• Linked Discourses 1.13 Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.13
  • 2. The Garden of Delight 2. Nandanavagga

There’s Nothing Like a Child Natthiputtasamasutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence: Ekamantaṁ į¹­hitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

ā€œThere’s no fondness like that for a child, ā€œNatthi puttasamaṁ pemaṁ, no wealth equal to cattle, natthi gosamitaṁ dhanaṁ; no light like that of the sun, Natthi sÅ«riyasamā ābhā, and of lakes the ocean is paramount.ā€ samuddaparamā sarÄā€ti.

ā€œThere’s no fondness like that for oneself, ā€œNatthi attasamaṁ pemaṁ, no wealth equal to grain, natthi dhaƱƱasamaṁ dhanaṁ; no light like that of wisdom, Natthi paƱƱāsamā ābhā, and of waters the rain is paramount.ā€ vuį¹­į¹­hi ve paramā sarÄā€ti.