SN 11.14 Poor

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññataro puriso imasmiṁyeva rājagahe manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a poor person, destitute and pitiful.

So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi.

They took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.

So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajji devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.

After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.

So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā ca.

There they outshone the other gods in beauty and glory.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:

But the gods of the thirty-three complained, grumbled, and objected,

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing!

Ayañhi devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko;

For when this godling was a human being in their past life they were poor, destitute, and pitiful.

so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.

And when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.

So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.

Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three,

‘mā kho tumhe, mārisā, etassa devaputtassa ujjhāyittha.

‘Good fellows, don’t complain about this god.

Eso kho, mārisā, devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi.

When this godling was a human being in their past life they took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.

So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.

After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they’ve been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.

So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.

Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse:

‘Yassa saddhā tathāgate,

‘Whoever has faith in the Realized One,

acalā suppatiṭṭhitā;

unwavering and well grounded;

Sīlañca yassa kalyāṇaṁ,

whose ethical conduct is good,

ariyakantaṁ pasaṁsitaṁ.

praised and loved by the noble ones;

Saṅghe pasādo yassatthi,

who has confidence in the Saṅgha,

ujubhūtañca dassanaṁ;

and correct view:

Adaliddoti taṁ āhu,

they’re said to be prosperous,

amoghaṁ tassa jīvitaṁ.

their life is not in vain.

Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca,

So let the wise devote themselves

pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ;

to faith, ethical behaviour,

Anuyuñjetha medhāvī,

confidence, and insight into the teaching,

saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan’”ti.

remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.’”