The Buddha presents a repeated teaching on the four establishments of mindfulness regarding hard work, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 47.73-84 Hard Work, Etc.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyantī”ti

vitthāretabbaṁ.

Balakaraṇīyavaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Balaṁ bījañca nāgo ca,
rukkho kumbhena sūkiyā;
Ākāsena ca dve meghā,
nāvā āgantukā nadīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyantī”ti

“Mendicants, all the hard work that gets done depends on the earth and is grounded on the earth. …”

vitthāretabbaṁ.

(Tell in full as in SN 45.149–160.)

Balakaraṇīyavaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Balaṁ bījañca nāgo ca,

Hard work, seeds, and dragons,

rukkho kumbhena sūkiyā;

a tree, a pot, and a spike,

Ākāsena ca dve meghā,

the atmosphere, and two on clouds,

nāvā āgantukā nadīti.

a ship, a guest house, and a river.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Mendicants, all the hard work that gets done depends on the earth and is grounded on the earth. …”

(Tell in full as in SN 45.149–160.)

Hard work, seeds, and dragons,

a tree, a pot, and a spike,

the atmosphere, and two on clouds,

a ship, a guest house, and a river.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyantī”ti

vitthāretabbaṁ.

Balakaraṇīyavaggo aṭṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Balaṁ bījañca nāgo ca,

rukkho kumbhena sūkiyā;

Ākāsena ca dve meghā,

nāvā āgantukā nadīti.

Qualities:

Last updated on July 27, 2026