Nidhiṁ nidheti puriso,
gambhīre odakantike;
Atthe kicce samuppanne,
atthāya me bhavissati.
A man buries a treasure
in a deep pit by the water’s edge;
thinking: “When a need or emergency arises,
it will be of use to me.”
Rājato vā duruttassa,
corato pīḷitassa vā;
Iṇassa vā pamokkhāya,
dubbhikkhe āpadāsu vā;
Etadatthāya lokasmiṁ,
nidhi nāma nidhīyati.
Whether falsely accused by the king,
or oppressed by a thief;
or for freeing oneself from debt,
or during famine or misfortune;
for such purposes in the world,
a treasure is hidden away.
Tāvassunihito santo,
gambhīre odakantike;
Na sabbo sabbadā eva,
tassa taṁ upakappati.
Although it is well stored
in a deep pit by the water’s edge;
not all of it will always
be of use to him.
Nidhi vā ṭhānā cavati,
saññā vāssa vimuyhati;
Nāgā vā apanāmenti,
yakkhā vāpi haranti naṁ.
Either the treasure shifts from its place,
or he may forget where it lies;
or |nāgas::reference to serpent beings [nāgā]| may |move it::lit. causes to bend away [apanāmeti]|,
or |native spirits::a spirit that may be protective or malevolent, a daemon, or a supernatural being [yakkhā]| may carry it away.
Appiyā vāpi dāyādā,
uddharanti apassato;
Yadā puññakkhayo hoti,
sabbametaṁ vinassati.
Or unloved heirs may dig it up,
while he is not aware;
and when his merit is exhausted,
all of it |perishes::disappears, vanishes [vinassati]| entirely.
Yassa dānena sīlena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Nidhī sunihito hoti,
itthiyā purisassa vā.
But through |generosity::the act of giving or donating [dāna]| and |virtue::moral conduct, ethical behavior [sīla]|,
through |restraint::self-control [saṁyama]| and |discipline::taming [dama]|;
a treasure is well stored away,
by a woman or a man.
Cetiyamhi ca saṅghe vā,
puggale atithīsu vā;
Mātari pitari cāpi,
atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari.
In a sacred shrine or the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]|,
in a person or in guests;
in a mother and a father,
or even in an elder brother—
Eso nidhi sunihito,
ajeyyo anugāmiko;
Pahāya gamanīyesu,
etaṁ ādāya gacchati.
This is a treasure well stored,
inviolable, it follows one along;
when leaving all that must be left behind,
this he takes with him as he goes.
Asādhāraṇamaññesaṁ,
acorāharaṇo nidhi;
Kayirātha dhīro puññāni,
yo nidhi anugāmiko.
A treasure not shared with others,
that thieves cannot carry away;
the wise should make such merit,
a treasure that follows one along.
Esa devamanussānaṁ,
sabbakāmadado nidhi;
Yaṁ yadevābhipatthenti,
sabbametena labbhati.
This is a treasure for gods and humans,
that gives all that is desired;
whatever it is they wish for,
all of it is obtained by this.
Suvaṇṇatā susaratā,
susaṇṭhānā surūpatā;
Ādhipaccaparivāro,
sabbametena labbhati.
A beautiful complexion, a pleasing voice,
a graceful figure, and good looks;
|leadership::rulership, sovereignty [ādhipacca]| and |following::entourage, retinue [parivāra]|,
all of it is obtained by this.
Padesarajjaṁ issariyaṁ,
cakkavattisukhaṁ piyaṁ;
Devarajjampi dibbesu,
sabbametena labbhati.
Regional kingship and dominion,
the cherished happiness of a universal monarch;
even divine kingship among the gods,
all of it is obtained by this.
Mānussikā ca sampatti,
devaloke ca yā rati;
Yā ca nibbānasampatti,
sabbametena labbhati.
All human |prosperity::good fortune, success, welfare [sampatti]|,
and the delights of the heavenly realm;
even the attainment of |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating; lit. blowing away [nibbāna]|,
all of it is obtained by this.
Mittasampadamāgamma,
yonisova payuñjato;
Vijjāvimuttivasībhāvo,
sabbametena labbhati.
The blessing of good friends,
applying oneself wisely;
mastery of |true knowledge and liberation::emancipation through wisdom [vijjāvimutti]|,
all of it is obtained by this.
Paṭisambhidā vimokkhā ca,
yā ca sāvakapāramī;
Paccekabodhi buddhabhūmi,
sabbametena labbhati.
|Analytical knowledge::penetrating insight [paṭisambhidā]| and |deliverance::release, emancipation, freedom [vimokkha]|,
and the fulfillment of discipleship;
|personal awakening::individual enlightenment [paccekabodhi]| and the state of Buddhahood,
all of it is obtained by this.
Evaṁ mahatthikā esā,
yadidaṁ puññasampadā;
Tasmā dhīrā pasaṁsanti,
paṇḍitā katapuññatanti.
So incredibly beneficial is this,
namely, the wealth of merit;
therefore the |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| and the |wise::astute, intelligent, learned, skilled [paṇḍita]|
praise the making of merit.