A Shopkeeper (2nd)Dutiyapāpaṇikasutta

“Mendicants, a shopkeeper who has three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth.“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato pāpaṇiko nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti bhogesu. What three?Katamehi tīhi? It’s when a shopkeeper sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters.Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā ca hoti vidhuro ca nissayasampanno ca.

And how does a shopkeeper see clearly?Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā hoti? It’s when a shopkeeper knows of a product:Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko paṇiyaṁ jānāti: ‘This product is bought at this price and is selling at this price. With this much investment, it’ll bring this much profit.’‘idaṁ paṇiyaṁ evaṁ kītaṁ, evaṁ vikkayamānaṁ, ettakaṁ mūlaṁ bhavissati, ettako udayo’ti. That’s how a shopkeeper sees clearly.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā hoti.

And how is a shopkeeper indefatigable?Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko vidhuro hoti? It’s when a shopkeeper is skilled in buying and selling products.Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko kusalo hoti paṇiyaṁ ketuñca vikketuñca. That’s how a shopkeeper is indefatigable.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko vidhuro hoti.

And how does a shopkeeper have supporters?Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko nissayasampanno hoti? It’s when rich, affluent, and wealthy householders or householders’ children know of him:Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇikaṁ ye te gahapatī vā gahapatiputtā vā aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā te evaṁ jānanti: ‘This good shopkeeper sees clearly and is indefatigable. They are capable of providing for their wives and children, and paying us back from time to time.’‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ pāpaṇiko cakkhumā vidhuro ca paṭibalo puttadārañca posetuṁ, amhākañca kālena kālaṁ anuppadātun’ti. They deposit money with the shopkeeper, saying:Te naṁ bhogehi nipatanti: ‘With this, my good shopkeeper, earn money to provide for your wives and children, and pay us back from time to time.’‘ito, samma pāpaṇika, bhoge karitvā puttadārañca posehi, amhākañca kālena kālaṁ anuppadehī’ti. That’s how a shopkeeper has supporters.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko nissayasampanno hoti.

A shopkeeper who has these three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth.Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato pāpaṇiko nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti bhogesu.

In the same way, a mendicant with three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities.Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti kusalesu dhammesu. What three?Katamehi tīhi? It’s when a mendicant sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā ca hoti vidhuro ca nissayasampanno ca.

And how does a mendicant see clearly?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā hoti? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. That’s how a mendicant sees clearly.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā hoti.

And how is a mendicant indefatigable?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vidhuro hoti? It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. That’s how a mendicant is indefatigable.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vidhuro hoti.

And how does a mendicant have supporters?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissayasampanno hoti? It’s when from time to time a mendicant goes up to those mendicants who are very learned—inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines—and asks them questions:Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ye te bhikkhū bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati: ‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’‘idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ, imassa ko attho’ti? Those venerables reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters.Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti. That’s how a mendicant has supporters.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissayasampanno hoti.

A mendicant with these three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities.”Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti kusalesu dhammesū”ti.