[144] 54. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Koliyans, where there was a town of the Koliyans named Kakkarapatta. Then Dīghajāṇu the Koliyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, Dīghajāṇu the Koliyan said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, we are householders who enjoy sensual pleasures, dwelling in a home crowded with children; we make use of Kāsi sandalwood; we wear garlands, scents, and unguents; we accept gold and silver. Venerable sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma to us in such a way that there may be for us things conducing to our welfare in this present life and happiness in this present life, and to our welfare in the life to come and happiness in the life to come."
"Byagghapajja, these four things conduce to a clansman's welfare in this present life and happiness in this present life. What four? Accomplishment of diligence (uṭṭhānasampadā), accomplishment of protection (ārakkhasampadā), good friendship (kalyāṇamittatā), and balanced livelihood (samajīvitā).
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of diligence? Here, Byagghapajja, by whatever occupation a clansman earns his living — whether by farming, by trade, by cattle-keeping, by archery, by royal service, or by one of the crafts — he is skilled therein and not lazy; he is endowed with investigation into the proper means, able to carry out and able to arrange [the work]. This, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of diligence.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of protection? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman possesses wealth obtained by diligent energy, amassed by the strength of his arms, won by sweat — righteous wealth, righteously gained. He secures it by protection and guarding, [thinking]: 'How shall kings not carry off this wealth of mine, thieves not carry it off, fire not burn it, water not sweep it away, unloved heirs not carry it off?' This, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of protection.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is good friendship? Here, Byagghapajja, in whatever village or town a clansman dwells, he associates with, converses with, and enters into discussion with those there who are householders or householders' sons — whether young ones of mature virtue or old ones of mature virtue — who are accomplished in faith, accomplished in virtue, accomplished in generosity, accomplished in wisdom. He emulates the accomplishment of faith of such as are accomplished in faith; he emulates the accomplishment of virtue of such as are accomplished in virtue; he emulates the accomplishment of generosity of such as are accomplished in generosity; he emulates the accomplishment of wisdom of such as are accomplished in wisdom. This, Byagghapajja, is called good friendship.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is balanced livelihood? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman, knowing the income of his wealth and knowing the expenditure of his wealth, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too stingy, [thinking]: 'Thus my income will stand exceeding my expenditure, and my expenditure will not stand exceeding my income.' Just as, Byagghapajja, a weigher or a weigher's apprentice, holding up the scales, knows: 'By this much it has dipped down, or by this much it has risen up,' even so, Byagghapajja, a clansman, knowing the income of his wealth and knowing the expenditure of his wealth, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too stingy, [thinking]: 'Thus my income will stand exceeding my expenditure, and my expenditure will not stand exceeding my income.' If, Byagghapajja, this clansman, though of little income, leads a lavish life, there will be those who say of him: 'This clansman devours his wealth like a fig-eater.' But if, Byagghapajja, this clansman, though of great income, leads a miserable life, there will be those who say of him: 'This clansman will die like one starving to death.' But inasmuch as, Byagghapajja, this clansman, knowing the income of his wealth and knowing the expenditure of his wealth, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too stingy, [thinking]: 'Thus my income will stand exceeding my expenditure, and my expenditure will not stand exceeding my income' — this, Byagghapajja, is called balanced livelihood.
"For wealth thus amassed, Byagghapajja, there are four channels of loss: being a debauchee with women, a drunkard, a gambler; and having evil friends, evil companions, evil comrades. Just as, Byagghapajja, for a great reservoir there are four inlets and four outlets, and a man were to close the inlets and open the outlets, and the sky were not to pour down showers of rain properly — thus indeed, Byagghapajja, for that great reservoir only decline is to be expected, not growth. Even so, Byagghapajja, for wealth thus amassed there are four channels of loss: being a debauchee with women, a drunkard, a gambler; and having evil friends, evil companions, evil comrades.
"For wealth thus amassed, Byagghapajja, there are four channels of accrual: being no debauchee with women, no drunkard, no gambler; and having good friends, good companions, good comrades. Just as, Byagghapajja, for a great reservoir there are four inlets and four outlets, and a man were to open the inlets and close the outlets, and the sky were to pour down showers of rain properly — thus indeed, Byagghapajja, for that great reservoir only growth is to be expected, not decline. Even so, Byagghapajja, for wealth thus amassed there are four channels of accrual: being no debauchee with women, no drunkard, no gambler; and having good friends, good companions, good comrades. These, Byagghapajja, are the four things that conduce to a clansman's welfare in this present life and happiness in this present life.
"Byagghapajja, these four things conduce to a clansman's welfare in the life to come and happiness in the life to come. What four? Accomplishment of faith (saddhāsampadā), accomplishment of virtue (sīlasampadā), accomplishment of generosity (cāgasampadā), and accomplishment of wisdom (paññāsampadā).
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of faith? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman has faith; he places faith in the awakening of the Tathāgata: 'Thus indeed is that Blessed One … the Teacher of devas and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' This, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of faith.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of virtue? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman abstains from the destruction of life … he abstains from wine, liquor, and intoxicants, which are a basis for heedlessness. This, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of virtue.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of generosity? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman 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, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of generosity.
"And what, Byagghapajja, is accomplishment of wisdom? Here, Byagghapajja, a clansman is wise; he is endowed with the wisdom that discerns arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, leading rightly to the destruction of suffering (dukkha). This, Byagghapajja, is called accomplishment of wisdom. These, Byagghapajja, are the four things that conduce to a clansman's welfare in the life to come and happiness in the life to come."
Energetic in his duties, heedful,
one who arranges his affairs,
he leads a balanced life
and guards what he has gathered.
Endowed with faith and virtue,
heedful of requests, free from stinginess,
he constantly purifies the path
to safety in the life to come.
Thus these eight things
for the faithful seeker of the household life
have been declared by him whose name is Truth
to bring happiness in both respects:
for welfare and benefit in this present life,
and for happiness in the life to come.
Thus for householders
this generosity and merit increase.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.