---
title: "Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 92 of 105
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/92/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga, section 92. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/92/"
---

# Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The path: the noble eightfold path, the factors of awakening, mindfulness meditation, breathing, and the first teaching, Turning the Wheel of Dhamma.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 92. Overflowing Merit, With Verses · SN 55.41–55.47

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/92/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/92/#p-N

[¶0] SN 55.41 · Overflowing Merit (1st)

> Pali: SN 55.41 · Paṭhamaabhisandasutta

[¶1] “Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha …

> Pali: “Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe….

[¶2] Furthermore, they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. … These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā.

[¶3] When a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying that this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.

> Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

[¶4] It’s like trying to count how much water is in the ocean. It’s not easy to say how many gallons, how many hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of gallons there are. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water.

> Pali: Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde na sukaraṁ udakassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasahassānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatasahassānī’ti vāti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāudakakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

[¶5] In the same way, when a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying that this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”

> Pali: Evameva kho, bhikkhave, imehi catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī”ti.

[¶6] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶7] “Hosts of people use the rivers,
and though the rivers are many,
all reach the great deep, the boundless ocean,
the cruel sea that’s home to precious gems.

> Pali: “Mahodadhiṁ aparimitaṁ mahāsaraṁ,
Bahubheravaṁ ratanagaṇānamālayaṁ;
Najjo yathā naragaṇasaṅghasevitā,
Puthū savantī upayanti sāgaraṁ.

[¶8] So too, when a person gives food, drink, and clothes;
and they’re a giver of beds, seats, and mats—
the streams of merit reach that astute person,
as the rivers bring their waters to the sea.”

> Pali: Evaṁ naraṁ annapānavatthadadaṁ,
Seyyāni paccattharaṇassa dāyakaṁ;
Puññassa dhārā upayanti paṇḍitaṁ,
Najjo yathā vārivahāva sāgaran”ti.

[¶9] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶10] SN 55.42 · Overflowing Merit (2nd)

> Pali: SN 55.42 · Dutiyaabhisandasutta

[¶11] “Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha …

> Pali: “Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe….

[¶12] Furthermore, a noble disciple lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā.

[¶13] When a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying that this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.

> Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

[¶14] There are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge. It’s not easy to count how much water is in such places by saying how many gallons, how many hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of gallons there are. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water.

> Pali: Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yatthimā mahānadiyo saṁsandanti samenti, seyyathidaṁ— gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, tattha na sukaraṁ udakassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasahassānī’ti vā ‘ettakāni udakāḷhakasatasahassānī’ti vāti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāudakakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

[¶15] In the same way, when a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying that this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”

> Pali: Evameva kho, bhikkhave, imehi catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī”ti.

[¶16] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

[¶17] “Hosts of people use the rivers,
and though the rivers are many,
all reach the great deep, the boundless ocean,
the cruel sea that’s home to precious gems.

> Pali: “Mahodadhiṁ aparimitaṁ mahāsaraṁ,
Bahubheravaṁ ratanagaṇānamālayaṁ;
Najjo yathā naragaṇasaṅghasevitā,
Puthū savantī upayanti sāgaraṁ.

[¶18] So too, when a person gives food, drink, and clothes;
and they’re a giver of beds, seats, and mats—
the streams of merit reach that astute person,
as the rivers bring their waters to the sea.”

> Pali: Evaṁ naraṁ annapānavatthadadaṁ,
Seyyāni paccattharaṇassa dāyakaṁ;
Puññassa dhārā upayanti paṇḍitaṁ,
Najjo yathā vārivahāva sāgaran”ti.

[¶19] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ.

[¶20] SN 55.43 · Overflowing Merit (3rd)

> Pali: SN 55.43 · Tatiyaabhisandasutta

[¶21] “Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha …

> Pali: “Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe….

[¶22] Furthermore, a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā.

[¶23] When a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying that this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”

> Pali: Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī”ti.

[¶24] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

[¶25] “One who desires merit, grounded in the skillful,
develops the path to realize freedom from death.
Once they’ve reached the heart of the teaching, <j>delighting in ending,
they don’t tremble at the approach <j>of the King of Death.”

> Pali: “Yo puññakāmo kusale patiṭṭhito,
Bhāveti maggaṁ amatassa pattiyā;
So dhammasārādhigamo khaye rato,
Na vedhati maccurājāgamanasmin”ti.

[¶26] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ.

[¶27] SN 55.44 · Rich (1st)

> Pali: SN 55.44 · Paṭhamamahaddhanasutta

[¶28] “Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things is said to be rich, affluent, and wealthy.

> Pali: “Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako ‘aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo’ti vuccati.

[¶29] What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is said to be rich, affluent, and wealthy.”

> Pali: Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti; dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako ‘aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo’ti vuccatī”ti.

[¶30] > Pali: Catutthaṁ.

[¶31] SN 55.45 · Rich (2nd)

> Pali: SN 55.45 · Dutiyamahaddhanasutta

[¶32] “Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things is said to be rich, affluent, wealthy, and famous.

> Pali: “Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako ‘aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo mahāyaso’ti vuccati.

[¶33] What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is said to be rich, affluent, wealthy, and famous.”

> Pali: Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako ‘aḍḍho mahaddhano mahābhogo mahāyaso’ti vuccatī”ti.

[¶34] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ.

[¶35] SN 55.46 · Plain Version

> Pali: SN 55.46 · Suddhakasutta

[¶36] “Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

> Pali: “Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.

[¶37] What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

> Pali: Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.

[¶38] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ.

[¶39] SN 55.47 · With Nandiya

> Pali: SN 55.47 · Nandiyasutta

[¶40] At Kapilavatthu. Seated to one side, the Buddha said to Nandiya the Sakyan:

> Pali: Kapilavatthunidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nandiyaṁ sakkaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

[¶41] “Nandiya, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

> Pali: “catūhi kho, nandiya, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.

[¶42] What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

> Pali: Katamehi catūhi? Idha, nandiya, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, nandiya, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.

[¶43] > Pali: Sattamaṁ.