāssa sīlavato sīlaṁ,
cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;
Passamānānukubbanti,
attamatthaṁ vicakkhaṇā.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,
maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ;
Nandino devalokasmiṁ,
modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

“Mendicants, great sal trees grow in three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

Katamāhi tīhi?

What three?

Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti, tacapapaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti, pheggusārena vaḍḍhanti.

The branches, leaves, and foliage; the bark and shoots; and the softwood and heartwood.

Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

Great sal trees grow in these three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati.

In the same way, a family grows in three ways supported by a family head with faith.

Katamāhi tīhi?

What three?

Saddhāya vaḍḍhati, sīlena vaḍḍhati, paññāya vaḍḍhati.

Faith, ethics, and wisdom.

Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

A family grows in these three ways supported by a family head with faith.

Yathāpi pabbato selo,

Supported by the rocky mountain

araññasmiṁ brahāvane;

in the wilds, the formidable forest,

Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya,

the tree grows

vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.

to become lord of the forest.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,

So too, when the family head

saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ idha;

is ethical and faithful,

Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti,

supported by them, they grow:

puttadārā ca bandhavā;

children, partners, and kin,

Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca,

colleagues, relatives,

ye cassa anujīvino.

and those dependent for their livelihood.

Tyāssa sīlavato sīlaṁ,

Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous,

cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;

the generosity and good deeds,

Passamānānukubbanti,

those who see clearly

attamatthaṁ vicakkhaṇā.

do likewise.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,

Having practiced the teaching here,

maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ;

the path that goes to a good place,

Nandino devalokasmiṁ,

they delight in the heavenly realm,

modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026