Muni's PlayAN 7.6 - Seven Kinds of Wealth (Vitthata-dhana Sutta)
“Mendicants, there are these seven kinds of wealth. What seven? The wealth of faith, ethical conduct, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom.”
1. Wealth of Faith (Saddhā-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, सद्धाधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको सद्धो होति, सद्दहति तथागतस्स बोधिं—‘इतिपि सो भगवा अरहं सम्मासम्बुद्धो विज्जाचरणसम्पन्नो सुगतो लोकविदू अनुत्तरो पुरिसदम्मसारथि सत्था देवमनुस्सानं बुद्धो भगवा’ति। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, सद्धाधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, श्रद्धाधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः श्रद्धालुः भवति, श्रद्दधाति तथागतस्य बोधिम्—‘इतिपि स भगवान् अर्हन् सम्यक्सम्बुद्धो विद्याचरणसम्पन्नः सुगतो लोकविद् अनुत्तरः पुरुषदम्यसारथिः शास्ता देवमनुष्याणां बुद्धो भगवान्’ इति। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, श्रद्धाधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of faith? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who can be trained, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is called the wealth of faith.”
2. Wealth of Ethical Conduct (Sīla-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, सीलधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको पाणातिपाता पटिविरतो होति, अदिन्नादाना पटिविरतो होति, कामेसुमिच्छाचारा पटिविरतो होति, मुसावादा पटिविरतो होति, सुरामेरयमज्जपमादट्ठाना पटिविरतो होति। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, सीलधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, शीलधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः प्राणातिपातात् प्रतिविरतः भवति, अदत्तादानात् प्रतिविरतः भवति, काममिथ्याचारात् प्रतिविरतः भवति, मृषावादात् प्रतिविरतः भवति, सुरामैरेयमद्यप्रमादस्थानात् प्रतिविरतः भवति। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, शीलधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of ethical conduct? It’s when a noble disciple refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. This is called the wealth of ethical conduct.”
3. Wealth of Conscience (Hiri-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, हिरिधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको हिरिमा होति, हिरियति कायदुच्चरितेन वचीदुच्चरितेन मनोदुच्चरितेन, हिरियति पापकानं अकुसलानं धम्मानं समापत्तिया। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, हिरिधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, ह्रीधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः ह्रीमान् भवति, जिह्रेति कायदुश्चरितेन वागदुश्चरितेन मनोदुश्चरितेन, जिह्रेति पापकानामकुशलानां धर्माणां समापत्त्या। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, ह्रीधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of conscience? It’s when a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re ashamed of bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and of acquiring bad, unskillful qualities. This is called the wealth of conscience.”
4. Wealth of Prudence (Ottappa-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, ओत्तप्पधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको ओत्तप्पी होति, ओत्तप्पति कायदुच्चरितेन वचीदुच्चरितेन मनोदुच्चरितेन, ओत्तप्पति पापकानं अकुसलानं धम्मानं समापत्तिया। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, ओत्तप्पधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, अत्रप्यधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः अत्रप्यवान् भवति, अत्रपते कायदुश्चरितेन वागदुश्चरितेन मनोदुश्चरितेन, अत्रपते पापकानामकुशलानां धर्माणां समापत्त्या। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, अत्रप्यधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of prudence? It’s when a noble disciple is prudent. They dread bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and of acquiring bad, unskillful qualities. This is called the wealth of prudence.”
5. Wealth of Learning (Suta-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, सुतधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको बहुस्सुतो होति सुतधरो सुतसन्निचयो… पे… दिट्ठिया सुप्पटिविद्धा। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, सुतधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, श्रुतधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः बहुश्रुतः भवति श्रुतधरः श्रुतसन्निचयः… पे… दृष्ट्या सुप्रतिविद्धा। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, श्रुतधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of learning? It’s when a noble disciple is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, describing a spiritual life that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them with vision. This is called the wealth of learning.”
6. Wealth of Generosity (Cāga-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, चागधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको विगतमलमत्सरेन चेतसा अगारं अज्झावसति मुत्तचागो पयतपाणि वोस्सग्गरतो याचयोगो दानसंविभागरतो। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, चागधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, त्यागधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः विगतमलमत्सरेण चेतसा अगारं (गृहं) अध्यावसति मुक्तत्यागः प्रयतपाणिः व्युत्सर्गरतः याच्ययोगः दानसंविभागरतः। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, त्यागधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of generosity? It’s when a noble disciple lives at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and share. This is called the wealth of generosity.”
7. Wealth of Wisdom (Paññā-dhana)
Pali
“कतमञ्च, भिक्खवे, पञ्ञाधनं? इध, भिक्खवे, अरियसावको पञ्ञवा होति उदयत्थगामिनिया पञ्ञाय समन्नागतो अरियाय निब्बेधिकाय सम्मा दुक्खक्खयगामिनिया। इदं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, पञ्ञाधनं।”
Sanskrit
“कतमच्च, भिक्षवः, प्रज्ञाधनम्? इह, भिक्षवः, आर्यश्रावकः प्रज्ञावान् भवति उदयव्ययगामिन्या प्रज्ञया समन्वागतः आर्यया निर्वेधिकया सम्यक् दुःखक्षयगामिन्या। इदं उच्यते, भिक्षवः, प्रज्ञाधनम्।”
English Translation
“And what is the wealth of wisdom? It’s when 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 called the wealth of wisdom.”
Summary Table: The Seven Kinds of Wealth (सप्त धनानि)
| # | Wealth (English) | Pali (IAST) | Sanskrit (Devanāgarī) | Sanskrit (IAST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faith | Saddhā | श्रद्धा | Śraddhā |
| 2 | Ethical Conduct | Sīla | शील | Śīla |
| 3 | Conscience | Hiri | ह्री | Hrī |
| 4 | Prudence | Ottappa | अत्रप्य / अपत्रप्य | Atrapya / Apatrapya |
| 5 | Learning | Suta | श्रुत | Śruta |
| 6 | Generosity | Cāga | त्याग | Tyāga |
| 7 | Wisdom | Paññā | प्रज्ञा | Prajñā |
Conclusion
“These are the seven kinds of wealth.
Faith and ethical conduct, conscience and prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom as the seventh kind of wealth.
When someone has these kinds of wealth—whether a woman or a man—they are said to be prosperous; their life is not in vain.”