4. Sumanavagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.38

Numbered Discourses 5.38

4. Sumanavagga

4. With Sumanā

Saddhasutta

Faith

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā.

“Mendicants, a faithful gentleman gets five benefits.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Ye te, bhikkhave, loke santo sappurisā te saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ anukampantā anukampanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

The true persons in the world show sympathy first to the faithful, not so much to the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ upasaṅkamantā upasaṅkamanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first approach the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ paṭiggaṇhantā paṭiggaṇhanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first receive alms from the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ desentā desenti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first teach Dhamma to the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddho kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, the faithful are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā.

A faithful gentleman gets these five benefits.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe mahānigrodho samantā pakkhīnaṁ paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti;

Suppose there was a great banyan tree at a level crossroads. It would become a refuge for birds from all around.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddho kulaputto bahuno janassa paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānanti.

In the same way, a faithful gentleman becomes a refuge for many people—monks, nuns, laywomen, and laymen.

Sākhāpattaphalūpeto,

With its branches, leaves, and fruit,

khandhimāva mahādumo;

a great tree with its strong trunk,

Mūlavā phalasampanno,

firmly-rooted and fruit-bearing,

patiṭṭhā hoti pakkhinaṁ.

supports many birds.

Manorame āyatane,

It’s a lovely place,

sevanti naṁ vihaṅgamā;

frequented by the sky-soarers.

Chāyaṁ chāyatthikā yanti,

Those that need shade go in the shade,

phalatthā phalabhojino.

those that need fruit enjoy the fruit.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,

So too, a faithful individual

saddhaṁ purisapuggalaṁ;

is perfect in ethics,

Nivātavuttiṁ atthaddhaṁ,

placid in manner and amenable,

sorataṁ sakhilaṁ muduṁ.

gentle, courteous, and tender.

Vītarāgā vītadosā,

Those free of greed, freed of hate,

vītamohā anāsavā;

free of delusion, undefiled,

Puññakkhettāni lokasmiṁ,

fields of merit for the world,

sevanti tādisaṁ naraṁ.

associate with such a person.

Te tassa dhammaṁ desenti,

They teach them the Dhamma,

Sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ;

that casts aside all suffering.

Yaṁ so dhammaṁ idhaññāya,

Having understood this teaching,

Parinibbāti anāsavo”ti.

the undefiled one is fully extinguished.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.