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Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa

3.6.8 Maṅgalasuttaṃ

The Householder’s Wholesome Blessings

Maṅgalasuttaṃ	The Householder’s Wholesome Blessings
Evaṃ me sutaṃ – ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṃ jetavanaṃ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṃ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi –	Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthi at Jeta’s grove, the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika. Then, indeed, when the night was well advanced, a certain female deva of surpassing beauty, illuminating the whole of Jeta’s grove, approached where the Buddha was. Having arrived there and respectfully saluting the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing to one side the deva addressed the Blessed One in verse:
‘‘Bahū devā manussā ca, maṅgalāni acintayuṃ; Ākaṅkhamānā sotthānaṃ, brūhi maṅgalamuttamaṃ”.	Many devas and men have pondered on welfares, Yearning for happiness Please explain what is the highest welfare.
“Asevanā ca bālānaṃ, paṇḍitānañca sevanā; Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṃ, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Avoidance of fools, the company of the wise, Honor where honor is due —this is the highest welfare.
Patirūpadesavāso ca, pubbe ca katapuññatā; Attasammāpaṇidhi ca, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	A suitable place of abode, the merit of past good deeds, Right aspirations for oneself —this is the highest welfare.
Bāhusaccañca sippañca, vinayo ca susikkhito; Subhāsitā ca yā vācā, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Great learning and skill, well-mastered discipline, Well-spoken words —this is the highest welfare.
Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṃ, puttadārassa saṅgaho; Anākulā ca kammantā, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Serving one’s parents, caring for spouse and children, A peaceful occupation —this is the highest welfare.
Dānañca dhammacariyā ca, ñātakānañca saṅgaho; Anavajjāni kammāni, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Generosity, a life of Dhamma, caring for relatives, Blameless deeds —this is the highest welfare.
Āratī viratī pāpā, majjapānā ca saṃyamo; Appamādo ca dhammesu, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Ceasing and shunning evil, refraining from intoxicants, Vigilance in the Dhamma —this is the highest welfare
Gāravo ca nivāto ca, santuṭṭhi ca kataññutā; Kālena dhammassavanaṃ, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Respectfulness, humility, contentment, gratitude, Listening to the Dhamma at the proper time —this is the highest welfare.
Khantī ca sovacassatā, samaṇānañca dassanaṃ; Kālena dhammasākacchā, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Forbearance, accepting guidance, beholding saintly people, Discussion of the Dhamma at the proper time —this is the highest welfare
Tapo ca brahmacariyañca, ariyasaccāna dassanaṃ; Nibbānasacchikiriyā ca, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	Ardent practice, a life of purity, witnessing the Noble Truths, Experiencing nibbāna —this is the highest welfare.
Phuṭṭhassa lokadhammehi, cittaṃ yassa na kampati; Asokaṃ virajaṃ khemaṃ, etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.	When faced with the vicissitudes of life, one’s mind is unshaken, Sorrowless, stainless, secure —this is the highest welfare.
Etādisāni katvāna, sabbatthamaparājitā; Sabbattha sotthiṃ gacchanti, taṃ tesaṃ maṅgalamuttama’’nti.	Having acted in this way, everywhere invincible, They go everywhere safely —that is the highest welfare.

Evaṃ me sutaṃ –

ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṃ jetavanaṃ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṃ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi –

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthi at Jeta’s grove, the monastery of Anāthapiṇḍika. Then, indeed, when the night was well advanced, a certain female deva of surpassing beauty, illuminating the whole of Jeta’s grove, approached where the Buddha was. Having arrived there and respectfully saluting the Blessed One, she stood to one side.

Standing to one side the deva addressed the Blessed One in verse:

‘‘Bahū devā manussā ca,

maṅgalāni acintayuṃ;

Ākaṅkhamānā sotthānaṃ,

brūhi maṅgalamuttamaṃ”.

Many devas and men

have pondered on welfares,

Yearning for happiness

Please explain what is the highest welfare.

“Asevanā ca bālānaṃ,

paṇḍitānañca sevanā;

Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṃ,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Avoidance of fools,

the company of the wise,

Honor where honor is due

—this is the highest welfare.

Patirūpadesavāso ca,

pubbe ca katapuññatā;

Attasammāpaṇidhi ca,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

A suitable place of abode,

the merit of past good deeds,

Right aspirations for oneself

—this is the highest welfare.

Bāhusaccañca sippañca,

vinayo ca susikkhito;

Subhāsitā ca yā vācā,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Great learning and skill,

well-mastered discipline,

Well-spoken words

—this is the highest welfare.

Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṃ,

puttadārassa saṅgaho;

Anākulā ca kammantā,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Serving one’s parents,

caring for spouse and children,

A peaceful occupation

—this is the highest welfare.

Dānañca dhammacariyā ca,

ñātakānañca saṅgaho;

Anavajjāni kammāni,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Generosity, a life of Dhamma,

caring for relatives,

Blameless deeds

—this is the highest welfare.

Āratī viratī pāpā,

majjapānā ca saṃyamo;

Appamādo ca dhammesu,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Ceasing and shunning evil,

refraining from intoxicants,

Vigilance in the Dhamma

—this is the highest welfare

Gāravo ca nivāto ca,

santuṭṭhi ca kataññutā;

Kālena dhammassavanaṃ,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Respectfulness, humility,

contentment, gratitude,

Listening to the Dhamma at the proper time

—this is the highest welfare.

Khantī ca sovacassatā,

samaṇānañca dassanaṃ;

Kālena dhammasākacchā,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Forbearance, accepting guidance, beholding saintly people,

Discussion of the Dhamma at the proper time

—this is the highest welfare

Tapo ca brahmacariyañca,

ariyasaccāna dassanaṃ;

Nibbānasacchikiriyā ca,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Ardent practice, a life of purity, witnessing the Noble Truths,

Experiencing nibbāna

—this is the highest welfare.

Phuṭṭhassa lokadhammehi,

cittaṃ yassa na kampati;

Asokaṃ virajaṃ khemaṃ,

etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

When faced with the vicissitudes of life, one’s mind is unshaken,

Sorrowless, stainless, secure

—this is the highest welfare.

Etādisāni katvāna,

sabbatthamaparājitā;

Sabbattha sotthiṃ gacchanti,

taṃ tesaṃ maṅgalamuttama’’nti.

Having acted in this way,

everywhere invincible,

They go everywhere safely

—that is the highest welfare.

Khuddakapāṭhapāḷi, Khuddakanikāye