sutta » sn » sn17 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.23

Ekaputtakasutta

An Only Son

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
At Sāvatthī.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe…
“Possessions, honor, and popularity are brutal …

saddhā, bhikkhave, upāsikā ekaputtakaṁ piyaṁ manāpaṁ evaṁ sammā āyācamānā āyāceyya:
A faithful laywoman with a dear and beloved only son would rightly appeal to him,

‘tādiso, tāta, bhavāhi yādiso citto ca gahapati hatthako ca āḷavako’ti.
‘My darling, please be like the householder Citta and Hatthaka of Ãḷavī.’

Esā, bhikkhave, tulā etaṁ pamāṇaṁ mama sāvakānaṁ upāsakānaṁ, yadidaṁ citto ca gahapati hatthako ca āḷavako.
These are a standard and a measure for my male lay disciples, that is, the householder Citta and Hatthaka of Ãḷavī.

Sace kho tvaṁ, tāta, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajasi;
‘But my darling, if you go forth from the lay life to homelessness,

tādiso, tāta, bhavāhi yādisā sāriputtamoggallānāti.
please be like Sāriputta and Moggallāna.’

Esā, bhikkhave, tulā etaṁ pamāṇaṁ mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, yadidaṁ sāriputtamoggalānā.
These are a standard and a measure for my monk disciples, that is, Sāriputta and Moggallāna.

Mā ca kho tvaṁ, tāta, sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇātūti.
‘And my darling, may you not come into possessions, honor, and popularity while you’re still a trainee and haven’t achieved your heart’s desire.’

Tañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇāti, so tassa hoti antarāyāya.
If a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire comes into possessions, honor, and popularity it’s an obstacle for them.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe…
So brutal are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”

evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.