GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 7: BHOGAVAGGA – WEALTH
GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 7: BHOGAVAGGA – WEALTH
api vittaparikkhaya
paññaya ca alabhena
vittavapi na jivati.
The wise man continues to live
even if he should lose his wealth.
But the rich man without wisdom
is not alive even now.
57. Appakena pi medhavi
pabhatena vicakkhano
samutthapeti attanam
anum aggiva santhamam.
Starting off with little wealth,
the wise man skillfully increases it,
just as a sudden draft of wind
can make a spark of fire grow.
58. Susamvihitakammantam
kalutthayam atanditam
sabbe bhogabhivaddhanti
gavo sausabha-m-iva.
If he plans his project well,
rises early and works untiringly,
all his wealth will increase
like cows penned in with a bull.
59. Pandito silasampanno
jalam aggiva bhasati
bhoge samharamanassa
bhamarass’eva iriyato.
One who is virtuous and wise
shines forth like a blazing fire;
like a bee collecting nectar
he acquires wealth by harming none.
60. Catudha vibhaje bhoge
sa ve mittani ganthati
ekena bhoge bhunjeyya
dvihi kammam payojaye
catutthañ ca nidhapeyya
apadasu bhavissati.
He divides his wealth in four
and thus he wins friendship.
One portion he uses for his needs,
two portions for his business,
the fourth portion he saves
for times of emergency.
61. Susamvihitakammanta
sangahitaparijjana
bhattu manapam carati
sambhatam anurakkhati.
Deft and capable at her work,
in harmony with other people,
a wife is pleasing to her husband
and carefully looks after his wealth.
62. Saddhasilena sampanna
vadaññu vitamacchara
niccam maggam visodheti
sotthanam samparayikam.
Endowed with faith and virtue,
speaking gently, free from selfishness:
such a woman purifies the pathway
leading to a future happiness.
63. Saddhadhanam siladhanam
hiri ottappiyam dhanam
sutadhanañ ca cago ca
pañña ve sattamam dhanam.
The wealth of faith and virtue’s wealth,
the wealth of conscience and fear of blame,
the wealth of learning and giving too,
and as the seventh, wisdom’s wealth.
64. Yassa ete dhana atthi
itthiya purisassa va
adaliddo’ti tam ahu
amogham tassa jivitam.
Those who have these treasures true,
be they women or be they men,
are not poor or destitute,
nor have their lives been lived in vain.
65. Patirupakari dhurava
utthata vindate dhanam
saccena kittim pappoti
dadam mittani ganthati.
Whoever acts, strives and toils
shall acquire wealth;
by truthfulness one gains good repute,
and by giving one binds friends.
