A deity engages the Buddha in verse on affluent, exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.28 Affluent

“Mahaddhanā mahābhogā,
raṭṭhavantopi khattiyā;
Aññamaññābhigijjhanti,
kāmesu analaṅkatā.

Tesu ussukkajātesu,
bhavasotānusārisu;
Kedha taṇhaṁ pajahiṁsu,
ke lokasmiṁ anussukā”ti.

“Hitvā agāraṁ pabbajitā,
hitvā puttaṁ pasuṁ piyaṁ;
Hitvā rāgañca dosañca,
avijjañca virājiya;
Khīṇāsavā arahanto,
te lokasmiṁ anussukā”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Mahaddhanā mahābhogā,

“The affluent and the wealthy,

raṭṭhavantopi khattiyā;

even the aristocrats who rule the land,

Aññamaññābhigijjhanti,

are jealous of each other,

kāmesu analaṅkatā.

insatiable in sensual pleasures.

Tesu ussukkajātesu,

Among those of such an avid nature,

bhavasotānusārisu;

flowing along the stream of lives,

Kedha taṇhaṁ pajahiṁsu,

who here has given up craving?

ke lokasmiṁ anussukā”ti.

Who in the world is not avid?”

“Hitvā agāraṁ pabbajitā,

“Having given up their home, their child, their cattle,

hitvā puttaṁ pasuṁ piyaṁ;

and all that they love, they went forth.

Hitvā rāgañca dosañca,

Having given up desire and hate,

avijjañca virājiya;

having dispelled ignorance,

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,

the perfected ones with defilements ended—

te lokasmiṁ anussukā”ti.

they in the world are not avid.”