• Numbered Discourses 7.62 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 7.62
  • 6. The Undeclared Points 6. Abyākatavagga

Don’t Fear Good Deeds Mettasutta

ā€œMendicants, don’t fear good deeds. ā€œMā, bhikkhave, puƱƱānaṁ bhāyittha. For ā€˜good deeds’ is a term for happiness. Sukhassetaṁ, bhikkhave, adhivacanaṁ yadidaṁ puƱƱāni. I recall undergoing for a long time the likable, desirable, and agreeable results of good deeds performed over a long time. Abhijānāmi kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dÄ«gharattaṁ katānaṁ puƱƱānaṁ dÄ«gharattaṁ iį¹­į¹­haṁ kantaṁ manāpaṁ vipākaṁ paccanubhÅ«taṁ. I developed a mind of love for seven years. Satta vassāni mettacittaṁ bhāvesiṁ. As a result, for seven eons of the cosmos contracting and expanding I didn’t return to this world again. Satta vassāni mettacittaṁ bhāvetvā satta saṁvaį¹­į¹­avivaį¹­į¹­akappe nayimaṁ lokaṁ punāgamāsiṁ. As the cosmos contracted I went to the realm of streaming radiance. Saṁvaį¹­į¹­amāne sudāhaṁ, bhikkhave, loke ābhassarÅ«pago homi, As it expanded I was reborn in an empty mansion of divinity. vivaį¹­į¹­amāne loke suƱƱaṁ brahmavimānaṁ upapajjāmi.

There I was the Divinity, the Great Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmā homi mahābrahmā abhibhÅ« anabhibhÅ«to aƱƱadatthudaso vasavattÄ«. I was Sakka, lord of gods, thirty-six times. Chattiṁsakkhattuṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko ahosiṁ devānamindo; Many hundreds of times I was a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. My dominion extended to all four sides, I achieved stability in the country, and I possessed the seven treasures. anekasatakkhattuṁ rājā ahosiṁ cakkavattÄ« dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvÄ« janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato. These were my seven treasures: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, imāni satta ratanāni ahesuṁ, seyyathidaṁ—the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure. cakkaratanaṁ, hatthiratanaṁ, assaratanaṁ, maṇiratanaṁ, itthiratanaṁ, gahapatiratanaṁ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṁ. I had over a thousand sons who were valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of my enemies. Parosahassaṁ kho pana me, bhikkhave, puttā ahesuṁ sÅ«rā vÄ«raį¹…garÅ«pā parasenappamaddanā. After conquering this land girt by sea, I reigned by principle, without rod or sword. So imaṁ pathaviṁ sāgarapariyantaṁ adaį¹‡įøena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasinti.

See the result of good deeds, Passa puƱƱānaṁ vipākaṁ, of skillful deeds, for one seeking happiness. Kusalānaṁ sukhesino; I developed a mind of love Mettaṁ cittaṁ vibhāvetvā, for seven years, mendicants. Satta vassāni bhikkhavo; For seven eons of expansion and contraction Sattasaṁvaį¹­į¹­avivaį¹­į¹­akappe, I didn’t return to this world again. Nayimaṁ lokaṁ punāgamiṁ.

As the world contracted Saṁvaṭṭamāne lokamhi, I went to the realm of streaming radiance. homi ābhassarūpago; And when it expanded Vivaṭṭamāne lokasmiṁ, I went to an empty mansion of divinity. suññabrahmūpago ahuṁ.

Seven times I was a Great Divinity, Sattakkhattuṁ mahābrahmā, and at that time I was the wielder of power. vasavattī tadā ahuṁ; Thirty-six times I was lord of gods, Chattiṁsakkhattuṁ devindo, acting as ruler of the gods. devarajjamakārayiṁ.

Then I was king, a wheel-turning monarch, CakkavattÄ« ahuṁ rājā, lord of the Black Plum Tree Land. jambumaį¹‡įøassa issaro; An anointed aristocrat, Muddhāvasitto khattiyo, I was sovereign of all humans. manussādhipatÄ« ahuṁ.

Without rod or sword, Adaį¹‡įøena asatthena, I conquered this land. vijeyya pathaviṁ imaṁ; Through non-violent action Asāhasena kammena, I guided it justly. samena manusāsi taṁ.

After ruling this vast territory Dhammena rajjaṁ kāretvā, by means of principle, asmiṁ pathavimaį¹‡įøale; I was born in a rich family, Mahaddhane mahābhoge, affluent and wealthy. aįøįøhe ajāyihaṁ kule.

It was replete with all sense pleasures, Sabbakāmehi sampanne, and the seven treasures. ratanehi ca sattahi; This was well taught by the Buddhas, Buddhā saį¹…gāhakā loke, who bring the world together. tehi etaṁ sudesitaṁ.

This is the cause of greatness Eso hetu mahantassa, by which one is called a lord of the land. pathabyo me na vipajjati; I was a majestic king, PahÅ«tavittÅ«pakaraṇo, with lots of property and assets. rājā hoti patāpavā.

successful and glorious, Iddhimā yasavā hoti, lord of the Black Plum Tree Land. jambumaį¹‡įøassa issaro; Who would not be inspired by this, Ko sutvā nappasÄ«deyya, even someone of dark birth. api kaṇhābhijātiyo.

Therefore someone who desires self-knowledge, Tasmā hi attakāmena, and aspires to greatness themselves, mahattamabhikaį¹…khatā; should respect the true teaching, Saddhammo garukātabbo, remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.ā€ saraṁ buddhānasāsananā€ti.