佛說賢者五福德經

Thus have I heard.

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, in the country of Śrāvastī.

The Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

"When a wise one expounds the Dharma, he obtains five blessings. What are the five?

– The first blessing: That person, while living, obtains longevity.

– The second blessing: That person, while living, obtains wealth, much money, and many possessions.

– The third blessing: That person, while living, obtains an upright beauty without compare.

– The fourth blessing: That person, while living, obtains a good repute heard afar.

– The fifth blessing: That person, while living, obtains intelligence and great wisdom.

1. "By what cause does the wise one who expounds the Dharma obtain longevity? Because in his former life, when he expounded the Dharma, what he spoke at the beginning was good, what he spoke in the middle was good, and what he spoke at the end was good. What he spoke was complete in meaning, returning to the place of stillness and the unconditioned. Those who delighted in killing, hearing this Dharma, then ceased and killed no more. By this cause he obtained longevity.

2. "By what cause does the one who expounds the Dharma obtain wealth, much money, and many possessions? Because in his former life, when he expounded the Dharma, what he spoke at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end was all complete in meaning, returning to the place of stillness and the unconditioned. Those who stole, hearing the Sūtra, then ceased and stole no more, and moreover practiced giving. By this cause he obtained wealth.

3. "By what cause does the one who expounds the Dharma obtain an upright beauty without compare? Because in his former life, when he expounded the Dharma, what he spoke at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end was all complete in meaning, returning to the place of stillness and the unconditioned; causing those who heard the Dharma to be at peace, harmonious and serene, joyful in countenance, giving rise of themselves to gladness. By this cause he obtained an upright beauty.

4. "By what cause does the one who expounds the Dharma obtain a good repute heard afar? Because in his former life, when he expounded the Dharma, what he spoke at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end was all complete in meaning, returning to the place of stillness and the unconditioned; causing those who heard the Dharma to revere the Buddha, to revere the Dharma, and to revere the Saṃgha of bhikṣus. By this cause he obtained a renown that was heard.

5. "By what cause does the one who expounds the Dharma obtain intelligence and great wisdom? Because in his former life, when he expounded the Dharma, what he spoke at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end was all complete in meaning, returning to the place of stillness and the unconditioned; causing those who heard the Dharma to perceive clearly a sublime and marvelous wisdom. By this cause he obtained intelligence and great wisdom."

These are the five blessings that one who expounds the Sūtra obtains, those blessings.

The bhikṣus, having heard this Sūtra, rejoiced, and before the Buddha they paid homage with bowed heads.

The Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on the Five Blessings of the Wise One