7.
The Diligence Discourse
128.
At Sāvatthī.
He sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One -
"Is there indeed, venerable sir, one thing which secures both kinds of good -
the good pertaining to the present life and that pertaining to the future life?"
"There is indeed, great king, one thing which secures both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and that pertaining to the future life."
"But which, venerable sir, is that one thing which secures both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and that pertaining to the future life?"
"Diligence, great king, is that one thing which secures both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and that pertaining to the future life. Just as, great king, whatever kinds of footprints there are of living beings that walk on the ground, all of them are included in the elephant's footprint, the elephant's footprint is declared the foremost among them - that is to say, in terms of its greatness; so too, great king, diligence is that one thing which secures both kinds of good - the good pertaining to the present life and that pertaining to the future life." This he said, etc.
By one desiring lofty delights, one after another.
The wise person who is diligent secures both kinds of good:
By attaining what is beneficial, that intelligent one is said to be a person of wisdom."