Flood^[1] (a)

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[336]

[1][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 good things,
that bring happiness.

What are the four?

Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple has unwavering loyalty to the Buddha thus:

'He it is, the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpsassed charioteer of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'

This is the first flood of merit,
of good things,
bringing happiness.

Again, monks, he has unwavering loyalty to the Norm, thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves by the wise.'

This is the second flood of merit,
of good things,
bringing happiness.

Again, monks, he has unwavering loyalty to the Order, thus:

'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

This is the third flood of merit,
of good things,
bringing happiness.

Lastly, monks, the Ariyan disciple possesses the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.

This is the fourth flood of merit,
of good things,
bringing happiness.

[337] These, monks, are the four floods of merit, floods of good things, that bring happiness."

^[1] Abhisanda. Cf. A. ii, 54. [AN 4.51] Comy. puñña-nadiyo.

Saṃyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta 4. Puññ-ā-bhisanda Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning 4. Flood of Merit

Sutta 31

Abhisanda Suttaṃ

Flood[1] (a)

Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta
4. Puññ-ā-bhisanda Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
4. Flood of Merit

Flood^[1] (a)