[459] "Bhikkhus, a shopkeeper who possesses three factors soon attains greatness and abundance in wealth. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a shopkeeper has a keen eye (cakkhumā), is responsible in his business (vidhūro), and is possessed of good support (nissayasampanno).
"And how, bhikkhus, does a shopkeeper have a keen eye? Here, bhikkhus, a shopkeeper knows of his merchandise: 'This merchandise, bought at such a price and sold at such a price, will require so much capital and yield so much profit.' It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a shopkeeper has a keen eye.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a shopkeeper responsible in his business? Here, bhikkhus, a shopkeeper is skilled in buying and selling merchandise. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a shopkeeper is responsible in his business.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a shopkeeper possessed of good support? Here, bhikkhus, those householders or householders' sons who are rich, of great wealth and great possessions, know of him: 'This good shopkeeper has a keen eye and is responsible in his business; he is capable of supporting his wife and children and of paying us back from time to time.' They press their wealth upon him, saying: 'Friend shopkeeper, take this wealth, support your wife and children, and pay us back from time to time.' It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a shopkeeper is possessed of good support. Possessing these three factors, bhikkhus, a shopkeeper soon attains greatness and abundance in wealth.
"So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who possesses three qualities soon attains greatness and abundance in wholesome states. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has a keen eye, is responsible in his task, and is possessed of good support.
"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu have a keen eye? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it really is (yathābhūta): 'This is suffering (dukkha)' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu has a keen eye.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu responsible in his task? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells with energy (vīriya) aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and the acquiring of wholesome states; he is strong, firm in striving, not shirking the burden with regard to wholesome states. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is responsible in his task.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu possessed of good support? Here, bhikkhus, from time to time a bhikkhu approaches those bhikkhus who are of great learning, who have mastered the collections, who are bearers of the Dhamma, bearers of the Vinaya, bearers of the summaries (mātikā), and he questions and interrogates them: 'How is this, venerable sir? What is the meaning of this?' Those venerable ones disclose to him what has not been disclosed, make clear what has not been made clear, and dispel his doubt regarding many perplexing points. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is possessed of good support. Possessing these three qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu soon attains greatness and abundance in wholesome states."
The Chariot-Maker Chapter (Rathakāravagga), the Second.
Its summary (uddāna):
Ñātaka, Saraṇīya, Bhikkhu,
Cakkavattī, Pacetana,
Apaṇṇaka and Attā, Deva,
and the two on the Shopkeeper (Pāpaṇika).
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The Chapter on Persons (Puggalavagga), the Third.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.