Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
VI. Puññābhisanda Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
VI: Flood of Merit
Sutta 60
Gihī-Sāmīci-Paṭipadā Suttaṃ
The Householder's Duty
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Now the housefather Anāthapiṇḍika came to visit the Exalted One,
and on coming to him
saluted him
and sat down at one side.
As he thus sat
the Exalted One said this to the housefather Anāthapiṇḍika:
'Housefather, possessed of four things
the Ariyan disciple has entered on
the householder's path of duty,[1]
a path which brings good repute
and leads to the heaven world.
What are the four?
Herein, housefather, the Ariyan disciple waits upon the Order of monks.
He waits upon the Order of monks
with the offer of a robe,
he waits upon the Order of monks
with the offer of alms-food
he waits upon the Order of monks
with the offer of lodging
he waits upon the Order of monks
with the offer of requisites and medicines for use in sickness.
These are the four things.
They are wise folk who enter on the path
Of duty which becomes the householder,
Serving the virtuous ones who on the Way
Have rightly trod[2] with offerings of robes,
Of alms-food, lodging, comforts, requisites.
By day and night their merit groweth ever;
Doing the lucky deed one reaches[3] heaven.'
Gihī-sāmīci-paṭipadā, Householders High Road, Consummate Path to Walk
— p.p.
[1] Gihī-sāmīci-paṭipadā, called at S. v, 333 gihī-sāmīcikāni (=anuc-chavikāni, Comy.), obligations which Anāthapiṇḍika claimed to have kept fulfilled; whereon the Buddha declares him to have won the fruits of Stream-winning.
[2] Sammaggatā. Cf. supra, text 43.
[3] Kamati = vahati, pavattati, SA. on S. iv, 283 = carati, pavisati, SnA. 177. The line is at Petavatthu, p. 1; cf. PvA. 9 (uppajjati upagacchati).
