AN 5.41 Getting Rich

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Householder, there are these five reasons to get rich.

What five?

Firstly, with his legitimate wealth—earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow—a noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy.

He makes his mother and father happy …

He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy …

This is the first reason to get rich.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes his friends and colleagues happy …

This is the second reason to get rich.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he protects himself against losses from such things as fire, water, kings, bandits, or unloved heirs.

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He keeps himself safe.

This is the third reason to get rich.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes five spirit-offerings:

to relatives, guests, ancestors, king, and deities.

This is the fourth reason to get rich.

Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he establishes an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins—those who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves—that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.

This is the fifth reason to get rich.

These are the five reasons to get rich.

Now if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons run out, he thinks:

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are running out.’

And so he has no regrets.

But if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons increase, he thinks:

‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are increasing.’

And so he has no regrets in both cases.

‘I’ve enjoyed my wealth, supporting those who depend on me;

I’ve overcome losses;

I’ve given uplifting religious donations;

and made the five spirit-offerings.

I have looked after the ethical and

disciplined spiritual practitioners.

I’ve achieved the goal

for which an astute layperson

wishes to gain wealth.

I don’t regret what I’ve done.’

A mortal man who recollects this

stands firm in the teaching of the noble ones.

They’re praised in this life by the astute,

and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

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Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“pañcime, gahapati, bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

Katame pañca?

Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati;

puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

Ayaṁ paṭhamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati.

Ayaṁ dutiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi yā tā honti āpadā—

aggito vā udakato vā rājato vā corato vā appiyato vā dāyādato—

tathārūpāsu āpadāsu bhogehi pariyodhāya vattati, sotthiṁ attānaṁ karoti.

Ayaṁ tatiyo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi pañcabaliṁ kattā hoti.

Ñātibaliṁ, atithibaliṁ, pubbapetabaliṁ, rājabaliṁ, devatābaliṁ—

ayaṁ catuttho bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

Puna caparaṁ, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā madappamādā paṭiviratā khantisoracce niviṭṭhā ekamattānaṁ damenti ekamattānaṁ samenti ekamattānaṁ parinibbāpenti, tathārūpesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

Ayaṁ pañcamo bhogānaṁ ādiyo.

Ime kho, gahapati, pañca bhogānaṁ ādiyā.

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me parikkhayaṁ gacchantī’ti.

Itissa hoti avippaṭisāro.

Tassa ce, gahapati, ariyasāvakassa ime pañca bhogānaṁ ādiye ādiyato bhogā abhivaḍḍhanti, tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘ye vata bhogānaṁ ādiyā te cāhaṁ ādiyāmi bhogā ca me abhivaḍḍhantī’ti.

Itissa hoti ubhayeneva avippaṭisāroti.

Bhuttā bhogā bhatā bhaccā,

vitiṇṇā āpadāsu me;

Uddhaggā dakkhiṇā dinnā,

atho pañcabalīkatā;

Upaṭṭhitā sīlavanto,

saññatā brahmacārayo.

Yadatthaṁ bhogaṁ iccheyya,

paṇḍito gharamāvasaṁ;

So me attho anuppatto,

kataṁ ananutāpiyaṁ.

Etaṁ anussaraṁ macco,

ariyadhamme ṭhito naro;

Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,

pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.