Aṇguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
IV: Sumanā
Sutta 38
Saddha Suttaṃ
The Advantages of Believing
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these five advantages
for a believing clansman.
What five?
Monks,[1] the good and wise in this world
out of compassion
first feel compassion towards the believer,
never thus to the unbeliever;
when visiting,
they first approach the believer,
never thus to the unbeliever;
when receiving,
they first accept alms of the believer,
never thus to the unbeliever;
when teaching Dhamma,
they first teach the believer,
never thus to the unbeliever.
The believer,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the happy heaven-world.
Monks, these verily
are the five advantages
for a believing clansman.
Monks, just as in some pleasant countryside,
where four main roads meet,
the great banyan tree is a haven of rest[2]
for all the winged creatures round about;
even so, monks,
the believing clansman is a haven of rest
for many folk,
for monks and nuns,
lay-disciples both men and women.
[35] Lo! as a mighty leaf-clad banyan[3] tree,
A fruitful bower of branches, trunks and roots,
For the winged creatures is a resting-place,
And birds come home to that fair haunt[4] for shade
And fruit, each finding there his meed and want:
So, to the virtuous, believing man,
Humble and docile,[5] genial, friendly, mild,
Come arahants, devoid of lust, delusion,
Devoid of hate, earth's fairest field for merit,
Who teach him Dhamma that dispels all Ill.
That Dhamma here he coming thus to know,
He rid of cankers waneth utterly.'[6]
[1] Cf. A. iv, 79.
[2] Paṭisaraṇaṃ.
[3] Mahāduma, a great tree.
[4] This line is quoted and āyatana: haunt exegetically dealt with at Expos. 186; Vism. trsl. 569.
[5] Nivātavuttiṃ atthaddhaṃ; Cf. D. iii, 192. [DN 31 pg 184]
