Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
IV. Cakka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
IV: The Wheel
Sutta 32
Saṇgahavatthu Suttaṃ
Sympathy[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four bases of sympathy.
What four?
Charity, kind speech, doing a good turn and treating all alike.[2]
These are the four.
Charity, kind words, and doing a good turn[3]
And treating all alike as each deserves:
These bonds of sympathy are in the world
Just like the linchpin of a moving car.[4]
Now if these bonds were lacking, mother who bore
And father who begat would not receive
The honour and respect (which are their due).
But since the wise rightly regard these bonds,
They win to greatness[5] and are worthy praise.'[6]
[1] Sangaka, what holds together (the linchpin of the gathas). Cf. D. iii, 152; infra, text 248 and n. on § 9 of Ch. IV.
[2] Samānatta = 'impartiality,' but Comy. takes it as 'imperturbability' (samāna-sukha-dukkha-bhāvo).
[3] Attha-cariyā, lit. conduct in or for welfare.
[4] Cf. Sn. 654, kamma-nibandhana sattā rathass'āṇī va yāyato.
[5] Read mahattaṃ for text's mahantaṃ.
[6] Gāthas at JA. v, 330 (Sona-Nanda J.), where Fausböll's punctuation has misled the translator of the Cambridge ed. volume. They are continued infra, text 70 = A. i, 132; Itiv. 109.
