[61] Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder (gahapati) approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As Anāthapiṇḍika the householder sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to him:
"Householder, there are these four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. What four? 'May wealth arise for me righteously' — this is the first thing wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. 'Having obtained wealth righteously, may fame come to me, together with my relatives and my preceptors (upajjhāyā)' — this is the second thing wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. 'Having obtained wealth righteously, having obtained fame together with my relatives and my preceptors, may I live long, may I preserve a long life-span' — this is the third thing wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. 'Having obtained wealth righteously, having obtained fame together with my relatives and my preceptors, having lived long and preserved a long life-span, with the breaking up of the body, after death, may I be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world' — this is the fourth thing wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. These, householder, are the four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world.
"Householder, four things lead to obtaining these four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world. What four? Accomplishment of faith (saddhāsampadā), accomplishment of virtue (sīlasampadā), accomplishment of generosity (cāgasampadā), and accomplishment of wisdom (paññāsampadā).
"And what, householder, is accomplishment of faith? Here, householder, a noble disciple (ariyasāvaka) has faith; he has faith in the awakening of the Tathāgata thus: 'That Blessed One is indeed an arahant, fully self-enlightened, perfect in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, sublime, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and human beings, enlightened, blessed.' This, householder, is called accomplishment of faith.
"And what, householder, is accomplishment of virtue? Here, householder, a noble disciple abstains from the destruction of life … abstains from wine, liquor, and intoxicants, which are a basis for heedlessness. This, householder, is called accomplishment of virtue.
"And what, householder, is accomplishment of generosity? Here, householder, a noble disciple dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing. This, householder, is called accomplishment of generosity.
"And what, householder, is accomplishment of wisdom? Dwelling with a mind (citta) overcome by covetousness and unrighteous greed (abhijjhāvisamalobha), householder, one does what should not be done and fails in what should be done; doing what should not be done and failing in what should be done, one falls away from fame and from happiness. Dwelling with a mind overcome by ill will, householder, one does what should not be done and fails in what should be done; doing what should not be done and failing in what should be done, one falls away from fame and from happiness. Dwelling with a mind overcome by dullness and drowsiness, householder, one does what should not be done and fails in what should be done; doing what should not be done and failing in what should be done, one falls away from fame and from happiness. Dwelling with a mind overcome by restlessness and remorse, householder, one does what should not be done and fails in what should be done; doing what should not be done and failing in what should be done, one falls away from fame and from happiness. Dwelling with a mind overcome by doubt, householder, one does what should not be done and fails in what should be done; doing what should not be done and failing in what should be done, one falls away from fame and from happiness.
"That noble disciple, householder, having understood thus: 'Covetousness and unrighteous greed is a defilement of the mind (upakkilesa),' abandons covetousness and unrighteous greed, the defilement of the mind. Having understood thus: 'Ill will is a defilement of the mind,' he abandons ill will, the defilement of the mind. Having understood thus: 'Dullness and drowsiness is a defilement of the mind,' he abandons dullness and drowsiness, the defilement of the mind. Having understood thus: 'Restlessness and remorse is a defilement of the mind,' he abandons restlessness and remorse, the defilement of the mind. Having understood thus: 'Doubt is a defilement of the mind,' he abandons doubt, the defilement of the mind.
"And when, householder, for a noble disciple, having understood thus: 'Covetousness and unrighteous greed is a defilement of the mind,' covetousness and unrighteous greed, the defilement of the mind, has been abandoned; ill will, a defilement of the mind …; dullness and drowsiness, a defilement of the mind …; restlessness and remorse, a defilement of the mind …; having understood thus: 'Doubt is a defilement of the mind,' doubt, the defilement of the mind, has been abandoned — this noble disciple, householder, is called one of great wisdom, of abundant wisdom, one who sees what comes into range (āpāthadasa), accomplished in wisdom. This, householder, is called accomplishment of wisdom.
"These four things, householder, lead to obtaining those four things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and hard to obtain in the world.
"That noble disciple, householder, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, is a doer of four fitting deeds (pattakamma). What four? Here, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, makes himself happy, satisfies himself, properly maintains himself in happiness; he makes his mother and father happy, satisfies them, properly maintains them in happiness; he makes his children, wife, slaves, workers, and servants happy, satisfies them, properly maintains them in happiness; he makes his friends and colleagues happy, satisfies them, properly maintains them in happiness. This is the first case of wealth gone to good use, gone to what is fitting, used in an appropriate way.
"Furthermore, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, wards off with his wealth such adversities as may arise from fire, from water, from kings, from thieves, or from unloved heirs, and he makes himself secure against them. This is the second case of wealth gone to good use, gone to what is fitting, used in an appropriate way.
"Furthermore, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, is a maker of the five oblations (bali): the oblation to relatives, the oblation to guests, the oblation to departed ancestors, the oblation to the king, and the oblation to the deities. This is the third case of wealth gone to good use, gone to what is fitting, used in an appropriate way.
"Furthermore, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, establishes toward such ascetics and brahmins as abstain from vanity and heedlessness, who are settled in patience and gentleness, who tame themselves alone, calm themselves alone, and quench themselves alone, an uplifting offering (uddhaggikā dakkhiṇā) — a heavenly one, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven. This is the fourth case of wealth gone to good use, gone to what is fitting, used in an appropriate way.
"That noble disciple, householder, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, is a doer of these four fitting deeds. For whomever, householder, wealth comes to exhaustion apart from these four fitting deeds, that wealth is said to have gone to no good use, gone to nothing fitting, used in an inappropriate way. But for whomever, householder, wealth comes to exhaustion through these four fitting deeds, that wealth is said to have gone to good use, gone to what is fitting, used in an appropriate way."
Wealth has been enjoyed, dependents supported,
adversities have been overcome by me;
an uplifting offering has been given,
and the five oblations performed;
the virtuous have been attended upon,
the restrained ones who live the holy life.
Whatever purpose a wise man dwelling at home
might desire wealth for,
that purpose I have attained;
what brings no later remorse has been done.
Recollecting this, a mortal,
a person established in the noble Dhamma,
is praised right here in this life,
and after death rejoices in heaven.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.