AN 3.19 - Paṭhama Pāpaṇika Sutta (The Business Owner – Part 1)
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana
Source: https://www.mindreleased.com/s/Book-3_Anguttara-Nikya-A-New-Translation.pdf#page=38
License: Candana — free distribution, unaltered contents
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana, 2020, 2026. Free distribution only; do not alter the contents. The original book, including its complete permission notice, accompanies this text.
Candana source labels: 19. Site text ID: AN 3.19.

19. Paṭhama Pāpaṇika Sutta (The Business Owner – Part 1) Bhikkhus, it is through the possession of these three traits that a business owner is unable to acquire wealth that has thus far been un-acquired, nor is he able to increase what he has already acquired.

What are these three?

Here, a business owner is not motivated to diligently work hard from early on in the day, at noon, or in the evening. Possessing these three traits, a business owner is unable to acquire wealth that has thus far been un-acquired, nor is he able to increase what he has already acquired.

Similarly, Bhikkhus, it is through the possession of these three traits that the Bhikkhu is unable to realize wholesome states that have thus far been un-realized, nor is he able to develop to completion what he has already acquired.

And what are these three?

Here, the Bhikkhu is not motivated to diligently stay with his object of meditation from early on in the day, at noon, or in the evening. Possessing these three traits, the Bhikkhu is unable to realize wholesome states that have thus far been un-realized, nor is he able to develop to completion what he has already acquired.

However, Bhikkhus, it is through the possession of these other three traits that a business owner is able to acquire wealth that has thus far been un-acquired, and thereby also able to increase what he has already acquired.

What are these three?

Here, a business owner is motivated to diligently work hard from early on in the day, at noon, and in the evening. Possessing these three traits, a business owner is able to acquire wealth that has thus far been un-acquired, and thereby is also able to increase what he has already acquired.

Similarly, Bhikkhus, it is through the possession of these other three traits that a Bhikkhu is able to realize wholesome states that have thus far been un-realized, and thereby also able to increase those wholesome states he has already realized.

Now what are these three?

Here, the Bhikkhu is motivated to diligently stay with his object of meditation from early on in the day, at noon, and in the evening. Possessing these three traits, the Bhikkhu is able to realize wholesome states that have thus far been un-realized, and thereby also able to increase those wholesome states he has already realized.