an.7.7 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

To Ugga

Then Ugga, the king’s chief minister, approached the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: “It’s amazing, lord, & awesome, how prosperous Migara Rohaneyya is, how great his treasures, how great his resources!”

[The Buddha:] “But what is his property, Ugga? What are his great treasures & great resources?”

“One hundred thousand pieces of gold, lord, to say nothing of his silver.”

“That is treasure, Ugga. I don’t say that it’s not. And that treasure is open to fire, floods, kings, thieves, & hateful heirs. But these seven treasures are not open to fire, flood, kings, thieves, or hateful heirs. Which seven? The treasure of conviction, the treasure of virtue, the treasure of conscience, the treasure of concern, the treasure of listening, the treasure of generosity, the treasure of discernment. These, Ugga, are the seven treasures that are not open to fire, flood, kings, thieves, or hateful heirs.

The treasure of conviction,
the treasure of virtue,
the treasure of conscience & concern.
The treasure of listening, generosity,
& discernment as the seventh treasure.
Whoever, man or woman, has these treasures,
has great treasure in the world that no human or divine being can excel.
So conviction & virtue, confidence & Dhamma-vision
should be cultivated by the wise,
remembering the Buddhas’ instruction.

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

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With Ugga

Then Ugga the government minister went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!
Migāra of Rohaṇa is so rich, so very wealthy.”
“But Ugga, how rich is he?”
“He has a hundred thousand gold coins, not to mention the silver!”
“Well, Ugga, that is wealth, I can’t deny it.
But fire, water, rulers, thieves, and unloved heirs all take a share of that wealth.
There are these seven kinds of wealth that they can’t take a share of.
What seven?
The wealth of faith, ethics, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom.
There are these seven kinds of wealth that fire, water, rulers, thieves, and unloved heirs can’t take a share of.
Faith and ethical conduct are kinds of wealth,
as are conscience and prudence,
learning and generosity,
and wisdom is the seventh kind of wealth.
When a woman or man
has these kinds of wealth,
they’re really rich in the world,
invincible among gods and humans.
So let the wise devote themselves
to faith, ethical behavior,
confidence, and insight into the teaching,
remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.”