The Sigalovada

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The Sigalovada
Sigalaka householder on his deathbed said to his
son, “my dear son, aQer my death, get up early in
the morning and with wet hair and wet garments
you should worship the east, south, west, north,
nadir and zenith. You should do this without fail.
This is my last advice.”

Sigalaka young householder rising early with wet
hair and wet garments and clasped hands upliQed,
paid worship to east, south, north nadir and the
zenith.
Early in the morning the Buddha entered Rajagaha
seeking alms. Then he saw the young Sigalaka
worshipping and asked him the reason for doing
that. Young Sigalaka replied that his dead father
had asked him to do so. The Buddha then taught
him that, in the Buddha's teaching too there is
worship of six quarters.

There are six perils from addiction to intoxicants:
actual loss of wealth
loss of good character 7
increase of quarrels
indecent exposure 8
susceptibility to disease
impaired intelligence

There are six perils by freqenting the streets at
unseemly hours.
He himself is without guard or protection
So also are his wife and children
As is his property
He is liable to be suspected of crimes 9
He is the subject of false rumuors
He will meet a lot of troubles

There are six perils from the haunting of fairs.
He is ever thinking,
where is there dancing?
Where is there singing?
Where is there music?
Where are the recitations?
Where are the cymbals?
Where the tam-tams, performances?

There are six perils for him who is infatuated with
gambling.
As a winner he begets hatred
As a loser mourns for his lost money 10
There is actual loss of wealth
His word has no weight in a court of law 11
He is despised by friends and companions
He is not sought aQer by those who would give or
take in marriage, for they would say that a man
who is a gambler cannot afford to keep a wife.

There are six perils by associating with evil companions.
gamblers
libertines
drunkard
cheater with false things
swindler
men of violence

There are perils of the habit of idleness
He says it is too hot and does no work
He says it is too cold and does no work
He says it is too early and does no work
He says it is too late and does no work
He says I am too hungry and does no work
He says I am too full and does no work

Annadahuhara — a rapacious person. On four
grounds to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a
friend.
He is rapcious
He gives li9le and expects much
He gives a helping hand only when he himself
is in danger
He pursues his own interests.

Vaciparama — the man who pays lip-service. On
four grounds the man of words, not deeds is to be
reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend.
He speaks to you about a fair past
He speaks to you about a fair future
He tries to gain your favour by empty sayings
When the opportunity for service has arisen
he avows his disability.

Anuppiya bham — fla9erer. On four grounds the
fla9erer is to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of
a friend.
He consents to your doing wrong
He consents to your doing right
He praises you to your face
He speaks ill of you to others.

Apaya sahaya — the fellow-waster. On four grounds
the fellow-waster companion is to be reckoned a foe
in the likeness of a friend.
He is your companion when you indulge in
strong drinks
He is your companion when you frequent the
streets at unseemly hours
He is your friend when you haunt shows and fairs
He is you companion when you are infatuated
with gambling.

Upakaraka — the helper. On four grounds the friend
who is a helper is to be reckoned as sound at heart.
He guards you when you are off your guard
He guards your property when you are off
your guard
He is a refuge to you when you are afraid
He provides a doulbe supply of what you may
ask in time of need.

Samana sukha dukkha — the man who is the same
in weal and woe. On four grounds the friend who
is the same in weal and woe is to be reckoned as
sound at heart.
He tells you his secrets
He keeps your secrets
He does not forsake you in your troubles
He can even die for your sake

Ahakkhayi — the man who gives good counsel. On
four grounds the friend who declares what you
need to do is sound at heart.
He restrains you from doing wrong
He encourages you to do good
He informs you of what you have not heard
He reveals to you the way to heaven. Ahakkhayi — the man who gives good counsel. On
four grounds the friend who declares what you
need to do is sound at heart.
He restrains you from doing wrong
He encourages you to do good
He informs you of what you have not heard
He reveals to you the way to heaven.

Anukampaka — the man who sympathizes. On
four grounds the friend who sympathizes is to be
reckoned as sound at heart.
He does not rejoice over your misfortunes
He rejoices over your prosperity
He admires anyone who is praising you
He restrains anyone who is speaking ill of you.

In five ways a child should minister to his parents
as the eastern quarter.
Once supported by them I will now be their
support
I will perform duties incumbent on them
I will keep up the honour and the tradition of
my family
I will make myself worthy of my heritage
I will make merit offerings to them aQer their
death.


In five ways parents thus minister, as the eastern
quarter by their child, to show their love for him:
They restrain him from vice
They train him in virtue
They have him taught arts and sciences
They contract a suitable marriage for him
They hand over inheritance to him in due time.

In five ways should pupils minister to their teachers
as the southern quarter.
by raising to receive them (in salutation)
by waiting upon them
by eagerness to learn
by personal service
by a9ention when receiving their teaching

In five ways do teachers, thus ministered to as the
southern quarter by their pupils, love their pupils.
They train them so that they have been well
trained
They hold fast that which is well held
They thoroughly instruct them in the lore of
every art
They speak well of them amongst their friends
and companions
They provide for their safety in every quarter.

In five ways should a wife as western quarter be
ministered to by her husband.
by respect
by courtesy
by faithfulness
by handing over authority
by providing her with ornaments.

In five ways his wife, thus served as the western
quarter, show her love for him.
Her duties are well performed
by hospitality to the kin of both 15
by faithfulness 16
by watching over the goods he brings
by skill and industry in discharging all her
business.

In five ways a clansman should serve his friends
and associates as the northern quarter.
by generosity
by kind words
by helping them and acting for their welfare
by being sincere to them.

In five ways his friends and associates thus served
as the northern quarter, show their love for him.
They protect him when he is off guard
The guard his property when he is careless
They are a refuge for him when he is in danger
The do not forsake him in his troubles
They show due respect to other members of
his family

In five ways a master ministers to his servants and
employees as the nadir.
by assigning them work according to their
strength
by giving them food and wages
by tending them in sickness
by sharing with them unusual delicacies
by granting leave at suitable times

In five ways ministered by their master, servants
and employees love their master in five ways.
They rise before him (they go to work before
the master)
They to rest aQer him
They are content with what is given to them
They do their work well
They carry about his praise and good fame

In five ways should the clansman minister to monks
and brahmins as the zenith.
By kindly acts
By kindly words
By kindly thought
By keeping open house to them
By supplying their temporal needs.

In six ways the monks and brahmins, thus ministered
as zenith quarter, show their love for him.
They restrain him from evil
They encourage him to do good
They love him with kindly thought
The teach him what he had not heard before
They correct and purify what he has heard
They reveal to him the way to heaven.


At the end of the sermon, Sigalaka became a follower
of the Buddha



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