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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

7: The Book of the Sevens

I. Wealth — AN 7.7: With Ugga

1Then Ugga the government minister went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:


2“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! Migāra of Rohaṇa is so rich, so very wealthy.”

“But Ugga, how rich is he?”

“He has a hundred thousand gold coins, not to mention the silver!”


“Well, Ugga, that is wealth, I can’t deny it. But fire, water, rulers, thieves, and unloved heirs all take a share of that wealth. There are these seven kinds of wealth that they can’t take a share of. What seven? The wealth of faith, ethical conduct, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom. There are these seven kinds of wealth that fire, water, rulers, thieves, and unloved heirs can’t take a share of.


3Faith and ethical conduct are kinds of wealth,
as are conscience and prudence,
learning and generosity,
and wisdom is the seventh kind of wealth.

4When a woman or man
has these kinds of wealth,
they’re really rich in the world,
invincible among gods and humans.

5So let the wise devote themselves
to faith, ethical behavior,
confidence, and insight into the teaching,
remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.”

1Atha kho uggo rājamahāmatto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho uggo rājamahāmatto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 


2"Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante. Yāva aḍḍho cāyaṁ, bhante, migāro rohaṇeyyo yāva mahaddhano yāva mahābhogo"ti.

"Kīva aḍḍho panugga, migāro rohaṇeyyo, kīva mahaddhano, kīva mahābhogo"ti?

"Sataṁ, bhante, satasahassānaṁ hiraññassa, ko pana vādo rūpiyassā"ti.


"Atthi kho etaṁ, ugga, dhanaṁ netaṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmīti. Tañca kho etaṁ, ugga, dhanaṁ sādhāraṇaṁ agginā udakena rājūhi corehi appiyehi dāyādehi. Satta kho imāni, ugga, dhanāni asādhāraṇāni agginā udakena rājūhi corehi appiyehi dāyādehi. Katamāni satta? Saddhādhanaṁ, sīladhanaṁ, hirīdhanaṁ, ottappadhanaṁ, sutadhanaṁ, cāgadhanaṁ, paññādhanaṁ. Imāni kho, ugga, satta dhanāni asādhāraṇāni agginā udakena rājūhi corehi appiyehi dāyādehīti.


3Saddhādhanaṁ sīladhanaṁ,
hirī ottappiyaṁ dhanaṁ;
Sutadhanañca cāgo ca,
paññā ve sattamaṁ dhanaṁ.

4Yassa ete dhanā atthi,
itthiyā purisassa vā;
Sa ve mahaddhano loke,
ajeyyo devamānuse.

5Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca,
pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ;
Anuyuñjetha medhāvī,
saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan"ti.

Sattamaṁ.