The Buddha teaches a repeated simile chapter on hard work, seeds, dragons, trees, pots, spikes, atmosphere, clouds, ships, guest houses, and rivers, showing how the four right efforts are grounded on ethics in this grouped discourse.

SN 49.23-34 Hard Work, Etc.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkarotī”ti.

(Evaṁ balakaraṇīyavaggo sammappadhānavasena vitthāretabbo.)

Dvādasamaṁ.

Balakaraṇīyavaggo tatiyo.

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 kayiranti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā kayiranti;

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

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti.

In the same way, a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkaroti?

How so?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati …pe…

It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. …

uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya cattāro sammappadhāne bhāveti, cattāro sammappadhāne bahulīkarotī”ti.

That’s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the four right efforts depending on and grounded on ethics.”

(Evaṁ balakaraṇīyavaggo sammappadhānavasena vitthāretabbo.)

(Tell in full as in SN 45.149–160.)

Dvādasamaṁ.

Balakaraṇīyavaggo tatiyo.

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.

Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

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

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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