Light/Dark

Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Sutta Nipata

Sutta Nipata 2: The Lesser Chapter

2:4 True Blessings

2:4 True Blessings

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:


258 “Many gods and humans
have thought about blessings
desiring well-being:
declare the highest blessing.”

259“ “Not to fraternize with fools,
but to fraternize with the wise,
and honoring those worthy of honor:
this is the highest blessing.

260 Living in a suitable region,
having made merit in the past,
being rightly resolved in oneself,
this is the highest blessing.

261 Education and a craft,
discipline and training,
and well-spoken speech:
this is the highest blessing.

262 Caring for mother and father,
kindness to children and partners,
and unstressful work:
this is the highest blessing.


263 Giving and righteous conduct,
kindness to relatives,
blameless deeds:
this is the highest blessing.

264 Desisting and abstaining from evil,
avoiding alcoholic drinks,
diligence in good qualities:
this is the highest blessing.

265 Respect and humility,
contentment and gratitude,
and timely listening to the teaching:
this is the highest blessing.

266 Patience, being easy to admonish,
the sight of ascetics,
and timely discussion of the teaching:
this is the highest blessing.

267 Austerity and celibacy
seeing the noble truths,
and realization of extinguishment:
this is the highest blessing.

268 Though touched by worldly things,
their mind does not tremble;
sorrowless, stainless, secure,
this is the highest blessing.

269 Having completed these things,
undefeated everywhere;
everywhere they go in safety:
this is their highest blessing.”

Maṅgalasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​   ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 


258"Bahū devā manussā ca,
maṅgalāni acintayuṁ;
Ākaṅkhamānā sotthānaṁ,
brūhi maṅgalamuttamaṁ".

259 "Asevanā ca bālānaṁ,
paṇḍitānañca sevanā;
Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṁ,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

260 Patirūpadesavāso ca,
pubbe ca katapuññatā;
Attasammāpaṇidhi ca,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

261 Bāhusaccañca sippañca,
vinayo ca susikkhito;
Subhāsitā ca yā vācā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

262 Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṁ,
puttadārassa saṅgaho;
Anākulā ca kammantā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.


263 Dānañca dhammacariyā ca,
ñātakānañca saṅgaho;
Anavajjāni kammāni,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

264 Āratī viratī pāpā,
majjapānā ca saṁyamo;
Appamādo ca dhammesu,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

265 Gāravo ca nivāto ca,
santuṭṭhi ca kataññutā;
Kālena dhammassavanaṁ,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

266 Khantī ca sovacassatā,
samaṇānañca dassanaṁ;
Kālena dhammasākacchā,
etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

267 Tapo ca brahmacariyañca,
Ariyasaccāna dassanaṁ;
Nibbānasacchikiriyā ca,
Etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

268 Phuṭṭhassa lokadhammehi,
Cittaṁ yassa na kampati;
Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ,
Etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ.

269 Etādisāni katvāna,
Sabbattha maparājitā;
Sabbattha sotthiṁ gacchanti,
Taṁ tesaṁ maṅgalamuttaman"ti.

Maṅgalasuttaṁ catutthaṁ.