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Numbered Discourses · AN 8.38

  • Numbered Discourses 8.38Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.38
  • 4. Giving4. Dānavagga

A True PersonSappurisasutta

“Mendicants, a true person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people.“Sappuriso, bhikkhave, kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti— For the benefit, welfare, and happiness of mother and father; children and partners; bondservants, workers, and staff; friends and colleagues; departed ancestors; the king; the deities; and ascetics and brahmins.mātāpitūnaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, puttadārassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, dāsakammakaraporisassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, mittāmaccānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, pubbapetānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, rañño atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, devatānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti.

It’s like a great rain cloud, which nourishes all the crops for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāmegho sabbasassāni sampādento bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti; In the same way, a true person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. …evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso kule jāyamāno bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya hoti—

A wise person living at homeBahūnaṁ vata atthāya, benefits many people.sappañño gharamāvasaṁ; Neither by day or at night do they neglectMātaraṁ pitaraṁ pubbe, their mother, father, and ancestors.rattindivamatandito. They venerate them in accord with the teaching,Pūjeti sahadhammena, remembering what they have done.pubbekatamanussaraṁ;

One of settled faith and good natureAnāgāre pabbajite, venerates the homeless renunciates,apace brahmacārayo. the mendicant spiritual practitioners,Niviṭṭhasaddho pūjeti, knowing their good-hearted qualities.ñatvā dhamme ca pesalo;

Good for the king, good for the gods,Rañño hito devahito, and good for relatives and comrades.ñātīnaṁ sakhinaṁ hito.

In fact, they’re good for everyone,Sabbesaṁ so hito hoti, well grounded in the true teaching.saddhamme suppatiṭṭhito; Rid of the stain of stinginess,Vineyya maccheramalaṁ, they’ll enjoy a world of grace.”sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 5.42 A True Person 0.72near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.42 5. With King Muṇḍa A True Person “Mendicants, a true person is born in a family for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of the people. For the benefit, welfare, and happiness of mother and father…
  2. AN 8.37 Gifts of a True Person 0.62near 0.1Numbered Discourses 8.37 4. Giving Gifts of a True Person “Mendicants, there are these eight gifts of a true person. What eight? Their gift is pure, good quality, timely, appropriate, intelligent, and regular. While givi…