sutta » an » an3 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.48

Pabbatarājasutta

The King of Mountains

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.
“Mendicants, great sal trees grow in three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

Katamāhi tīhi?
What three?

Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti, tacapapaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti, pheggusārena vaḍḍhanti.
The branches, leaves, and foliage; the bark and shoots; and the softwood and heartwood.

Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.
Great sal trees grow in these three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati.
In the same way, a family grows in three ways supported by a family head with faith.

Katamāhi tīhi?
What three?

Saddhāya vaḍḍhati, sīlena vaḍḍhati, paññāya vaḍḍhati.
Faith, ethics, and wisdom.

Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.
A family grows in these three ways supported by a family head with faith.

Yathāpi pabbato selo,
Supported by the rocky mountain

araññasmiṁ brahāvane;
in the wilds, the formidable forest,

Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya,
the tree grows

vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.
to become lord of the forest.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,
So too, when the family head

saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ idha;
is ethical and faithful,

Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti,
supported by them, they grow:

puttadārā ca bandhavā;
children, partners, and kin,

Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca,
colleagues, relatives,

ye cassa anujīvino.
and those dependent for their livelihood.

Tyāssa sīlavato sīlaṁ,
Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous,

cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;
the generosity and good deeds,

Passamānānukubbanti,
those who see clearly

attamatthaṁ vicakkhaṇā.
do likewise.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,
Having practiced the teaching here,

maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ;
the path that goes to a good place,

Nandino devalokasmiṁ,
they delight in the heavenly realm,

modanti kāmakāmino”ti.
enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

Navamaṁ.