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Khuddakapāṭha 8

Nidhikaṇḍasutta

Storing Your Savings · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Nidhiṁ nidheti puriso,
gambhīre odakantike;
Atthe kicce samuppanne,
atthāya me bhavissati.

A person stores away their savings in a deep trove by the water’s edge: “When need arises it will be there to help

Rājato vā duruttassa,
corato pīḷitassa vā;
Iṇassa vā pamokkhāya,
dubbhikkhe āpadāsu vā;
Etadatthāya lokasmiṁ,
nidhi nāma nidhīyati.

free me from rulers if I am slandered, or from bandits if harassed, or to release me from debt, or in case of famine or losses.” What the world calls savings get stored away for such reasons.

Tāvassunihito santo,
gambhīre odakantike;
Na sabbo sabbadā eva,
tassa taṁ upakappati.

But no matter how well stored away they are in a deep pit by the water’s edge, all their savings will fail to aid them all the time.

Nidhi vā ṭhānā cavati,
saññā vāssa vimuyhati;
Nāgā vā apanāmenti,
yakkhā vāpi haranti naṁ.

For perhaps those savings shift from there, or they forget what marks the site, or dragons make off with them, or spirits carry them away,

Appiyā vāpi dāyādā,
uddharanti apassato;
Yadā puññakkhayo hoti,
sabbametaṁ vinassati.

or unloved heirs secretly unearth them. When their merit is used up, all of that will vanish.

Yassa dānena sīlena,
saṁyamena damena ca;
Nidhī sunihito hoti,
itthiyā purisassa vā.

But by giving and morality, restraint and self-control, a woman or man keeps their savings safe.

Cetiyamhi ca saṅghe vā,
puggale atithīsu vā;
Mātari pitari cāpi,
atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari.

At a shrine or with the Saṅgha, with mother or father, or else an elder sibling,

Eso nidhi sunihito,
ajeyyo anugāmiko;
Pahāya gamanīyesu,
etaṁ ādāya gacchati.

those savings are kept safe, they stay with you, undecaying. We must go on leaving all behind, only this you take when you go.

Asādhāraṇamaññesaṁ,
acorāharaṇo nidhi;
Kayirātha dhīro puññāni,
yo nidhi anugāmiko.

You don’t have to share it with others, no thief makes off with your savings. An attentive one would make merit, the savings that stay with you.

Esa devamanussānaṁ,
sabbakāmadado nidhi;
Yaṁ yadevābhipatthenti,
sabbametena labbhati.

Such savings grant every desire of gods and humans too. Whatever it is that they wish for through this they have it all.

Suvaṇṇatā susaratā,
susaṇṭhānā surūpatā;
Ādhipaccaparivāro,
sabbametena labbhati.

Good looks, a sweet voice, a good shape, and good appearance, leadership and followers: through this they have it all.

Padesarajjaṁ issariyaṁ,
cakkavattisukhaṁ piyaṁ;
Devarajjampi dibbesu,
sabbametena labbhati.

Sovereignty of a local kingdom, the happiness of a Wheel-Turning Monarch, even kingship in the heavens: through this they have it all.

Mānussikā ca sampatti,
devaloke ca yā rati;
Yā ca nibbānasampatti,
sabbametena labbhati.

Human success, heavenly delight, attaining extinguishment: through this they have it all.

Mittasampadamāgamma,
yonisova payuñjato;
Vijjāvimuttivasībhāvo,
sabbametena labbhati.

Relying on having good friends, rational application of effort, mastery of knowledge and freedom: through this they have it all.

Paṭisambhidā vimokkhā ca,
yā ca sāvakapāramī;
Paccekabodhi buddhabhūmi,
sabbametena labbhati.

Analytical knowledge, the liberations, the perfections of the disciple, the plane of an independent Buddha: through this they have it all.

Evaṁ mahatthikā esā,
yadidaṁ puññasampadā;
Tasmā dhīrā pasaṁsanti,
paṇḍitā katapuññatanti.

This accomplishment in merit is so very beneficial. That’s why the attentive and the astute praise the making of merit.

Nidhikaṇḍasuttaṁ.

The Discourse on the Store of Treasure.

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