Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXVI: Abhiññā Vagga

The Book of the Fours

Sutta 255

Kula Suttaṃ

Clans of Long-Standing

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

---

 

[1][pts][than] "Whatsoever are clans,^[1] beggars,
having secured vast extent of wealth,
are not long-lasting,
all such stick to these four,
or one or the other.

What four?

Not looking for the missing,
not restoring the old,
unmeasured use of food and drink,
setting in authority
some unethical man or woman.

Whatsoever are clans, beggars,
having secured vast extent of wealth,
are not long-lasting,
all such stick to these four,
or one or the other.

Whatsoever are clans, beggars,
having secured vast extent of wealth,
become of long-standing,
all such stick to these four,
or one or the other.

What four?

The missing finding,
the old restoring,
measured use of food and drink,
setting in authority
some ethical man or woman.

Whatsoever clans, beggars,
securing vast extent of wealth,
become of long-standing,
all such stick to these four,
or one or the other.

 

---

^[1] Past, future or present. A circle of people related by marriage and kinship.