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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

VII. Deeds of Substance — AN 4.62: Debtlessness

1Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:


2“Householder, these four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys sensual pleasures, depending on time and occasion. What four? The happiness of ownership, using wealth, debtlessness, and blamelessness.

3And what is the happiness of ownership? It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow. When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of ownership’.

4And what is the happiness of using wealth? It’s when a gentleman uses his legitimate wealth, and makes merit with it. When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of using wealth’.

5And what is the happiness of debtlessness? It’s when a gentleman owes no debt, large or small, to anyone. When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of debtlessness’.

6And what is the happiness of blamelessness? It’s when a noble disciple has blameless conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. When he reflects on this, he’s filled with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of blamelessness’.


These four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys sensual pleasures, depending on time and occasion.


7Knowing the happiness of debtlessness,
and the extra happiness of possession,
a mortal enjoying the happiness of using wealth,
then sees clearly with wisdom.

8Seeing clearly, a clever person knows
both kinds of happiness:
the other kind is not worth a sixteenth part
of the happiness of blamelessness.”

1Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: 


2"Cattārimāni, gahapati, sukhāni adhigamanīyāni gihinā kāmabhoginā kālena kālaṁ samayena samayaṁ upādāya. Katamāni cattāri? Atthisukhaṁ, bhogasukhaṁ, ānaṇyasukhaṁ, anavajjasukhaṁ.

3Katamañca, gahapati, atthisukhaṁ? Idha, gahapati, kulaputtassa bhogā honti uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā. So ‘bhogā me atthi uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, atthisukhaṁ.

4Katamañca, gahapati, bhogasukhaṁ? Idha, gahapati, kulaputto uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi paribhuñjati puññāni ca karoti. So ‘uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi paribhuñjāmi puññāni ca karomī’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, bhogasukhaṁ.

5Katamañca, gahapati, ānaṇyasukhaṁ? Idha, gahapati, kulaputto na kassaci kiñci dhāreti appaṁ vā bahuṁ vā. So ‘Na kassaci kiñci dhāremi appaṁ vā bahuṁ vā’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, ānaṇyasukhaṁ.

6Katamañca, gahapati, anavajjasukhaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako anavajjena kāyakammena samannāgato hoti, anavajjena vacīkammena samannāgato hoti, anavajjena manokammena samannāgato hoti. So ‘anavajjenamhi kāyakammena samannāgato, anavajjena vacīkammena samannāgato, anavajjena manokammena samannāgato’ti adhigacchati sukhaṁ, adhigacchati somanassaṁ. Idaṁ vuccati, gahapati, anavajjasukhaṁ.


Imāni kho, gahapati, cattāri sukhāni adhigamanīyāni gihinā kāmabhoginā kālena kālaṁ samayena samayaṁ upādāyāti.


7Ānaṇyasukhaṁ ñatvāna,
Atho atthisukhaṁ paraṁ;
Bhuñjaṁ bhogasukhaṁ macco,
Tato paññā vipassati.

8Vipassamāno jānāti,
ubho bhoge sumedhaso;
Anavajjasukhassetaṁ,
kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasin"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.