The Buddha describes the four situations.

AN 4.31 Situations

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, cakkāni, yehi samannāgatānaṁ devamanussānaṁ catucakkaṁ vattati, yehi samannāgatā devamanussā nacirasseva mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇanti bhogesu. Katamāni cattāri? Patirūpadesavāso, sappurisāvassayo, attasammāpaṇidhi, pubbe ca katapuññatā

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri cakkāni, yehi samannāgatānaṁ devamanussānaṁ catucakkaṁ vattati, yehi samannāgatā devamanussā nacirasseva mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇanti bhogesūti.

Patirūpe vase dese,
ariyamittakaro siyā;
Sammāpaṇidhisampanno,
pubbe puññakato naro;
Dhaññaṁ dhanaṁ yaso kitti,
sukhañcetaṁdhivattatī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, cakkāni, yehi samannāgatānaṁ devamanussānaṁ catucakkaṁ vattati, yehi samannāgatā devamanussā nacirasseva mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇanti bhogesu.

“Mendicants, there are these four situations. When these situations come about, any god or human who takes advantage of them will soon acquire great and abundant wealth.

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

Patirūpadesavāso, sappurisāvassayo, attasammāpaṇidhi, pubbe ca katapuññatā

Living in a suitable region, relying on true persons, being rightly resolved in oneself, and past merit.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri cakkāni, yehi samannāgatānaṁ devamanussānaṁ catucakkaṁ vattati, yehi samannāgatā devamanussā nacirasseva mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇanti bhogesūti.

These are the four situations. When these situations come about, any god or human who takes advantage of them will soon acquire great and abundant wealth.

Patirūpe vase dese,

When a man lives in a suitable region,

ariyamittakaro siyā;

making friends with noble ones,

Sammāpaṇidhisampanno,

possessing right resolve,

pubbe puññakato naro;

and having merit from the past,

Dhaññaṁ dhanaṁ yaso kitti,

grain, riches, fame, reputation,

sukhañcetaṁdhivattatī”ti.

and happiness come to them.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026