King Pasenadi of Kosala visits the Buddha and discusses childless (1st), receiving guidance on conduct, wisdom, and the spiritual life.

SN 3.19 Childless (1st)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “handa kuto nu tvaṁ, mahārāja, āgacchasi divā divassā”ti?

“Idha, bhante, sāvatthiyaṁ seṭṭhi gahapati kālaṅkato. Tamahaṁ aputtakaṁ sāpateyyaṁ rājantepuraṁ atiharitvā āgacchāmi. Asīti, bhante, satasahassāni hiraññasseva, ko pana vādo rūpiyassa. Tassa kho pana, bhante, seṭṭhissa gahapatissa evarūpo bhattabhogo ahosi kaṇājakaṁ bhuñjati bilaṅgadutiyaṁ. Evarūpo vatthabhogo ahosi sāṇaṁ dhāreti tipakkhavasanaṁ. Evarūpo yānabhogo ahosi jajjararathakena yāti paṇṇachattakena dhāriyamānenā”ti.

“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja. Asappuriso kho, mahārāja, uḷāre bhoge labhitvā nevattānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, na puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, na mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, na samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ. Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamāne rājāno haranti corā haranti aggi ḍahati udakaṁ vahati appiyā dāyādā haranti. Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā aparibhuñjiyamānā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, no paribhogaṁ.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, amanussaṭṭhāne pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā. Taṁ jano neva hareyya na piveyya na nahāyeyya na yathāpaccayaṁ kareyya. Evañhi taṁ, mahārāja, udakaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamānaṁ parikkhayaṁ gaccheyya, no paribhogaṁ.

Evameva kho, mahārāja, asappuriso uḷāre bhoge labhitvā nevattānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, na puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, na mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, na samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ. Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamāne rājāno haranti, corā haranti, aggi ḍahati, udakaṁ vahati, appiyā dāyādā haranti. Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā aparibhuñjiyamānā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, no paribhogaṁ.

Sappuriso ca kho, mahārāja, uḷāre bhoge labhitvā attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ. Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamāne neva rājāno haranti, na corā haranti, na aggi ḍahati, na udakaṁ vahati, na appiyā dāyādā haranti. Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā paribhuñjiyamānā paribhogaṁ gacchanti, no parikkhayaṁ.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, gāmassa nigamassa avidūre pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā. Tañca udakaṁ jano hareyyapi piveyyapi nahāyeyyapi yathāpaccayampi kareyya. Evañhi taṁ, mahārāja, udakaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamānaṁ paribhogaṁ gaccheyya, no parikkhayaṁ.

Evameva kho, mahārāja, sappuriso uḷāre bhoge labhitvā attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ. Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamāne neva rājāno haranti, na corā haranti, na aggi ḍahati, na udakaṁ vahati, na appiyā dāyādā haranti. Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā paribhuñjiyamānā paribhogaṁ gacchanti, no parikkhayan”ti.

“Amanussaṭṭhāne udakaṁva sītaṁ,
Tadapeyyamānaṁ parisosameti;
Evaṁ dhanaṁ kāpuriso labhitvā,
Nevattanā bhuñjati no dadāti.

Dhīro ca viññū adhigamma bhoge,
So bhuñjati kiccakaro ca hoti;
So ñātisaṅghaṁ nisabho bharitvā,
Anindito saggamupeti ṭhānan”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha in the middle of the day, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,

“handa kuto nu tvaṁ, mahārāja, āgacchasi divā divassā”ti?

“So, great king, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?”

“Idha, bhante, sāvatthiyaṁ seṭṭhi gahapati kālaṅkato.

“Sir, here in Sāvatthī a financier householder has passed away.

Tamahaṁ aputtakaṁ sāpateyyaṁ rājantepuraṁ atiharitvā āgacchāmi.

Since he died childless, I have come after transferring his fortune to the royal compound.

Asīti, bhante, satasahassāni hiraññasseva, ko pana vādo rūpiyassa.

There was eight million in gold coin, not to mention the silver coin.

Tassa kho pana, bhante, seṭṭhissa gahapatissa evarūpo bhattabhogo ahosi

And yet that financier ate meals of

kaṇājakaṁ bhuñjati bilaṅgadutiyaṁ.

rough gruel with false black pepper.

Evarūpo vatthabhogo ahosi

He wore clothes consisting of

sāṇaṁ dhāreti tipakkhavasanaṁ.

three patches of sunn hemp.

