From:
中阿含經 7 Medium Discourses 7
世間福經 Worldly Merit
我聞如是： Thus I have heard:
一時，佛遊拘舍彌，在瞿沙羅園。 One time, the Buddha traveled to Kauśāmbī and stayed at Ghoṣila’s Park.
爾時，尊者摩訶周那則於晡時從宴坐起，往詣佛所。 At the time, the Venerable Mahācunda rose from his seat of repose late in the afternoon and went to visit the Buddha.
到已作禮，却坐一面 When he arrived, he paid homage and withdrew to sit at one side.
白曰： He said,
「世尊，可得施設世間福耶。」 “Bhagavān, is it possible to define worldly merit?”
世尊告曰： The Bhagavān told him,
「可得，周那。 “It’s possible, Cunda.
有七世間福，得大福祐得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 There are seven worldly merits that obtain great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
云何爲七。 What are the seven?
周那，有信族姓男，族姓女施比丘衆房舍，堂閣。 Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who give living quarters and meeting halls to an assembly of monks.
周那，是謂第一世間之福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 This, Cunda, is the first worldly merit that obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「復次，周那，有信族姓男，族姓女於房舍中施與床座，氍𭯫，𣯾𣰆，氈褥，臥具。 “Furthermore, Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who go into the monks’ living quarters and give them seats, carpets, blankets, mattresses, and bedding.
周那，是謂第二世間之福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 This, Cunda, is the second worldly merit that obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「復次，周那，有信族姓男，族姓女於房舍中施與一切新淨妙衣。 “Furthermore, Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who go into their living quarters and give them all new, clean, and marvelous clothing.
周那，是謂第三世間之福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 This, Cunda, is the third worldly merit that obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「復次，周那，有信族姓男，族姓女於房舍中常施於衆朝粥，中食。 “Furthermore, Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who go into their living quarters and give the community the morning rice gruel and midday meals.
又，以園民供給使令，若風雨寒雪，躬往園所増施，供養。 They also tell their servants to serve the monastery and give additional offerings to the monastery during rain and snowstorms.
諸比丘衆食已，不患風雨寒雪沽漬衣服。 After they eat, the assembly of monks then isn’t troubled by the bad weather making their robes wet.
晝夜安樂禪寂，思惟。 Instead, they meditate and contemplate day and night in comfort.
周那，是謂第七世間之福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 This, Cunda, is the seventh worldly merit that obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「周那，信族姓男，族姓女已得此七世間福者若去若來，若立若坐，若眠若覺，若晝若夜，其福常生，轉増轉廣。 “Cunda, these seven worldly merits will always produce fortune for those faithful clansmen and clanswomen that becomes greater and broader whether during the past or future, while standing or sitting, while asleep or awake, or during day or night.
「周那，譬如恒伽水從源流出入于大海，於其中間，轉深轉廣。 “Cunda, it’s like the Gaṅgā River, which flows from its source to the ocean and becomes deeper and wider as it goes.
周那，如是，信族姓男，族姓女已得此七世間福者。 Thus, Cunda, are these seven worldly merits obtained by faithful clansmen and clanswomen.
若去若來，若立若坐，若眠若覺，若晝若夜，其福常生，轉増轉廣。」 They will always produce fortune that becomes greater and broader whether during the past or future, while standing or sitting, while asleep or awake, or during day or night.”
於是，尊者摩訶周那即從坐起，偏袒右肩，右膝著地，長跪叉手。 Venerable Mahācunda then rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and saluted with his palms together.
白曰： He said,
「世尊，可得施設出世間福耶。」 “Bhagavān, would it be possible to define merits that transcend the world?”
世尊告曰： The Bhagavān told him,
「可得，周那。 “It’s possible, Cunda.
更有七福出於世間得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 There are another seven merits that transcend the world and obtain great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
云何爲七。 What are the seven?
周那，有信族姓男，族姓女聞如來，如來弟子遊於某處。 Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who hear that the Tathāgata or one of his disciples have traveled to certain place.
