Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Khuddakapatha >> Nidhi Kanda Sutta
Minor Adaptation From Translation by Piyadassi Thera and Thanissaro
Nidhi Kanda Sutta[]
(True Wealth: It is the Merit Earned by Good Actions)
1. Nidhiṃ nidheti puriso, gambhīre odakantike;
Atthe kicce samuppanne, atthāya me bhavissati.
2. Rājato vā duruttassa, corato pīḷitassa vā;
Iṇassa vā pamokkhāya, dubbhikkhe āpadāsu vā;
Etadatthāya lokasmiṃ, nidhi nāma nidhīyati.
3. Tāvassunihito [tāva sunihito (sī.)] santo, gambhīre odakantike;
Na sabbo sabbadā eva, tassa taṃ upakappati.
4. Nidhi vā ṭhānā cavati, saññā vāssa vimuyhati;
Nāgā vā apanāmenti, yakkhā vāpi haranti naṃ.
5. Appiyā vāpi dāyādā, uddharanti apassato;
Yadā puññakkhayo hoti, sabbametaṃ vinassati.
6. Yassa dānena sīlena, saṃyamena damena ca;
Nidhī sunihito hoti, itthiyā purisassa vā.
7. Cetiyamhi ca saṅghe vā, puggale atithīsu vā;
Mātari pitari cāpi [vāpi (syā. kaṃ.)], atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari.
8. Eso nidhi sunihito, ajeyyo anugāmiko;
Pahāya gamanīyesu, etaṃ ādāya gacchati.
9. Asādhāraṇamaññesaṃ, acorāharaṇo nidhi;
Kayirātha dhīro puññāni, yo nidhi anugāmiko.
10. Esa devamanussānaṃ, sabbakāmadado nidhi;
Yaṃ yadevābhipatthenti, sabbametena labbhati.
11. Suvaṇṇatā susaratā, susaṇṭhānā surūpatā [susaṇṭhānasurūpatā (sī.), susaṇṭhānaṃ surūpatā (syā. kaṃ.)];
Ādhipaccaparivāro, sabbametena labbhati.
12. Padesarajjaṃ issariyaṃ, cakkavattisukhaṃ piyaṃ;
Devarajjampi dibbesu, sabbametena labbhati.
13. Mānussikā ca sampatti, devaloke ca yā rati;
Yā ca nibbānasampatti, sabbametena labbhati.
14. Mittasampadamāgamma, yonisova [yoniso ve (sī.), yoniso ce (syā.), yoniso ca (?)] payuñjato;
Vijjā vimutti vasībhāvo, sabbametena labbhati.
15. Paṭisambhidā vimokkhā ca, yā ca sāvakapāramī;
Paccekabodhi buddhabhūmi, sabbametena labbhati.
16. Evaṃ mahatthikā esā, yadidaṃ puññasampadā;
Tasmā dhīrā pasaṃsanti, paṇḍitā katapuññatanti.
Nidhikaṇḍasuttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ.
A person stashes a fund away, deep underground, at the water line: "When a need or duty arises, this will provide for my needs, for my release if I'm denounced by the king, molested by thieves, in case of debt, famine, or accidents." With aims like this in the world a reserve fund is stashed away.
But no matter how well it's stored, deep underground, at the water line, it won't all always serve one's need. The fund gets shifted from its place, or one's memory gets confused; or — unseen — water serpents make off with it, spirits steal it, or hateful heirs run off with it. When one's merit's ended, it's totally destroyed.
But when a man or woman has laid aside a well-stored fund of giving, virtue, restraint, & self-control, with regard to a shrine, the Sangha, a fine individual, guests, mother, father, or elder sibling: That's a well-stored fund. It can't be wrested away. It follows you along. When, having left this world, for wherever you must go, you take it with you. This fund is not held in common with others, & cannot be stolen by thieves.
So, prudent, you should make merit, the fund that will follow you along. This is the fund that gives all they want to beings human, divine.
Whatever devas aspire to, all that is gained by this. A fine complexion, fine voice, a body well-built, well-formed, lordship, a following: all that is gained by this. Earthly kingship, supremacy, the bliss of an emperor, kingship over devas in the heavens: all that is gained by this. The attainment of the human state, any delight in heaven, the attainment of Unbinding: all that is gained by this. Excellent friends, appropriate application, mastery of clear knowing & release: all that is gained by this. Acumen, emancipation, the perfection of disciple-hood: all that is gained by this. Private Awakening, 5 Buddha-hood: all that is gained by this.
So powerful is this, the accomplishment of merit. Thus the wise, the prudent, praise the fund of merit already made.
८. निधिकण्डसुत्तं
१. निधिं निधेति पुरिसो, गम्भीरे ओदकन्तिके।
अत्थे किच्चे समुप्पन्ने, अत्थाय मे भविस्सति॥
२. राजतो वा दुरुत्तस्स, चोरतो पीळितस्स वा।
इणस्स वा पमोक्खाय, दुब्भिक्खे आपदासु वा।
एतदत्थाय लोकस्मिं, निधि नाम निधीयति॥
३. तावस्सुनिहितो [ताव सुनिहितो (सी॰)] सन्तो, गम्भीरे ओदकन्तिके।
न सब्बो सब्बदा एव, तस्स तं उपकप्पति॥
४. निधि वा ठाना चवति, सञ्ञा वास्स विमुय्हति।
नागा वा अपनामेन्ति, यक्खा वापि हरन्ति नं॥
५. अप्पिया वापि दायादा, उद्धरन्ति अपस्सतो।
यदा पुञ्ञक्खयो होति, सब्बमेतं विनस्सति॥
६. यस्स दानेन सीलेन, संयमेन दमेन च।
निधी सुनिहितो होति, इत्थिया पुरिसस्स वा॥
७. चेतियम्हि च सङ्घे वा, पुग्गले अतिथीसु वा।
मातरि पितरि चापि [वापि (स्या॰ कं॰)], अथो जेट्ठम्हि भातरि॥
८. एसो निधि सुनिहितो, अजेय्यो अनुगामिको।
पहाय गमनीयेसु, एतं आदाय गच्छति॥
९. असाधारणमञ्ञेसं, अचोराहरणो निधि।
कयिराथ धीरो पुञ्ञानि, यो निधि अनुगामिको॥
१०. एस देवमनुस्सानं, सब्बकामददो निधि।
यं यदेवाभिपत्थेन्ति, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
११. सुवण्णता सुसरता, सुसण्ठाना सुरूपता [सुसण्ठानसुरूपता (सी॰), सुसण्ठानं सुरूपता (स्या॰ कं॰)]।
आधिपच्चपरिवारो, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
१२. पदेसरज्जं इस्सरियं, चक्कवत्तिसुखं पियं।
देवरज्जम्पि दिब्बेसु, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
१३. मानुस्सिका च सम्पत्ति, देवलोके च या रति।
या च निब्बानसम्पत्ति, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
१४. मित्तसम्पदमागम्म, योनिसोव [योनिसो वे (सी॰), योनिसो चे (स्या॰), योनिसो च (?)] पयुञ्जतो।
विज्जा विमुत्ति वसीभावो, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
१५. पटिसम्भिदा विमोक्खा च, या च सावकपारमी।
पच्चेकबोधि बुद्धभूमि, सब्बमेतेन लब्भति॥
१६. एवं महत्थिका एसा, यदिदं पुञ्ञसम्पदा।
तस्मा धीरा पसंसन्ति, पण्डिता कतपुञ्ञतन्ति॥
निधिकण्डसुत्तं निट्ठितं।