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Itivuttaka 76

Sukhapatthanāsutta

Wishing for Happiness · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito.
Katamāni tīṇi?
Pasaṁsā me āgacchatūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, bhogā me uppajjantūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissāmīti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito.
Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.
Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Mendicants, an astute person who wishes for three kinds of happiness should take care of their ethics. What three? ‘May I be praised!’ ‘May I become rich!’ ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’ An astute person who wishes for these three kinds of happiness should protect their precepts.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Sīlaṁ rakkheyya medhāvī,
patthayāno tayo sukhe;
Pasaṁsaṁ vittalābhañca,
pecca sagge pamodanaṁ.

“Wishing for three kinds of happiness— praise, prosperity, and to delight in heaven after passing away— the wise would take care of their ethics.

Akarontopi ce pāpaṁ,
karontamupasevati;
Saṅkiyo hoti pāpasmiṁ,
avaṇṇo cassa rūhati.

Though you do no wrong, if you associate with one who does, you’re suspected of wrong, and your disrepute grows.

Yādisaṁ kurute mittaṁ,
yādisaṁ cūpasevati;
Sa ve tādisako hoti,
sahavāso hi tādiso.

Whatever kind of friend you make, with whom you associate, that’s how you become, for so it is when you share your life.

Sevamāno sevamānaṁ,
samphuṭṭho samphusaṁ paraṁ;
Saro diddho kalāpaṁva,
alittamupalimpati;
Upalepabhayā dhīro,
neva pāpasakhā siyā.

The one who associates and the one associated with, the one contacted and the one who contacts another, are like an arrow smeared with poison that contaminates the quiver. The attentive, fearing contamination, would never have wicked comrades.

Pūtimacchaṁ kusaggena,
yo naro upanayhati;
Kusāpi pūti vāyanti,
evaṁ bālūpasevanā.

A man who wraps putrid fish in blades of grass makes the grass stink— so it is when associating with fools.

Tagarañca palāsena,
yo naro upanayhati;
Pattāpi surabhi vāyanti,
evaṁ dhīrūpasevanā.

But one who wraps sandalwood incense in leaves makes the leaves fragrant— so it is when associating with the attentive.

Tasmā pattapuṭasseva,
ñatvā sampākamattano;
Asante nupaseveyya,
sante seveyya paṇḍito;
Asanto nirayaṁ nenti,
santo pāpenti suggatin”ti.

So, knowing they’ll end up like the wrapping, the astute would shun the wicked, and befriend the good. The wicked lead you to hell, the good help you to a good place.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
Sattamaṁ.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

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