Puññakiriyavatthusutta

Itivuttaka 60

So It Was Said 60

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Puññakiriyavatthusutta

Grounds for Making Merit

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, puññakiriyavatthūni.

“Mendicants, there are these three grounds for making merit.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu—

Giving, ethical conduct, and meditation are all grounds for making merit.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi puññakiriyavatthūnī”ti.

These are the three grounds for making merit.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Puññameva so sikkheyya,

“One should practice only good deeds,

āyataggaṁ sukhudrayaṁ;

whose happy outcome stretches ahead.

Dānañca samacariyañca,

Giving and moral conduct,

mettacittañca bhāvaye.

developing a mind of love:

Ete dhamme bhāvayitvā,

having developed these

tayo sukhasamuddaye;

three things yielding happiness,

Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,

that astute one is reborn

paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.

in a happy, pleasing world.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Paṭhamaṁ.