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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

8: The Book of the Eights

IV. Giving — AN 8.38: A Good Person

1“Mendicants, a good person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. For the benefit, welfare, and happiness of mother and father; children and partners; bondservants, workers, and staff; friends and colleagues; departed ancestors; the king; the deities; and ascetics and brahmins.

2It’s like a great rain cloud, which nourishes all the crops for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. In the same way, a good person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. …


3A wise person living at home
benefits many people.
Neither by day or at night do they neglect
their mother, father, and ancestors.
They venerate them in accord with the teaching,
remembering what they have done.

4One of settled faith and good nature
venerates the homeless renunciates,
the mendicant spiritual practitioners,
knowing their good-hearted qualities.

5Good for the king, good for the gods,
and good for relatives and friends.

6In fact, they’re good for everyone,
well grounded in the true teaching.
Rid of the stain of stinginess,
they’ll enjoy a world of grace.”


1"Sappuriso, bhikkhave, kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti – mātāpitūnaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, puttadārassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, dāsakammakaraporisassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, mittāmaccānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, pubbapetānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, rañño atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, devatānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti.

2Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāmegho sabbasassāni sampādento bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti – mātāpitūnaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, puttadārassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, dāsakammakaraporisassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, mittāmaccānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, pubbapetānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, rañño atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, devatānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hotīti.


3Bahūnaṁ vata atthāya,
sappañño gharamāvasaṁ;
Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ pubbe,
rattindivamatandito.

4Pūjeti sahadhammena,
pubbekatamanussaraṁ;
Anāgāre pabbajite,
apace brahmacārayo.

5Niviṭṭhasaddho pūjeti,
ñatvā dhamme ca pesalo;
Rañño hito devahito,
ñātīnaṁ sakhinaṁ hito.

6Sabbesaṁ so hito hoti,
saddhamme suppatiṭṭhito;
Vineyya maccheramalaṁ,
sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan"ti.


Aṭṭhamaṁ.