LikableIṭṭhasutta

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Householder, these five things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable are hard to get in the world.“Pañcime, gahapati, dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. What five?Katame pañca? Long life,Āyu, gahapati, iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; beauty,vaṇṇo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; happiness,sukhaṁ iṭṭhaṁ kantaṁ manāpaṁ dullabhaṁ lokasmiṁ; fame,yaso iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; and heaven.saggā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. These are the five things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable, but hard to get in the world.Ime kho, gahapati, pañca dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ.

And I say that these five things are not got by supplication or wishing for them.Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, pañcannaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ na āyācanahetu vā patthanāhetu vā paṭilābhaṁ vadāmi. If they were, who would lack them?Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, pañcannaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ āyācanahetu vā patthanāhetu vā paṭilābho abhavissa, ko idha kena hāyetha?

A noble disciple who wants to live long ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it.Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako āyukāmo āyuṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā āyussa vāpi hetu. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to long life.Āyukāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena āyusaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. For by practicing that way they gain long lifeĀyusaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā āyupaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. as a god or a human being.So lābhī hoti āyussa dibbassa vā mānusassa vā.

A noble disciple who wants to be beautiful ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it.Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako vaṇṇakāmo vaṇṇaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā vaṇṇassa vāpi hetu. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to beauty.Vaṇṇakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena vaṇṇasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. For by practicing that way they gain beautyVaṇṇasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā vaṇṇapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. as a god or a human being.So lābhī hoti vaṇṇassa dibbassa vā mānusassa vā.

A noble disciple who wants to be happy ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it.Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako sukhakāmo sukhaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā sukhassa vāpi hetu. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to happiness.Sukhakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena sukhasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. For by practicing that way they gain happinessSukhasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā sukhapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. as a god or a human being.So lābhī hoti sukhassa dibbassa vā mānusassa vā.

A noble disciple who wants to be famous ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it.Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako yasakāmo yasaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā yasassa vāpi hetu. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to fame.Yasakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena yasasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. For by practicing that way they gain fameYasasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā yasapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. as a god or a human being.So lābhī hoti yasassa dibbassa vā mānusassa vā.

A noble disciple who wants to go to heaven ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it.Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako saggakāmo saggaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā saggānaṁ vāpi hetu. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to heaven.Saggakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena saggasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. For by practicing that way they gain heaven,Saggasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā saggapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. they are one who gains the heavens.So lābhī hoti saggānanti.

For one who desires lofty delightsĀyuṁ vaṇṇaṁ yasaṁ kittiṁ, again and again—Saggaṁ uccākulīnataṁ; long life, beauty, fame and reputation,Ratiyo patthayānena, heaven, and an eminent family—Uḷārā aparāparā.

the astute praise diligenceAppamādaṁ pasaṁsanti, in making merit.puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā; Being diligent, an astute personAppamatto ubho atthe, secures both benefits:adhigaṇhāti paṇḍito.

the benefit in this life,Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho, and in lives to come.yo cattho samparāyiko; An attentive one, comprehending the meaning,Atthābhisamayā dhīro, is said to be astute.”paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.