Storing Your Savings · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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savingsNidhiṁ
stores awaynidheti
a personpuriso,
deepgambhīre
by the water's edgeodakantike;
needAtthe
affairkicce
when arisensamuppanne,
for the benefitatthāya
to meme
it will bebhavissati.
A person stores away their savings in a deep trove by the water’s edge: “When need arises it will be there to help
from a kingRājato
orvā
if slanderedduruttassa,
from banditscorato
if harassedpīḷitassa
orvā;
from debtIṇassa
orvā
for releasepamokkhāya,
in faminedubbhikkhe
in lossesāpadāsu
orvā;
for this purposeEtadatthāya
in the worldlokasmiṁ,
savingsnidhi
indeednāma
are stored awaynidhīyati.
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.
but even well-storedTāvassunihito
beingsanto,
in a deepgambhīre
pit by the waterodakantike;
notNa
allsabbo
alwayssabbadā
indeedeva,
for himtassa
thattaṁ
servesupakappati.
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.
savingsNidhi
perhapsvā
from the placeṭhānā
shiftcavati,
the perceptionsaññā
or hisvāssa
is confusedvimuyhati;
dragonsNāgā
orvā
make off withapanāmenti,
spiritsyakkhā
orvāpi
carry awayharanti
themnaṁ.
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,
unlovedAppiyā
orvāpi
heirs,dāyādā,
they unearthuddharanti
secretlyapassato;
whenYadā
merit's endpuññakkhayo
ishoti,
all thatsabbametaṁ
vanishesvinassati.
or unloved heirs secretly unearth them. When their merit is used up, all of that will vanish.
but by whichYassa
by givingdānena
by moralitysīlena,
by restraintsaṁyamena
by self-controldamena
andca;
savingsNidhī
well keptsunihito
ishoti,
of a womanitthiyā
of a manpurisassa
orvā.
But by giving and morality, restraint and self-control, a woman or man keeps their savings safe.
at a shrineCetiyamhi
orca
with the Saṅghasaṅghe
orvā,
with a personpuggale
with guestsatithīsu
orvā;
with motherMātari
with fatherpitari
and alsocāpi,
or elseatho
an elder siblingjeṭṭhamhi
with a siblingbhātari.
At a shrine or with the Saṅgha, with mother or father, or else an elder sibling,
thisEso
savingsnidhi
well kept safesunihito,
undecayingajeyyo
staying with youanugāmiko;
leaving behindPahāya
in things to be leftgamanīyesu,
thisetaṁ
takingādāya
you gogacchati.
those savings are kept safe, they stay with you, undecaying. We must go on leaving all behind, only this you take when you go.
not shared with othersAsādhāraṇamaññesaṁ,
thief does not carry awayacorāharaṇo
savingsnidhi;
would makeKayirātha
an attentive onedhīro
meritpuññāni,
thatyo
savingsnidhi
that stay with youanugāmiko.
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.
thisEsa
of gods and humansdevamanussānaṁ,
granting every desiresabbakāmadado
savingsnidhi;
whateverYaṁ
they wish foryadevābhipatthenti,
all this through thissabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Such savings grant every desire of gods and humans too. Whatever it is that they wish for through this they have it all.
good looksSuvaṇṇatā
a sweet voicesusaratā,
a good shapesusaṇṭhānā
good appearancesurūpatā;
leadership and followersĀdhipaccaparivāro,
all thissabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Good looks, a sweet voice, a good shape, and good appearance, leadership and followers: through this they have it all.
sovereignty of a local kingdomPadesarajjaṁ
sovereigntyissariyaṁ,
the happiness of a Wheel-Turning Monarchcakkavattisukhaṁ
dearpiyaṁ;
even kingshipDevarajjampi
in the heavensdibbesu,
through this allsabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Sovereignty of a local kingdom, the happiness of a Wheel-Turning Monarch, even kingship in the heavens: through this they have it all.
humanMānussikā
andca
successsampatti,
in the heavenly worlddevaloke
andca
whateveryā
delightrati;
whateverYā
andca
attaining extinguishmentnibbānasampatti,
all through thissabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Human success, heavenly delight, attaining extinguishment: through this they have it all.
relying on having good friendsMittasampadamāgamma,
indeed rationallyyonisova
applyingpayuñjato;
mastery of knowledge and freedomVijjāvimuttivasībhāvo,
all thissabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Relying on having good friends, rational application of effort, mastery of knowledge and freedom: through this they have it all.
analytical knowledgePaṭisambhidā
liberationsvimokkhā
andca,
whichyā
andca
disciple-perfectionssāvakapāramī;
independent enlightenmentPaccekabodhi
Buddha-planebuddhabhūmi,
all this through thissabbametena
is obtainedlabbhati.
Analytical knowledge, the liberations, the perfections of the disciple, the plane of an independent Buddha: through this they have it all.
thusEvaṁ
very beneficialmahatthikā
thisesā,
that is to sayyadidaṁ
accomplishment in meritpuññasampadā;
thereforeTasmā
the attentivedhīrā
praisepasaṁsanti,
the astutepaṇḍitā
the making of meritkatapuññatanti.
This accomplishment in merit is so very beneficial. That’s why the attentive and the astute praise the making of merit.
The Discourse on the Store of TreasureNidhikaṇḍasuttaṁ.
The Discourse on the Store of Treasure.
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