Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi—
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then, when the night had advanced, a certain deity, of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’s grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood at one side. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Blessed One with a verse:
“Bahū devā manussā ca,
maṅgalāni acintayuṁ;
Ākaṅkhamānā sotthānaṁ,
brūhi maṅgalamuttamaṁ”.
“Many |deities::gods [devas]| and human beings,
have pondered over |blessings::prosperity, lit. auspicious [maṅgala]|;
Desiring |well-being::safety, sanctuary [sotthāna]|, [they ask],
Tell us the highest blessing.”
“Asevanā ca bālānaṁ,
paṇḍitānañca sevanā;
Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṁ,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
“Not associating with the |immature::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|,
associating with the |wise::astute, intelligent, learned, skilled [paṇḍita]|;
honoring those worthy of veneration—
This is the highest blessing.
Patirūpadesavāso ca,
pubbe ca katapuññatā;
Attasammāpaṇidhi ca,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Living in a suitable place,
having made merit in the past,
being rightly resolved in oneself—
This is the highest blessing.
Bāhusaccañca sippañca,
vinayo ca susikkhito;
Subhāsitā ca yā vācā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Deep learning and skill,
|discipline::training [vinaya]| thoroughly mastered,
speech that is well-spoken—
This is the highest blessing.
Mātāpituupaṭṭhānaṁ,
puttadārassa saṅgaho;
Anākulā ca kammantā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Caring for one’s mother and father,
supporting one’s wife and children,
and work that is |not stressful::not entangled [anākula]|—
This is the highest blessing.
Dānañca dhammacariyā ca,
ñātakānañca saṅgaho;
Anavajjāni kammāni,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Generosity and righteous conduct,
looking after one’s relatives,
and |irreproachable::blameless [anavajja]| in actions—
This is the highest blessing.
Āratī viratī pāpā,
majjapānā ca saṁyamo;
Appamādo ca dhammesu,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Abstaining and refraining from |injurious actions::harmful, bad, potentially evil deeds [pāpā]|,
restraint regarding intoxicating drinks,
and |diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]| in the Dhamma—
This is the highest blessing.
Gāravo ca nivāto ca,
santuṭṭhi ca kataññutā;
Kālena dhammassavanaṁ,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
Respect and |humility::humility, politeness [nivāta]|,
|contentment::satisfaction [santuṭṭhi]| and |gratitude::thankfulness, appreciativeness [kataññutā]|,
listening to the Dhamma at |suitable time::an appropriate occasion [kāla]|—
This is the highest blessing.
Khantī ca sovacassatā,
samaṇānañca dassanaṁ;
Kālena dhammasākacchā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
|Patience::acceptance, receptivity in emotional or interpersonal contexts [khantī]| and |being easy to instruct::amenability to correction [sovacassatā]|,
seeing the |contemplatives::ascetics, holy men; lit. who make an effort [samaṇā]|,
and timely Dhamma discussion—
This is the highest blessing.
Tapo ca brahmacariyañca,
ariyasaccāna dassanaṁ;
Nibbānasacchikiriyā ca,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
|Austerity::ascetic practice, spiritual practice [tapa]| and leading the spiritual life,
vision of the Noble truths,
and |the realization of Nibbāna::personally experiencing liberation [nibbānasacchikiriyā]|—
This is the highest blessing.
Phuṭṭhassa lokadhammehi,
cittaṁ yassa na kampati;
Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.
When touched by the vicissitudes of life,
whose mind does not waver,
|sorrow-free::free from sadness [asoka]|, |unblemished::pure, stainless [viraja]|, and secure—
This is the highest blessing.
Etādisāni katvāna,
Sabbattha maparājitā;
Sabbattha sotthiṁ gacchanti,
Taṁ tesaṁ maṅgalamuttaman”ti.
Having fulfilled these conditions [for blessings],
they are undefeated in every way,
everywhere they go in safety—
This is their highest blessing.”