A person stores away their savings 
in a deep pit by the water’s edge: 
“When need arises 
it will be there to help

free me from rulers if I am slandered, 
or from bandits if harassed, 
or to release me from debt, 
or in case of famine or losses.” 
What the world calls savings 
get stored away for such reasons.

But no matter how well stored away they are 
in a deep pit by the water’s edge, 
all their savings will fail 
to aid them all the time.

For perhaps those savings are removed from there, 
or they forget what marks the site, 
or dragons make off with them, 
or spirits carry them away,

or unloved heirs 
secretly unearth them. 
When their merit is used up, 
all of that will vanish.

But by giving and morality, 
restraint and self-control, 
a woman or man 
keeps their savings safe.

At a shrine or with the Saṅgha, 
with mother or father, 
or else an elder sibling,

those savings are kept safe, 
they stay with you, undecaying. 
We must go on leaving all behind, 
only this you take when you go.

You don’t have to share it with others, 
no thief makes off with your savings. 
An attentive one would make merit, 
the savings that stay with you.

Such savings grant every desire 
of gods and humans too. 
Whatever it is that they wish for 
through this they have it all.

Good looks, a sweet voice, 
a good shape, and good appearance, 
leadership and followers: 
through this they have it all.

Sovereignty of a local kingdom, 
the happiness of a Wheel-Turning Monarch, 
even kingship in the heavens: 
through this they have it all.

Human success, 
heavenly delight, 
attaining extinguishment: 
through this they have it all.

Relying on having good friends, 
rational application of effort, 
mastery of knowledge and freedom: 
through this they have it all.

Analytical knowledge, the liberations, 
the perfections of the disciple, 
the plane of an independent Buddha: 
through this they have it all.

This accomplishment in merit 
is so very beneficial. 
That’s why the attentive and the astute 
praise the making of merit.