Aṇguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
VIII: Ākaṇkha-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
VIII: On Wishes
Sutta 73
Iṭṭha-Dhamma Suttaṃ
Desirable
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, these ten things are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
§
What ten?
Wealth is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Beauty is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Health is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Virtues are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
The Brahma-life is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Friends are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Much knowledge is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Wisdom is desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Teachings are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
The heaven worlds[1] are desirable,
[93] dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
These are the ten.
§
[136]Monks, to these ten things desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world,
ten things are obstacles.
■
Sloth and non-exertion
is an obstacle to wealth.
■
Lack of finery and adornment
is an obstacle to beauty.
■
Acting unseasonably
is an obstacle to health.
■
Friendship with the wicked
is an obstacle to virtues.
■
Non-restraint of the sense-faculties
is an obstacle to the Brahma-life.
■
Quarrelling
is an obstacle to friends.
■
Failure to repeat (what one has heard)
is an obstacle to much knowledge.
■
Not to lend an ear[2] and ask questions
is an obstacle to wisdom.
■
Lack of study and examination
is an obstacle to teachings.
■
Wrong faring[3]
is an obstacle to (gaining) the heavens.
These are the ten obstacles
to these ten things which are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
§
Monks, ten things are helps[4]
to these ten things
which are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world.
■
Energy and exertion
are helps to getting wealth.
■
Finery and adornment
are helps to beauty.
■
Seasonable action
is a help to health.
■
A lovely friendship
is a help to virtues.
■
Restraint of the sense-faculties
is a help to the Brahma-life.
■
Not quarrelling
is a help to friendship.
■
Repetition
is a help to much knowledge.
■
Lending an ear and asking questions
are helps to wisdom.
■
Study and examination
are helps to teachings.
■
Right faring
is a help to the heaven worlds.
These are the ten helps
to these ten things
which are desirable,
dear,
charming,
hard to win in the world."
[1] Burmese MSS. have maggā; Sinh. sattā. Comy. does not notice. The tenth item in next would indicate maggā as the more likely reading.
[2] Read asussūsā for text's asussusā, and so below.
[3] Micchā-paṭipatti (cf. paṭipanno, one who fares on a way).
[4] Āhāra is nutriment or food.