聞已，歡喜，極懷踊躍。 They rejoice when they hear that, celebrating in their hearts.
周那，是謂第一出世間福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 Cunda, this is the first merit that transcends the world and obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「復次，周那，有信族姓男，族姓女聞如來，如來弟子欲從彼至此。 “Furthermore, Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who hear that the Tathāgata or one of his disciples are about to come from that place to their own location.
聞已，歡喜，極懷踊躍。 They rejoice when they hear that, celebrating in their hearts.
周那，是謂第二出世間福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 Cunda, this is the second merit that transcends the world and obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「復次，周那，有信族姓男，族姓女聞如來，如來弟子已從彼至此。 “Furthermore, Cunda, there are faithful clansmen and clanswomen who hear that the Tathāgata or one of his disciples has arrived.
聞已，歡喜，極懷踊躍。 They rejoice when hear that, celebrating in their hearts.
以清淨心躬往奉見，禮敬，供養。 They go personally to see them with a pure heart to pay their respects and make offerings.
既供養已，受三自歸於佛，法，及比丘衆而受禁戒。 Once they had made their offerings, they take refuge three times in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha of monks and accept the [lay] precepts.
周那，是謂第七出世間福得大福祐，得大果報，得大名譽，得大功徳。 Cunda, this is the seventh merit that transcends the world and obtains great fortune, rewards, renown, and virtue.
「周那，信族姓男，族姓女，若得此七世間之福及更有七出世間福者，其福不可數。 “Cunda, if faithful clansmen and clanswomen were to attain these seven worldly merits and these other seven merits that transcend the world, their fortune would be incalculable.
有爾所福，爾所福果，爾所福報唯不可限，不可量，不可得，大福之數。 Their merits, the results of their merits, and the rewards of their merits simply cannot be delimited or measured, and the number of those great merits cannot be determined.
「周那，譬如從閻浮洲有五河流： “Cunda, it’s like the five rivers of Jambudvīpa:
一曰恒伽，二曰搖尤那，三曰舍勞浮，四曰阿夷羅婆提，五曰摩企。 1. the Gaṅgā, 2. Yamunā, 3. [Sarabhū], 4. Ajiravatī, and 5. Mahī.
流入大海，於其中間，水不可數。 They flow down into the ocean, and their water is incalculable.
有爾所升斛唯不可限，不可量，不可得，大水之數。 Their volume simply cannot be delimited or measured, and the amount of water cannot be determined.
「周那，如是，信族姓男，族姓女，若得此七世間之福及更有七出世間福者，其福不可數。 “Thus, Cunda, if faithful clansmen and clanswomen attain these seven worldly merits and these other seven merits that transcend the world, their fortune would be incalculable.
有爾所福，爾所福果，爾所福報唯不可限，不可量，不可得，大福之數。 Their merits, the results of their merits, and the rewards of their merits simply cannot be delimited or measured, and the number of those great merits cannot be determined.”
「爾時，世尊而説頌曰： At that point, the Bhagavān spoke in verse:
「恒伽之河 “The Gaṅgā River
清淨易渡； Is pure and easy to cross;
海多珍寶 The ocean with its many treasures
衆水中王。 Is the king of myriad rivers.
猶若河水， Just like a river,
世人敬奉； A person pays respect to it;
諸川所歸 All the streams take refuge
引入大海。 By flowing into the ocean.
如是人者 Thus is a person who
施衣飮食 Gives clothes, food, and drink,
床榻茵褥 Beds, sofas, and mats,
及諸坐具。 And things for sitting.
無量福報 Measureless rewards of merit
將至妙處； Lead them to a marvelous place;
猶若河水 They’re like those rivers
引入大海。」 Flowing into the ocean.”
佛説如是。 Thus did the Buddha speak.
尊者摩訶周那及諸比丘聞佛所説，歡喜，奉行。 The Venerable Mahācunda and the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.