Iṭṭhasutta

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Pañcime, gahapati, dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. Katame pañca? Āyu, gahapati, iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; vaṇṇo iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; sukhaṁ iṭṭhaṁ kantaṁ manāpaṁ dullabhaṁ lokasmiṁ; yaso iṭṭho kanto manāpo dullabho lokasmiṁ; saggā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. Ime kho, gahapati, pañca dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dullabhā lokasmiṁ.

“Householder, these five things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable are hard to get in the world. What five? Long life, beauty, happiness, fame, and heaven. These are the five things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable, but hard to get in the world.

Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, pañcannaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ na āyācanahetu vā patthanāhetu vā paṭilābhaṁ vadāmi. Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, pañcannaṁ dhammānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ dullabhānaṁ lokasmiṁ āyācanahetu vā patthanāhetu vā paṭilābho abhavissa, ko idha kena hāyetha?

And I say that these five things are not got by supplication or wishing for them. If they were, who would lack them?

Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako āyukāmo āyuṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā āyussa vāpi hetu. Āyukāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena āyusaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. Āyusaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā āyupaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. So lābhī hoti āyussa dibbassa vā mānusassa vā.

A noble disciple who wants to live long ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to long life. For by practicing that way they gain long life as a god or a human being.

Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako vaṇṇakāmo vaṇṇaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā vaṇṇassa vāpi hetu. Vaṇṇakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena vaṇṇasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. Vaṇṇasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā vaṇṇapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. So lābhī hoti vaṇṇassa 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. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to beauty. For by practicing that way they gain beauty as a god or a human being.

Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako sukhakāmo sukhaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā sukhassa vāpi hetu. Sukhakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena sukhasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. Sukhasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā sukhapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. So lābhī hoti sukhassa 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. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to happiness. For by practicing that way they gain happiness as a god or a human being.

Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako yasakāmo yasaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā yasassa vāpi hetu. Yasakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena yasasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. Yasasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā yasapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. So lābhī hoti yasassa 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. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to fame. For by practicing that way they gain fame as a god or a human being.

Na kho, gahapati, arahati ariyasāvako saggakāmo saggaṁ āyācituṁ vā abhinandituṁ vā saggānaṁ vāpi hetu. Saggakāmena, gahapati, ariyasāvakena saggasaṁvattanikā paṭipadā paṭipajjitabbā. Saggasaṁvattanikā hissa paṭipadā paṭipannā saggapaṭilābhāya saṁvattati. So lābhī hoti saggānanti.

A noble disciple who wants to go to heaven ought not pray for it, or hope for it, or pine for it. Instead, they should practice the way that leads to heaven. For by practicing that way they gain heaven, they are one who gains the heavens.

Āyuṁ vaṇṇaṁ yasaṁ kittiṁ, Saggaṁ uccākulīnataṁ; Ratiyo patthayānena, Uḷārā aparāparā.

For one who desires lofty delights again and again— long life, beauty, fame and reputation, heaven, and an eminent family—

Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti, puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā; Appamatto ubho atthe, adhigaṇhāti paṇḍito.

the astute praise diligence in making merit. Being diligent, an astute person secures both benefits:

Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho, yo cattho samparāyiko; Atthābhisamayā dhīro, paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti. Tatiyaṁ.

the benefit in this life, and in lives to come. An attentive one, comprehending the meaning, is said to be astute.”