Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
VI. Puññābhisanda Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
VI: Flood of Merit
Dutiya Puññābhisanda Suttaṃ
Sutta 52
Flood of Merit (to Laymen) (b)[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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[1][bodh][than] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four floods of merit,
floods of things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
What are the four?
Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple is possessed
of unwavering loyalty to the Buddha, thus:
He it is, the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in lore and conduct,
Wellfarer,
a world-knower,
the trainer unsurpassed
of men who can be trained,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.
This, monks, is the first flood of merit,
flood of things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
Then again, monks, the Ariyan disciple is possessed
of unwavering loyalty to Dhamma, thus:
Well proclaimed by the Exalted One is Dhamma,
to be seen in this life,
not a thing of time,
(inviting to) come and see,[2]
leading onward,
to be understood by the wise,
each for himself.
This, monks, is the second flood of merit,
flood of things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
Then again, monks, the Ariyan disciple is possessed
of unwavering loyalty to the Order of monks, thus:
Walking the Way well
is the Exalted One's Order of disciples,
walking uprightly,
walking according to the Method,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of disciples:
namely, the four pairs of men,
the eight types[3] of men.
That is the Exalted One's Order of disciples.
Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.
This, monks, is the third flood of merit,
flood of things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
Then again, monks, the Ariyan disciple is possessed
of the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise;
virtues untainted,
which lead to concentration of the mind.
This, monks, is the fourth flood of merit,
flood of things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
Thus, monks, these are the four floods of merit, floods of [66] things profitable,
bringing happiness,
giving the best things,
whose fruit is happiness,
leading to the heaven world,
leading to what is dear,
delightful
and pleasant,
to profit
and happiness.
Whoso hath faith in the Tathāgata
Unwavering and firm, whose life is good,
Praised by the Ariyans and dear to them;
Whoso is likewise loyal to the Order
And looks straight forth, - "He is not poor"[4] they say,
"Not (lived) in vain the life of such a man."
So let the wise man cultivate (these four)
Faith, virtue, piety and seeing Dhamma,
Bearing the Buddha's message in his mind.'[5]
[2] Ehi-passiko, lit. 'come-see-ish.'
[3] Cf. iv, § 4, supra.
[4] Text should read adaliddo ti tam āhu.
[5] These gāthas are favourites and occur at S. i, 232, v, 384, 405; A. iii, 54.
