1At Sāvatthī.

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha: “Sir, is there one thing that secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come?”

2“There is, great king.”

3“So what is it?”

4“Diligence, great king, is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come. The 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 secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.”

That is what the Buddha said. …

5“For one who desires a continuous flow
of exceptional delights —
long life, beauty, and health,
heaven, and birth in an eminent family —

6the astute praise diligence
in making merit.
Being diligent, an astute person
secures both benefits:

7the benefit in this life,
and in lives to come.
A wise one, comprehending the meaning,
is called ‘astute’.”

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "atthi nu kho, bhante, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samādhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā"ti?

2"Atthi kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samādhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā"ti.

3"Katamo pana, bhante, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samādhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā"ti?

4"Appamādo kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samādhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcāti. Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati – yadidaṁ mahantattena; evameva kho, mahārāja, appamādo eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samādhiggayha tiṭṭhati – diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā"ti.

Idamavoca … pe …

5"Āyuṁ arogiyaṁ vaṇṇaṁ,
saggaṁ uccākulīnataṁ;
Ratiyo patthayantena,
uḷārā aparāparā.

6Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā;
Appamatto ubho atthe,
adhiggaṇhāti paṇḍito.

7Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho,
yo cattho samparāyiko;
Atthābhisamayā dhīro,
paṇḍitoti pavuccatī"ti.