• Anthology of Discourses 1.2 Sutta Nipāta 1.2

The Wealthy Rancher Dhaniyasutta

“I’ve boiled my rice and drawn my milk,” “Pakkodano duddhakhīrohamasmi, said Dhaniya the rancher, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “I stay with my family along the bank of the Mahī. Anutīre mahiyā samānavāso; My hut is roofed, my sacred fire kindled: Channā kuṭi āhito gini, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I boil not with anger <j>and have drawn out hard-heartedness,” “Akkodhano vigatakhilohamasmi, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “I stay for one night along the bank of the Mahī. Anutīre mahiyekarattivāso; My hut is wide open, my fire is quenched: Vivaṭā kuṭi nibbuto gini, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“No gadflies or mosquitoes are found,” “Andhakamakasā na vijjare, said Dhaniya, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “cows graze on the lush meadow grass. Kacche rūḷhatiṇe caranti gāvo; They get by even when the rain comes: Vuṭṭhimpi saheyyumāgataṁ, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I bound a raft and made it well,” “Baddhāsi bhisī susaṅkhatā, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “and with it I crossed over, went to the far shore, <j>and dispelled the flood. Tiṇṇo pāragato vineyya oghaṁ; Now I have no need for a raft: Attho bhisiyā na vijjati, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“My wife is obedient, not wanton,” “Gopī mama assavā alolā, said Dhaniya, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “long have we lived together happily. Dīgharattaṁ saṁvāsiyā manāpā; I hear nothing bad about her: Tassā na suṇāmi kiñci pāpaṁ, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“My mind is obedient and freed,” “Cittaṁ mama assavaṁ vimuttaṁ, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “long nurtured and well-tamed. Dīgharattaṁ paribhāvitaṁ sudantaṁ; Nothing bad is found in me: Pāpaṁ pana me na vijjati, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I am self-employed,” “Attavetanabhatohamasmi, said Dhaniya, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “and my healthy children likewise. Puttā ca me samāniyā arogā; I hear nothing bad about them: Tesaṁ na suṇāmi kiñci pāpaṁ, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I am no-one’s lackey,” “Nāhaṁ bhatakosmi kassaci, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “with what I have earned I wander the world. Nibbiṭṭhena carāmi sabbaloke; I have no need for wages: Attho bhatiyā na vijjati, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I have heifers and sucklings,” “Atthi vasā atthi dhenupā, said Dhaniya, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “cows in calf and breeding cows. Godharaṇiyo paveṇiyopi atthi; I’ve also got a bull, captain of the herd here: Usabhopi gavampatīdha atthi, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“I have no heifers or sucklings,” “Natthi vasā natthi dhenupā, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “no cows in calf or breeding cows. Godharaṇiyo paveṇiyopi natthi; I haven’t got a bull, captain of the herd here: Usabhopi gavampatīdha natthi, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“The stakes are driven in, unshakable,” “Khilā nikhātā asampavedhī, said Dhaniya, (iti dhaniyo gopo) “The grass halters are new and well-woven, Dāmā muñjamayā navā susaṇṭhānā; not even the sucklings can break them: Na hi sakkhinti dhenupāpi chettuṁ, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

“Like a bull I broke the bonds,” “Usabhoriva chetva bandhanāni, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “like an elephant I snapped the vine. Nāgo pūtilataṁva dālayitvā; I will never lie in a womb again: Nāhaṁ punupessaṁ gabbhaseyyaṁ, so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.” Atha ce patthayasī pavassa deva”.

Right then a vast cloud rained forth, Ninnañca thalañca pūrayanto, soaking the uplands and valleys. Mahāmegho pavassi tāvadeva; Hearing the heavens rain down, Sutvā devassa vassato, Dhaniya said this: Imamatthaṁ dhaniyo abhāsatha.

“It is no small gain for us “Lābhā vata no anappakā, that we have seen the Buddha. Ye mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ addasāma; We come to you for refuge, Clear-eyed One. Saraṇaṁ taṁ upema cakkhuma, O great sage, please be our Teacher. Satthā no hohi tuvaṁ mahāmuni.

My wife and I, obedient, Gopī ca ahañca assavā, shall lead the spiritual life under the Holy One. Brahmacariyaṁ sugate carāmase; Gone beyond birth and death, Jātimaraṇassa pāragū, we shall make an end of suffering.” Dukkhassantakarā bhavāmase”.

“Children bring you delight!” “Nandati puttehi puttimā, said Māra the Wicked, (iti māro pāpimā) “Cattle also bring you delight! Gomā gohi tatheva nandati; For attachments are a man’s delight; Upadhī hi narassa nandanā, without attachments there’s no delight.” Na hi so nandati yo nirūpadhi”.

“Your children bring you sorrow,” “Socati puttehi puttimā, said the Buddha, (iti bhagavā) “Your cattle also bring you sorrow. Gomā gohi tatheva socati; For attachments are a man’s sorrow; Upadhī hi narassa socanā, without attachments there are no sorrows.” Na hi so socati yo nirūpadhī”ti.

Dhaniyasuttaṁ dutiyaṁ.