Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
II. Rathakāra Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
II. The Wheelwright

Sutta 20

Dutiya Pāpaṇika Suttaṁ

The Shopkeeper (b)

Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved

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[100]

[1][bodh][upal]v Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said this:

"Monks, possessed of three characteristics
a shopkeeper in no long time
attains greatness
and increase in wealth.

What three?

Herein, monks, a shopkeeper is shrewd,^[1]
supremely capable^[2]
and inspires confidence.^[3]

And how, monks, is he shrewd?

Herein, monks, the shopkeeper knows of his goods:

This article,
bought for so much
and sold for so much,
will bring in so much money,
such and such profit.

That is how he is shrewd.

And how, monks, is a shopkeeper supremely capable?

Herein, monks, the shopkeeper is clever at buying and selling goods.

That is how he is supremely capable.

And how, monks, does a shopkeeper inspire confidence?

Herein, monks, the shopkeeper becomes known to housefathers
or housefathers' sons,
or to wealthy,
very rich
and opulent men, thus:

'This shopkeeper, my good sir,
is shrewd,
supremely capable
and resourceful,
competent to support sons and wife,
and from time to time
to pay us interest^[4] on [101] money loaned.'

They make offers of wealth^[5] to him, saying:

'Master shopkeeper,
take this money
and trade with it;^[6]
support your sons and wife,
and pay us back
from time to time.'

That, monks, is how a shopkeeper inspires confidence.

Possessed of these three characteristics
a shopkeeper in no long time
attains greatness
and increase of wealth.

 

§

 

In like manner, monks,
possessed of three characteristics
a monk in no long time
attains greatness
and increase in profitable states.

What three?

Herein a monk is shrewd,
supremely capable
and inspires confidence.

And how is a monk shrewd?

Herein a monk knows, as it really is,
the meaning of:

This is Ill.

This is the arising of Ill.

This is the ceasing of Ill.

This is the practice that leads to the ending of Ill.

That is how he is shrewd.

And how is a monk supremely capable?

Herein a monk dwells ardent in energy:
by abandoning unprofitable states
and giving rise to profitable states
he is stout and strong to struggle,
not declining the burden in good states.

That is how he is supremely capable.

And how does a monk inspire confidence?

Herein, monks,
from time to time
he frequents the company
of monks of wide knowledge,
versed in the Sayings,^[7]
who know the Outline thoroughly,
who know the discipline
and summaries^[8]
by heart.

He inquires of them
and questions them thus:

'How is this, your reverence?

What is the meaning of this?'

Those worthies then open up to him
what was sealed,
make clear what was obscure,
and on divers doubtful points of doctrine
they resolve his doubts.

That, monks, is how a monk inspires confidence.

Possessed of these three characteristics
a monk in no long time
attains greatness
and increase in profitable states."

Here ends the First Section for Recital.^[9]

 

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^[1] Cakkhumā = pañña-cakkhunā cakkhuma. Comy.

^[2] Text vidhūro. Comy. vidhuro = visiṭṭha-dhuro, uttama-dhuro, ñāṇa-sampayutttena viriyena samannāgato. Pāli Dict. suggests vidhūra = paṇḍita, or perhaps vidura.

^[3] Nissaya-sampanno.

^[4] Anuppadātuṁ = gahita-dhana-mūlikaṁ vaḍḍhiṁ anupp. Comy.

^[5] Text nimantanti: v.l. and Comy. nipatanti = nimantenti, Comy.

^[6] Ito bhoge karitvā.

^[7] Āgatāgamā.

^[8] Mātikā. Comy. 'dve m.,' but on A. iii, 360 [sic. 361], 'dve Pāṭimokkhā.' [see AN 6.51 - Hare, n. 6

^[9] Bhāṇa-vāraṁ. This title occurs in B. MSS.