Linked Discourses 55.36 4. Overflowing Merit In Common With the Gods (SN55.36)

1.1

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathenti.

“Mendicants, when someone possesses four things the gods are pleased and speak of what they have in common.

1.2

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

1.3

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—

Firstly, a noble disciple possesses experiential confidence in the Buddha …

1.4

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

1.5

Yā tā devatā buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti:

There are deities who possess experiential confidence in the Buddha who passed away from here and were reborn there. They think:

1.6

‘yathārūpena kho mayaṁ buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpena buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti.

‘Possessing such experiential confidence in the Buddha, we passed away from there and were reborn here. That noble disciple possesses the same kind of experiential confidence in the Buddha, so they will come into the presence of the gods.’

2.1

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…

Furthermore, a noble disciple possesses experiential confidence in the teaching …

2.2

saṅghe …pe…

the Saṅgha …

2.3

ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

And they possess the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.

2.4

Yā tā devatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā ito cutā tatrūpapannā tāsaṁ evaṁ hoti:

There are deities who possess the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones who passed away from here and were reborn there. They think:

2.5

‘yathārūpehi kho mayaṁ ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā tato cutā idhūpapannā, ariyasāvakopi tathārūpehi ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato ehīti devānaṁ santike’ti.

‘Possessing such ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, we passed away from there and were reborn here. That noble disciple possesses the same kind of ethical conduct loved by the noble ones, so they will come into the presence of the gods.’

2.6

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ attamanā devā sabhāgataṁ kathentī”ti.

When someone possesses four things the gods are pleased and speak of what they have in common.”

2.7

Chaṭṭhaṁ.