1Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

2“Master Gotama, is there one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come?”

“There is, brahmin.”

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3“So what is it?”

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“Diligence, brahmin, is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

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4The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint. So an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all. In the same way, diligence is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

5The rafters of a bungalow all lean to the peak, slope to the peak, and meet at the peak, so the peak is said to be the topmost of them all. In the same way, diligence is one thing …

6A reed-cutter, having cut the reeds, grabs them at the top and shakes them down, shakes them about, and shakes them off. In the same way, diligence is one thing …

7When the stalk of a bunch of mangoes is cut, all the mangoes attached to the stalk will follow along. In the same way, diligence is one thing …

8All lesser rulers are vassals of a wheel-turning monarch, so the wheel-turning monarch is said to be the foremost of them all. In the same way, diligence is one thing …

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9The radiance of all the stars is not worth a sixteenth part of the moon’s radiance, so the moon’s radiance is said to be the best of them all. In the same way, diligence is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

10This is the one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.”

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11“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

2"Atthi nu kho, bho gotama, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko"ti?

"Atthi kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko"ti.

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3"Katamo pana, bho gotama, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko"ti?

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"Appamādo kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko.

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4Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti; hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ mahantattena. Evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, appamādo eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko. (1)

5Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, kūṭāgārassa yā kāci gopānasiyo sabbā tā kūṭaṅgamā kūṭaninnā kūṭasamosaraṇā, kūṭaṁ tāsaṁ aggamakkhāyati; evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa … pe … . (2)

6Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, pabbajalāyako pabbajaṁ lāyitvā agge gahetvā odhunāti nidhunāti nicchādeti; evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa … pe … . (3)

7Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, ambapiṇḍiyā vaṇṭacchinnāya yāni kānici ambāni vaṇṭūpanibandhanāni sabbāni tāni tadanvayāni bhavanti; evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa … pe … . (4)

8Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, ye keci khuddarājāno sabbete rañño cakkavattissa anuyantā bhavanti, rājā tesaṁ cakkavattī aggamakkhāyati; evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa … pe … . (5)

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9Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, yā kāci tārakarūpānaṁ pabhā sabbā tā candassa pabhāya kalaṁ nāgghanti soḷasiṁ, candappabhā tāsaṁ aggamakkhāyati; evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, appamādo eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ yo ca attho samparāyiko. (6)

10Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko"ti.

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11"Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.