Evarūpo yānabhogo ahosi

He traveled around in a vehicle that was

jajjararathakena yāti paṇṇachattakena dhāriyamānenā”ti.

a dilapidated little cart, holding a leaf as parasol.”

“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja.

“That’s so true, great king! That’s so true!

Asappuriso kho, mahārāja, uḷāre bhoge labhitvā nevattānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, na puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, na mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, na samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

When an untrue person has acquired notable wealth they don’t make themselves happy and pleased. Nor do they make their mother and father, partners and children, bondservants, workers, and staff, and friends and colleagues happy and pleased. And they don’t establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.

Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamāne rājāno haranti corā haranti aggi ḍahati udakaṁ vahati appiyā dāyādā haranti.

Because they haven’t made proper use of that wealth, rulers or bandits take it, or fire consumes it, or flood sweeps it away, or unloved heirs take it.

Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā aparibhuñjiyamānā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, no paribhogaṁ.

Since that wealth is not properly utilized, it’s wasted, not used.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, amanussaṭṭhāne pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.

Suppose there was a lotus pond in an uninhabited region with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.

Taṁ jano neva hareyya na piveyya na nahāyeyya na yathāpaccayaṁ kareyya.

But people don’t collect it or drink it or bathe in it or use it for any purpose.

Evañhi taṁ, mahārāja, udakaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamānaṁ parikkhayaṁ gaccheyya, no paribhogaṁ.

Since that water is not properly utilized, it’s wasted, not used.

Evameva kho, mahārāja, asappuriso uḷāre bhoge labhitvā nevattānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, na puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, na mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, na samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

In the same way, when an untrue person has acquired notable wealth …

Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā aparibhuñjiyamāne rājāno haranti, corā haranti, aggi ḍahati, udakaṁ vahati, appiyā dāyādā haranti.

Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā aparibhuñjiyamānā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, no paribhogaṁ.

it’s wasted, not used.

Sappuriso ca kho, mahārāja, uḷāre bhoge labhitvā attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

When a true person has acquired notable wealth they make themselves happy and pleased. And they make their mother and father, partners and children, bondservants, workers, and staff, and friends and colleagues happy and pleased. And they establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.

Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamāne neva rājāno haranti, na corā haranti, na aggi ḍahati, na udakaṁ vahati, na appiyā dāyādā haranti.

Because they make proper use of that wealth, rulers or bandits don’t take it, fire doesn’t consume it, flood doesn’t sweep it away, and unloved heirs don’t take it.

Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā paribhuñjiyamānā paribhogaṁ gacchanti, no parikkhayaṁ.

Since that wealth is properly utilized, it’s used, not wasted.

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, gāmassa nigamassa avidūre pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.

Suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.

Tañca udakaṁ jano hareyyapi piveyyapi nahāyeyyapi yathāpaccayampi kareyya.

And people collected it and drank it and bathed in it and used it for their own purpose.

Evañhi taṁ, mahārāja, udakaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamānaṁ paribhogaṁ gaccheyya, no parikkhayaṁ.

Since that water is properly utilized, it’s used, not wasted.

Evameva kho, mahārāja, sappuriso uḷāre bhoge labhitvā attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti, puttadāraṁ sukheti pīṇeti, dāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti, mittāmacce sukheti pīṇeti, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṁ dakkhiṇaṁ patiṭṭhāpeti sovaggikaṁ sukhavipākaṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

In the same way, when a true person has acquired notable wealth …

Tassa te bhoge evaṁ sammā paribhuñjiyamāne neva rājāno haranti, na corā haranti, na aggi ḍahati, na udakaṁ vahati, na appiyā dāyādā haranti.

Evaṁsa te, mahārāja, bhogā sammā paribhuñjiyamānā paribhogaṁ gacchanti, no parikkhayan”ti.

it’s used, not wasted.

“Amanussaṭṭhāne udakaṁva sītaṁ,

As cool water in an uninhabited region

Tadapeyyamānaṁ parisosameti;

evaporates when not drunk;

Evaṁ dhanaṁ kāpuriso labhitvā,

so too when a reprobate acquires wealth,

Nevattanā bhuñjati no dadāti.

they neither use it themselves nor give it away.

Dhīro ca viññū adhigamma bhoge,

When the attentive and sensible acquire wealth,

So bhuñjati kiccakaro ca hoti;

they use it, being dutiful.

So ñātisaṅghaṁ nisabho bharitvā,

That boss, having supported the family unit,

Anindito saggamupeti ṭhānan”ti.

blameless, goes to a heavenly place.”

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026