AN 3.20

Dutiyapāpaṇikasutta

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato pāpaṇiko nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti bhogesu. Katamehi tīhi? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā ca hoti vidhuro ca nissayasampanno ca. Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko paṇiyaṁ jānāti: ‘idaṁ paṇiyaṁ evaṁ kītaṁ, evaṁ vikkayamānaṁ, ettakaṁ mūlaṁ bhavissati, ettako udayo’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko cakkhumā hoti.

A Shopkeeper (2nd)

“Mendicants, a shopkeeper who has three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth. What three? It’s when a shopkeeper sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters. And how does a shopkeeper see clearly? It’s when a shopkeeper knows of a product: ‘This product is bought at this price and is selling at this price. With this much investment, it’ll bring this much profit.’ That’s how a shopkeeper sees clearly.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko vidhuro hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko kusalo hoti paṇiyaṁ ketuñca vikketuñca. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko vidhuro hoti.

And how is a shopkeeper indefatigable? It’s when a shopkeeper is skilled in buying and selling products. That’s how a shopkeeper is indefatigable.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko nissayasampanno hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpaṇikaṁ ye te gahapatī vā gahapatiputtā vā aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā te evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ pāpaṇiko cakkhumā vidhuro ca paṭibalo puttadārañca posetuṁ, amhākañca kālena kālaṁ anuppadātun’ti. Te naṁ bhogehi nipatanti: ‘ito, samma pāpaṇika, bhoge karitvā puttadārañca posehi, amhākañca kālena kālaṁ anuppadehī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpaṇiko nissayasampanno hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato pāpaṇiko nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti bhogesu.

And how does a shopkeeper have supporters? It’s when rich, affluent, and wealthy householders or householders’ children know of him: ‘This good shopkeeper sees clearly and is indefatigable. They are capable of providing for their wives and children, and paying us back from time to time.’ They deposit money with the shopkeeper, saying: ‘With this, my good shopkeeper, earn money to provide for your wives and children, and pay us back from time to time.’ That’s how a shopkeeper has supporters. A shopkeeper who has these three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti kusalesu dhammesu. Katamehi tīhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā ca hoti vidhuro ca nissayasampanno ca. Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhumā hoti.

In the same way, a mendicant with three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities. What three? It’s when a mendicant sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters. And how does a mendicant see clearly? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. That’s how a mendicant sees clearly.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vidhuro hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vidhuro hoti.

And how is a mendicant indefatigable? It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. That’s how a mendicant is indefatigable.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissayasampanno hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ye te bhikkhū bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati: ‘idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ, imassa ko attho’ti? Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissayasampanno hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nacirasseva mahattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti kusalesu dhammesū”ti.

And how does a mendicant have supporters? It’s when from time to time a mendicant goes up to those mendicants who are very learned—inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines—and asks them questions: ‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’ Those venerables reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. That’s how a mendicant has supporters. A mendicant with these three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities.”