The advantages of accumulating merit.
Nidhikaṇḍasutta—
Khuddakapāṭha
A Hidden Treasure
Nidhikaṇḍasutta
A person stores away their savings
Nidhiṁ nidheti puriso,
in a deep pit by the water’s edge:
gambhīre odakantike;
“When need arises
Atthe kicce samuppanne,
it will be there to help
atthāya me bhavissati.free me from rulers if I am slandered,
Rājato vā duruttassa,
or from bandits if harassed,
corato pīḷitassa vā;
or to release me from debt,
Iṇassa vā pamokkhāya,
or in case of famine or losses.”
dubbhikkhe āpadāsu vā;
What the world calls savings
Etadatthāya lokasmiṁ,
get stored away for such reasons.
nidhi nāma nidhīyati.But no matter how well stored away they are
Tāvassunihito santo,
in a deep pit by the water’s edge,
gambhīre odakantike;
all their savings will fail
Na sabbo sabbadā eva,
to aid them all the time.
tassa taṁ upakappati.For perhaps those savings are removed from there,
Nidhi vā ṭhānā cavati,
or they forget what marks the site,
saññā vāssa vimuyhati;
or dragons make off with them,
Nāgā vā apanāmenti,
or spirits carry them away,
yakkhā vāpi haranti naṁ.or unloved heirs
Appiyā vāpi dāyādā,
secretly unearth them.
uddharanti apassato;
When their merit is used up,
Yadā puññakkhayo hoti,
all of that will vanish.
sabbametaṁ vinassati.But by giving and morality,
Yassa dānena sīlena,
restraint and self-control,
saṁyamena damena ca;
a woman or man
Nidhī sunihito hoti,
keeps their savings safe.
itthiyā purisassa vā.At a shrine or with the Saṅgha,
Cetiyamhi ca saṅghe vā,
puggale atithīsu vā;
with mother or father,
Mātari pitari cāpi,
or else an elder sibling,
atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari.those savings are kept safe,
Eso nidhi sunihito,
they stay with you, undecaying.
ajeyyo anugāmiko;
We must go on leaving all behind,
Pahāya gamanīyesu,
only this you take when you go.
etaṁ ādāya gacchati.You don’t have to divide it with others,
Asādhāraṇamaññesaṁ,
no thief makes off with your savings.
acorāharaṇo nidhi;
A wise person would make merit,
Kayirātha dhīro puññāni,
the savings that stay with you.
yo nidhi anugāmiko.Such savings grant every desire
Esa devamanussānaṁ,
of gods and humans too.
sabbakāmadado nidhi;
Whatever it is that they wish for
Yaṁ yadevābhipatthenti,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.Good looks, a sweet voice,
Suvaṇṇatā susaratā,
a good shape, and good appearance,
susaṇṭhānā surūpatā;
leadership and followers:
Ādhipaccaparivāro,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.Sovereignty of a local kingdom,
Padesarajjaṁ issariyaṁ,
the happiness of a Wheel-Turning Monarch,
cakkavattisukhaṁ piyaṁ;
even divine kingship in the heavens:
Devarajjampi dibbesu,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.Human success,
Mānussikā ca sampatti,
heavenly delight,
devaloke ca yā rati;
attaining extinguishment:
Yā ca nibbānasampatti,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.Relying on having good friends,
Mittasampadamāgamma,
rational application of effort,
yonisova payuñjato;
mastery of knowledge and freedom:
Vijjāvimuttivasībhāvo,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.Analytical knowledge, the liberations,
Paṭisambhidā vimokkhā ca,
the perfections of the disciple,
yā ca sāvakapāramī;
the plane of an independent Buddha:
Paccekabodhi buddhabhūmi,
through this they have it all.
sabbametena labbhati.This accomplishment in merit
Evaṁ mahatthikā esā,
is so very beneficial.
yadidaṁ puññasampadā;
That’s why the wise and the astute
Tasmā dhīrā pasaṁsanti,
praise the making of merit.
paṇḍitā katapuññatanti.