AN 5.40

Mahāsālaputtasutta

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Katamāhi pañcahi? Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti; tacena vaḍḍhanti; papaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti; pheggunā vaḍḍhanti; sārena vaḍḍhanti. Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati. Katamāhi pañcahi? Saddhāya vaḍḍhati; sīlena vaḍḍhati; sutena vaḍḍhati; cāgena vaḍḍhati; paññāya vaḍḍhati. Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtaṁ nissāya antojano imāhi pañcahi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

Great Sal Trees

“Mendicants, great sal trees grow in five ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains. What five? The branches, leaves, and foliage; the bark; the shoots; the softwood; and the hardwood. Great sal trees grow in these five ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains. In the same way, a family grows in five ways supported by a family head with faith. What five? Faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. A family grows in these five ways supported by a family head with faith.

Yathā hi pabbato selo, araññasmiṁ brahāvane; Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya, vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.

Supported by the rocky mountain in the wilds, the formidable forest, the tree grows to become lord of the forest.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ, Saddhaṁ kulaputtaṁ imaṁ; Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti, Puttadārā ca bandhavā; Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca, Ye cassa anujīvino.

So too, when the family head is ethical and faithful, supported by them, they grow: children, partners, and kin, colleagues, relatives, and those dependent for their livelihood.

Tyassa sīlavato sīlaṁ, cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca; Passamānānukubbanti, ye bhavanti vicakkhaṇā.

Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous, the generosity and good deeds, those who see clearly do likewise.

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna, maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ; Nandino devalokasmiṁ, modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

Having practiced the teaching here, the path that goes to a good place, they delight in the heavenly realm, enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”