Then Ujjaya the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho ujjayo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho ujjayo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Worthy Gotama, we wish to travel abroad. “mayaṁ, bho gotama, pavāsaṁ gantukāmā. May the Buddha please teach us the Dhamma in a way that leads to our welfare and happiness in this life and in future lives.” Tesaṁ no bhavaṁ gotamo amhākaṁ tathā dhammaṁ desetu—ye amhākaṁ assu dhammā diṭṭhadhammahitāya, diṭṭhadhammasukhāya, samparāyahitāya, samparāyasukhāyā”ti.

“Brahmin, these four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life. “Cattārome, brāhmaṇa, dhammā kulaputtassa diṭṭhadhammahitāya saṁvattanti, diṭṭhadhammasukhāya. What four? Katame cattāro? Accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances. Uṭṭhānasampadā, ārakkhasampadā, kalyāṇamittatā, samajīvitā.

And what is accomplishment in initiative? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, uṭṭhānasampadā? A gentleman may earn a living by means such as Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto yena kammaṭṭhānena jīvikaṁ kappeti—farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, or one of the professions. yadi kasiyā, yadi vaṇijjāya, yadi gorakkhena, yadi issattena, yadi rājaporisena, yadi sippaññatarena—He understands how to go about these things in order to complete and organize the work. tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ. This is called accomplishment in initiative. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, uṭṭhānasampadā.

And what is accomplishment in protection? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, ārakkhasampadā? It’s when a gentleman owns legitimate wealth that he has earned by his own efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow. Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputtassa bhogā honti uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā, bāhābalaparicitā, sedāvakkhittā, dhammikā dhammaladdhā. He ensures it is guarded and protected, thinking: Te ārakkhena guttiyā sampādeti: ‘How can I prevent my wealth from being taken by rulers or bandits, consumed by fire, swept away by flood, or taken by unloved heirs?’ ‘kinti me ime bhoge neva rājāno hareyyuṁ, na corā hareyyuṁ, na aggi ḍaheyya, na udakaṁ vaheyya, na appiyā dāyādā hareyyun’ti. This is called accomplishment in protection. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, ārakkhasampadā.

And what is accomplishment in good friendship? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, kalyāṇamittatā? It’s when a gentleman resides in a town or village. And in that place there are householders or their children who may be young or old, but are mature in conduct, accomplished in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. He associates with them, converses and engages in discussion. And he emulates the same kind of accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto yasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā paṭivasati tatra ye te honti—gahapatī vā gahapatiputtā vā daharā vā vuddhasīlino, vuddhā vā vuddhasīlino, saddhāsampannā, sīlasampannā, cāgasampannā, paññāsampannā—tehi saddhiṁ santiṭṭhati sallapati sākacchaṁ samāpajjati; yathārūpānaṁ saddhāsampannānaṁ saddhāsampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ sīlasampannānaṁ sīlasampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ cāgasampannānaṁ cāgasampadaṁ anusikkhati, yathārūpānaṁ paññāsampannānaṁ paññāsampadaṁ anusikkhati. This is called accomplishment in good friendship. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, kalyāṇamittatā.

And what is accomplishment in balanced finances? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, samajīvitā? It’s when a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’ Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. It’s like an appraiser or their apprentice who, holding up the scales, knows that it’s low by this much or high by this much. Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, tulādhāro vā tulādhārantevāsī vā tulaṁ paggahetvā jānāti: ‘ettakena vā onataṁ, ettakena vā unnatan’ti; In the same way, a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, balances his finances, being neither too extravagant nor too frugal. He thinks, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’ evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. If a gentleman has little income but an opulent life, people will say: ‘This gentleman eats their wealth like a fig-eater!’ Sacāyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto appāyo samāno uḷāraṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘udumbarakhādīvāyaṁ kulaputto bhoge khādatī’ti. If a gentleman has a large income but a spartan life, people will say: ‘This gentleman is starving themselves to death!’ Sace panāyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto mahāyo samāno kasiraṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘ajeṭṭhamaraṇaṁvāyaṁ kulaputto marissatī’ti. But a gentleman, knowing his income and expenditure, leads a balanced life, neither too extravagant nor too frugal, thinking, ‘In this way my income will exceed my expenditure, not the reverse.’ Yato ca khoyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṁ viditvā vayañca bhogānaṁ viditvā samaṁ jīvikaṁ kappeti nāccogāḷhaṁ nātihīnaṁ: ‘evaṁ me āyo vayaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti, This is called accomplishment in balanced finances. ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, samajīvitā.

