Iti 84

Bahujanahitasutta

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

For the Welfare of the People

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tayome puggalā loke uppajjamānā uppajjanti bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Katame tayo? Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo puggalo loke uppajjamāno uppajjati bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ.

“These three individuals, mendicants, arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What three? It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. This is the first individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tasseva satthu sāvako arahaṁ hoti khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo puggalo loke uppajjamāno uppajjati bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ.

Furthermore, it’s when a mendicant is a perfected one, with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment. They teach Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. This is the second individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tasseva satthu sāvako sekho hoti pāṭipado bahussuto sīlavatūpapanno. Sopi dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo puggalo loke uppajjamāno uppajjati bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā loke uppajjamānā uppajjanti bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

Furthermore, it’s when a disciple of that Teacher is a trainee, a learned practitioner with precepts and observances intact. They teach Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. This is the third individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. These are the three individuals who arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Satthā hi loke paṭhamo mahesi, Tassanvayo sāvako bhāvitatto; Athāparo pāṭipadopi sekho, Bahussuto sīlavatūpapanno.

“The Teacher is the first, the great seer, following whom is the evolved disciple, and then a trainee, a practitioner, learned, with precepts and observances intact.

Ete tayo devamanussaseṭṭhā, Pabhaṅkarā dhammamudīrayantā; Apāpuranti amatassa dvāraṁ, Yogā pamocenti bahujjanaṁ te.

These three are first among gods and humans, beacons proclaiming the teaching! They fling open the door to freedom from death, freeing many from yokes.

Ye satthavāhena anuttarena, Sudesitaṁ maggamanukkamanti; Idheva dukkhassa karonti antaṁ, Ye appamattā sugatassa sāsane”ti.

Following the path so well taught by the unsurpassed caravan leader, those who are diligent in the Holy One’s teaching make an end of suffering in this very life.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.