kp.5 Khuddakapatha

This is what I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthi, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s grounds in Jeta’s Wood. Then a certain god, at the end of the night, having lit up the whole of Jeta’s Wood with his surpassing beauty, approached the Gracious One, and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he stood on one side. While standing on one side that god recited this verse to the Gracious One:

“Many are the gods and the men
who have thought about the blessings
hoping for safety:
now please say what is a supreme blessing.”

“Not associating with fools,
with the wise associating,
honouring those worthy of honour:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Living in a suitable place,
formerly having done good deeds,
having the right aspiration for oneself:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Having great learning and craft,
being disciplined and well trained,
and whatever words are well spoken:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Attending on one’s mother and father,
looking after one’s wife and sons,
having work that is not confusing:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Giving, and living by the Dhamma,
and looking after one’s relatives,
performing actions that are blameless:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Abstaining, refraining from bad deeds,
restraint from intoxicating drink,
being heedful regarding all things:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Having respect and being humble,
being satisfied and grateful,
listening to the Dhamma at the right time:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Being patient and easily spoken to,
having sight of ascetics,
discussing the Dhamma at the right time:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Austerity, living spiritually,
insight into the noble truths,
and experiencing Emancipation:
this is a supreme blessing.

“He whose mind does not waver,
when it is touched by things of this world,
being griefless, dustless, and secure:
this is a supreme blessing.

“Having done as here directed,
being undefeated everywhere,
they go everywhere in safety:
for them this is a supreme blessing.”

The Discourse on the Blessings is Finished

Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Exalted One was dwelling at Anathapindika's monastery, in Jeta's Grove, near Savatthi. Now when the night was far spent, a certain deity whose surpassing splendor illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Exalted One and, drawing near, respectfully saluted him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Exalted One in verse:

"Many deities and men, yearning after good, have pondered on blessings. Pray, tell me the greatest blessing!"

The Buddha:

“Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise; and to honor those who are worthy of honor—this is the greatest blessing.

To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past and to set oneself in the right course—this is the greatest blessing..

To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft, well-trained in discipline, and to be of good speech—this is the greatest blessing.

To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation—this is the greatest blessing.

To be generous in giving, to be righteous in conduct, to help one's relatives, and to be blameless in action—this is the greatest blessing.

To loathe more evil and abstain from it, to refrain from intoxicants, and to be steadfast in virtue—this is the greatest blessing.

To be respectful, humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to the Dhamma on due occasions—this is the greatest blessing.

To be patient and obedient, to associate with monks and to have religious discussions on due occasions—this is the greatest blessing.

Self-restraint, a holy and chaste life, the perception of the Noble Truths and the realisation of Nibbana—this is the greatest blessing.

A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated—this is the greatest blessing.

Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established. These are the greatest blessings.”

Thus have I heard:

Once while the Blessed One was staying in the vicinity of Sāvatthi, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery, a certain deity, whose surpassing brilliance and beauty illumined the entire Jeta Grove, late one night came to the presence of the Blessed One; having come to him and offered profound salutations he stood on one side and spoke to him reverently in the following verse:

Many deities and human beings
Have pondered what are blessings,
Which they hope will bring them safety:
Declare to them, Sir, the Highest Blessing.

To this the Blessed One replied:

With fools no company keeping.
With the wise ever consorting,
To the worthy homage paying:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Congenial place to dwell,
In the past merits making,
One's self directed well:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Ample learning, in crafts ability,
With a well-trained disciplining,
Well-spoken words, civility:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Mother, father well supporting,
Wife and children duly cherishing,
Types of work unconflicting:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Acts of giving, righteous living,
Relatives and kin supporting,
Actions blameless then pursuing:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Avoiding evil and abstaining,
From besotting drinks refraining,
Diligence in Dhamma doing:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Right reverence and humility
Contentment and a grateful bearing,
Hearing Dhamma when it's timely:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Patience, meekness when corrected,
Seeing monks and then discussing
About the Dhamma when it's timely:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Self-restraint and holy life,
All the Noble Truths in-seeing,
Realization of Nibbaana:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Though touched by worldly circumstances,
Never his mind is wavering,
Sorrowless, stainless and secure:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Since by acting in this way,
They are everywhere unvanquished,
And everywhere they go in safety:
Theirs, the Highest Blessings.

Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika's monastery. Now when the night was far advanced, a certain deity, whose surpassing radiance illuminated the whole of Jetavana, approached the Blessed One, respectfully saluted him, and stood beside him. Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse:

“Many deities and men longing for happiness have pondered on the question of blessings. Pray tell me what the highest blessings are.

“Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise, and to honor those worthy of honor—this is the highest blessing.

“To reside in a suitable locality, to have performed meritorious actions in the past, and to set oneself in the right direction—this is the highest blessing.

“Vast learning, skill in handicrafts, well grounded in discipline, and pleasant speech—this is the highest blessing.

“To support one's father and mother; to cherish one's wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupations—this is the highest blessing.

“Liberality, righteous conduct, rendering assistance to relatives, and performance of blameless deeds—this is the highest blessing.

“To cease and abstain from evil, to abstain from intoxicating drinks, and diligent in performing righteous acts—this is the highest blessing.

“Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude, and the timely hearing of the Dhamma, the teaching of the Buddha—this is the highest blessing.

“Patience, obedience, meeting the Samanas (holy men), and timely discussions on the Dhamma—this is the highest blessing.

“Self-control, chastity, comprehension of the Noble Truths, and the realization of Nibbana—this is the highest blessing.

“The mind that is not touched by the vicissitudes of life, the mind that is free from sorrow, stainless, and secure—this is the highest blessing.

“Those who have fulfilled the conditions for such blessings are victorious everywhere, and attain happiness everywhere—To them these are the highest blessings.”

This is what I have heard. At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. On that occasion, as the night was coming to an end, a certain god of great beauty approached the Blessed One while illuminating the whole Jeta Grove. After bowing to the Blessed One, they stood to one side and spoke a verse:

“Many gods and humans,
Desiring well-being,
Are seekers of good fortune:
Please tell me the greatest good fortune.”

“Not to associate with fools,
But to associate with the wise,
And to honour those worthy of honour:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“To live in a suitable place,
Having previously done good karma,
And to apply oneself in the right way:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“To be educated and to have a vocation,
To be well-trained in one’s chosen field,
And to speak words that are well-spoken:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“To support one’s mother and father,
To cherish one’s partner and children,
And to have a job without stress:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“Generosity and an upright life,
Kindness towards one’s relatives,
And the doing of blameless deeds:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“To refrain from what is unwholesome,
To abstain from all intoxicants,
And to be steadfast in good qualities,
This is the greatest good fortune.

“Respect and humility,
Contentment and gratitude,
And the timely hearing of Dharma:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“Being patient and easy to correct,
The seeing of monks and nuns,
And timely discussion on Dharma:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“Asceticism and the spiritual life,
Insight into the noble truths,
And the seeing for oneself of Nirvana:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“A mind that remains unshaken
By the ups and the downs of the world,
Sorrowless, stainless and safe:
This is the greatest good fortune.

“Having performed these things,
Nowhere can they be conquered—
They are secure wherever they go.
This is their greatest good fortune.”