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Sukhapatthanāsutta

Wishing for Happiness

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito.
“Mendicants, an astute person who wishes for three kinds of happiness should take care of their ethics.

Katamāni tīṇi?
What three?

Pasaṁsā me āgacchatūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, bhogā me uppajjantūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissāmīti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito.
‘May I be be praised!’ ‘May I become rich!’ ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito”ti.
An astute person who wishes for these three kinds of happiness should protect their precepts.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.
The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
On this it is said:

“Sīlaṁ rakkheyya medhāvī,
“Wishing for three kinds of happiness—

patthayāno tayo sukhe;
praise, prosperity,

Pasaṁsaṁ vittalābhañca,
and to delight in heaven after passing away—

pecca sagge pamodanaṁ.
the wise would take care of their ethics.

Akarontopi ce pāpaṁ,
Though you do no wrong,

karontamupasevati;
if you associate with one who does,

Saṅkiyo hoti pāpasmiṁ,
you’re suspected of wrong,

avaṇṇo cassa rūhati.
and your disrepute grows.

Yādisaṁ kurute mittaṁ,
Whatever kind of friend you make,

yādisaṁ cūpasevati;
with whom you associate,

Sa ve tādisako hoti,
that’s how you become,

sahavāso hi tādiso.
for so it is when you share your life.

Sevamāno sevamānaṁ,
The one who associates and the one associated with,

samphuṭṭho samphusaṁ paraṁ;
the one contacted and the one who contacts another,

Saro diddho kalāpaṁva,
are like an arrow smeared with poison

alittamupalimpati;
that contaminates the quiver.

Upalepabhayā dhīro,
The attentive, fearing contamination,

neva pāpasakhā siyā.
would never have wicked friends.

Pūtimacchaṁ kusaggena,
A man who wraps

yo naro upanayhati;
putrid fish in blades of grass

Kusāpi pūti vāyanti,
makes the grass stink—

evaṁ bālūpasevanā.
so it is when associating with fools.

Tagarañca palāsena,
But one who wraps

yo naro upanayhati;
sandalwood incense in leaves

Pattāpi surabhi vāyanti,
makes the leaves fragrant—

evaṁ dhīrūpasevanā.
so it is when associating with the attentive.

Tasmā pattapuṭasseva,
So, knowing they’ll end up

ñatvā sampākamattano;
like the wrapping, the astute

Asante nupaseveyya,
would shun the wicked,

sante seveyya paṇḍito;
and befriend the good.

Asanto nirayaṁ nenti,
The wicked lead you to hell,

santo pāpenti suggatin”ti.
the good help you to a good place.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Sattamaṁ.