Mahāsālaputtasutta — Reader

Great Sal Trees

Mahāsālaputtasutta

“Mendicants, great sal trees grow in five ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains. What five? The branches, leaves, and foliage; the bark;

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Katamāhi pañcahi? Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti; tacena vaḍḍhanti;

the shoots; the softwood; and the hardwood. Great sal trees grow in these five ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

papaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti; pheggunā vaḍḍhanti; sārena vaḍḍhanti. Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

In the same way, a family grows in five ways supported by a family head with faith. What five? Faith, ethics,

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati. Katamāhi pañcahi? Saddhāya vaḍḍhati; sīlena vaḍḍhati;

learning, generosity, and wisdom. A family grows in these five ways supported by a family head with faith.

sutena vaḍḍhati; cāgena vaḍḍhati; paññāya vaḍḍhati. Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

Supported by the rocky mountain in the wilds, the formidable forest, the tree grows to become lord of the forest.

Yathā hi pabbato selo, araññasmiṁ brahāvane; Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya, vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.

So too, when the family head is ethical and faithful, supported by them, they grow: children, partners, and kin,

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ, Saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ imaṁ; Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti, Puttadārā ca bandhavā;

colleagues, relatives, and those dependent for their livelihood. Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous, the generosity and good deeds,

Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca, Ye cassa anujīvino. Tyassa sīlavato sīlaṁ, cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;

those who see clearly do likewise. Having practiced the teaching here, the path that goes to a good place,

Passamānānukubbanti, ye bhavanti vicakkhaṇā. Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna, maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ;

they delight in the heavenly realm, enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

Nandino devalokasmiṁ, modanti kāmakāmino”ti. Dasamaṁ. Sumanavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ Sumanā cundī uggaho, sīho dānānisaṁsako; Kālabhojanasaddhā ca,

puttasālehi te dasāti.