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Translators: sujato

Numbered Discourses 5.40

4. Sumanavagga
4. With Sumanā

Mahāsālaputtasutta

Great Sal Trees

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

Katamāhi pañcahi?
What five?

Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti;
The branches, leaves, and foliage;

tacena vaḍḍhanti;
the bark;

papaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti;
the shoots;

pheggunā vaḍḍhanti;
the softwood;

sārena vaḍḍhanti.
and the hardwood.

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

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati.
In the same way, a family grows in five ways supported by a family head with faith.

Katamāhi pañcahi?
What five?

Saddhāya vaḍḍhati;
Faith,

sīlena vaḍḍhati;
ethics,

sutena vaḍḍhati;
learning,

cāgena vaḍḍhati;
generosity,

paññāya vaḍḍhati.
and wisdom.

Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.
A family grows in these five ways supported by a family head with faith.

Yathā hi pabbato selo,
Supported by the mountain crags

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 kulaputtaṁ imaṁ;
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.

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

cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;
the generosity and good deeds,

Passamānānukubbanti,
those who see clearly

ye bhavanti 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.”

Dasamaṁ.

Sumanavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sumanā cundī uggaho,

sīho dānānisaṁsako;

Kālabhojanasaddhā ca,

puttasālehi te dasāti.