Appamādasutta — Reader

Diligence

Appamādasutta

At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha, “Sir, is there one thing that secures benefits for both

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “atthi nu kho, bhante, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

this life and lives to come?” “There is, Great King.” “So what is that one thing?”

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti? “Atthi kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati— diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti. “Katamo pana, bhante, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—

“Diligence, Great King, is one thing that secures benefits for both this life and lives to come. The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint. So an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all.

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti? “Appamādo kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati— diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcāti. Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati—yadidaṁ mahantattena;

In the same way, diligence is one thing that secures benefits for both this life and lives to come.” That is what the Buddha said. … “For one who desires high delights

evameva kho, mahārāja, appamādo eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati— diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti. Idamavoca …pe… “Āyuṁ arogiyaṁ vaṇṇaṁ,

again and again— long life, beauty, and health, heaven, and an eminent family— the astute praise diligence

saggaṁ uccākulīnataṁ; Ratiyo patthayantena, uḷārā aparāparā. Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,

in making merit. Being diligent, an astute person secures both benefits: the benefit in this life,

puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā; Appamatto ubho atthe, adhiggaṇhāti paṇḍito. Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho,

and in lives to come. An attentive one, comprehending the meaning, is said to be astute.”

yo cattho samparāyiko; Atthābhisamayā dhīro, paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.