The Buddha teaches on great sal trees, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.40 Great Sal Trees

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Katamāhi pañcahi? Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti; tacena vaḍḍhanti; papaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti; pheggunā vaḍḍhanti; sārena vaḍḍhanti. Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati. Katamāhi pañcahi? Saddhāya vaḍḍhati; sīlena vaḍḍhati; sutena vaḍḍhati; cāgena vaḍḍhati; paññāya vaḍḍhati. Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

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

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,
Saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ imaṁ;
Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti,
Puttadārā ca bandhavā;
Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca,
Ye cassa anujīvino.

Tyassa sīlavato sīlaṁ,
cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;
Passamānānukubbanti,
ye bhavanti vicakkhaṇā.

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

Dasamaṁ.

Sumanavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sumanā cundī uggaho,
sīho dānānisaṁsako;
Kālabhojanasaddhā ca,
puttasālehi te dasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

Katamāhi pañcahi?

What five?

Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti;

The branches, leaves, and foliage;

tacena vaḍḍhanti;

the bark;

papaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti;

the shoots;

pheggunā vaḍḍhanti;

the softwood;

sārena vaḍḍhanti.

and the hardwood.

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

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

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati.

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

Katamāhi pañcahi?

What five?

Saddhāya vaḍḍhati;

Faith,

sīlena vaḍḍhati;

ethics,

sutena vaḍḍhati;

learning,

cāgena vaḍḍhati;

generosity,

paññāya vaḍḍhati.

and wisdom.

Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

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

Yathā hi pabbato selo,

Supported by the mountain crags

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 kulaputtaṁ imaṁ;

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.

Tyassa sīlavato sīlaṁ,

Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous,

cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;

the generosity and good deeds,

Passamānānukubbanti,

those who see clearly

ye bhavanti 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.”

Dasamaṁ.

Sumanavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sumanā cundī uggaho,

sīho dānānisaṁsako;

Kālabhojanasaddhā ca,

puttasālehi te dasāti.

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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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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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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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