Wishing for HappinessSukhapatthanāsutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, an astute person who wishes for three kinds of happiness should take care of their ethics.“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito. What three?Katamāni tīṇi? ‘May I be praised!’ ‘May I become rich!’ ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’Pasaṁsā me āgacchatūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, bhogā me uppajjantūti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissāmīti sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito. An astute person who wishes for these three kinds of happiness should protect their precepts.”Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi sukhāni patthayamāno sīlaṁ rakkheyya paṇḍito”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Wishing for three kinds of happiness—“Sīlaṁ rakkheyya medhāvī, praise, prosperity,patthayāno tayo sukhe; and to delight in heaven after passing away—Pasaṁsaṁ vittalābhañca, the wise would take care of their ethics.pecca sagge pamodanaṁ.

Though you do no wrong,Akarontopi ce pāpaṁ, if you associate with one who does,karontamupasevati; you’re suspected of wrong,Saṅkiyo hoti pāpasmiṁ, and your disrepute grows.avaṇṇo cassa rūhati.

Whatever kind of friend you make,Yādisaṁ kurute mittaṁ, with whom you associate,yādisaṁ cūpasevati; that’s how you become,Sa ve tādisako hoti, for so it is when you share your life.sahavāso hi tādiso.

The one who associates and the one associated with,Sevamāno sevamānaṁ, the one contacted and the one who contacts another,samphuṭṭho samphusaṁ paraṁ; are like an arrow smeared with poisonSaro diddho kalāpaṁva, that contaminates the quiver.alittamupalimpati; The attentive, fearing contamination,Upalepabhayā dhīro, would never have wicked comrades.neva pāpasakhā siyā.

A man who wrapsPūtimacchaṁ kusaggena, putrid fish in blades of grassyo naro upanayhati; makes the grass stink—Kusāpi pūti vāyanti, so it is when associating with fools.evaṁ bālūpasevanā.

But one who wrapsTagarañca palāsena, sandalwood incense in leavesyo naro upanayhati; makes the leaves fragrant—Pattāpi surabhi vāyanti, so it is when associating with the attentive.evaṁ dhīrūpasevanā.

So, knowing they’ll end upTasmā pattapuṭasseva, like the wrapping, the astuteñatvā sampākamattano; would shun the wicked,Asante nupaseveyya, and befriend the good.sante seveyya paṇḍito; The wicked lead you to hell,Asanto nirayaṁ nenti, the good help you to a good place.”santo pāpenti suggatin”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.