There are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way. Evaṁ samuppannānaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhogānaṁ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates. itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko. Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the drains and close off the inlets, and the heavens don’t provide enough rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to dwindle, not expand. Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, mahato taḷākassa cattāri ceva āyamukhāni, cattāri ca apāyamukhāni. Tassa puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni vivareyya; devo ca na sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evañhi tassa, brāhmaṇa, mahato taḷākassa parihāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no vuddhi; In the same way, there are four drains on wealth that has been gathered in this way. evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ samuppannānaṁ bhogānaṁ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—Womanizing, drinking, gambling, and having bad friends, companions, and associates. itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko.

There are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way. Evaṁ samuppannānaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhogānaṁ cattāri āyamukhāni honti—Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates. na itthidhutto, na surādhutto, na akkhadhutto, kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. Suppose there was a large reservoir with four inlets and four drains. And someone was to open up the inlets and close off the drains, and the heavens provide plenty of rain. You’d expect that large reservoir to expand, not dwindle. Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, mahato taḷākassa cattāri ceva āyamukhāni cattāri ca apāyamukhāni. Tassa puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni vivareyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya; devo ca sammā dhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evañhi tassa, brāhmaṇa, mahato taḷākassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni; In the same way, there are four inlets for wealth that has been gathered in this way. evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ samuppannānaṁ bhogānaṁ cattāri āyamukhāni honti—Not womanizing, drinking, or gambling, and having good friends, companions, and associates. na itthidhutto …pe… kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life. Ime kho, brāhmaṇa, cattāro dhammā kulaputtassa diṭṭhadhammahitāya saṁvattanti diṭṭhadhammasukhāya.

These four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in future lives. Cattārome, brāhmaṇa, kulaputtassa dhammā samparāyahitāya saṁvattanti samparāyasukhāya. What four? Katame cattāro? Accomplishment in faith, ethics, generosity, and wisdom. Saddhāsampadā, sīlasampadā, cāgasampadā, paññāsampadā.

And what is accomplishment in faith? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, saddhāsampadā? It’s when a gentleman has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘That Blessed One is 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.’ ‘itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. This is called accomplishment in faith. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, saddhāsampadā.

And what is accomplishment in ethics? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, sīlasampadā? It’s when a gentleman doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. This is called accomplishment in ethics. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, sīlasampadā.

And what is accomplishment in generosity? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, cāgasampadā? It’s when a gentleman lives at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vosaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. This is called accomplishment in generosity. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, cāgasampadā.

And what is accomplishment in wisdom? Katamā ca, brāhmaṇa, paññāsampadā? It’s when a gentleman is wise. He has the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. Idha, brāhmaṇa, kulaputto paññavā hoti …pe… sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. This is called accomplishment in wisdom. Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, paññāsampadā.

These are the four things that lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in future lives. “Ime kho, brāhmaṇa, cattāro dhammā kulaputtassa samparāyahitāya saṁvattanti samparāyasukhāyāti.

They’re enterprising in the workplace, Uṭṭhātā kammadheyyesu, diligent in managing things, appamatto vidhānavā; they balance their finances, Samaṁ kappeti jīvikaṁ, and preserve their wealth. sambhataṁ anurakkhati.

Faithful, accomplished in ethics, Saddho sīlena sampanno, bountiful, rid of stinginess, vadaññū vītamaccharo; they always purify the path Niccaṁ maggaṁ visodheti, to well-being in lives to come. sotthānaṁ samparāyikaṁ.

And so these eight qualities Iccete aṭṭha dhammā ca, of a faithful householder of discernment saddhassa gharamesino; are declared by the one who is truly named Akkhātā saccanāmena, to lead to happiness in both spheres, ubhayattha sukhāvahā.

welfare and benefit in this life, Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya, and happiness in the next. samparāyasukhāya ca; This is how, for a householder, Evametaṁ gahaṭṭhānaṁ, merit grows by generosity.” cāgo puññaṁ pavaḍḍhatī”ti.