Maṅgala Sutta

 

Thus I have heard,

 

At one time,

The Awakened One, was residing in Sāvatthi

In Jeta’s grove at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

 

Then a certain Deva,

At the waning of the night,

Shining with surpassing splendor,

Filling the entire Jeta’s grove,

Approached where the Awakened One was,

Having approached and paid loving respect.

 

While standing on the side,

that Deva addressed the Awakened One in verses:

 

[Deva]

“Many Devas and humans

Have pondered about happiness

Seeking for well-being,

Pray Bhante, what is the highest blessing.”

 

[The Buddha]

“Not associating with the careless,

Associating with the wise,

Revering those worthy of esteem:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Living in a pleasant location,

Having performed merits in the past,

Aspiring for righteousness:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Being knowledgeable and skilled,

Disciplined and competent,

Speaking words that are kind:[1]

This is the highest blessing.

 

Attending to one’s mother and father,

Caring for one’s wife and children,

Not having a disturbing profession:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Giving and living in Truth,

Caring for one’s relatives,

Acting blamelessly:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Staying away and abstaining from all wrong,

Refraining from intoxicants,

Being steadfast in truth:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Being respectful and unpretentious,

Content and grateful,

Hearing the Dhamma in good time:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Being patient and gentle,

Visiting monks,

Conversing on the Dhamma in good time:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Being intent, living the Righteous Life,

Seeing the Awakened Understandings[2],

Experiencing Nibbāna:

This is the highest blessing.

 

Touched by the ways of the world,

With a mind that remains unshaken,

Sorrowless, quenched and serene:

This is the highest blessing.

Doing here as such,

Everywhere undefeated,

They go, abounding in happiness:

For them, this is the highest blessing.”