AN 4.13  Padhāna sutta - Striving

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, sammappadhānāni. Katamāni cattāri?

“Bhikkhus, these are the four right strivings. What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu produces |a wholesome motivation::an aspiration, a goal, an interest, an objective [chanda]|, |exerts effort::engages in intentional effort [vāyamati]|, |initiates and sustains energy::the initial spark of motivation and action along with the persistence needed to follow through, even as challenges arise [vīriya + ārabhati]|, |uplifts::befriends and holds it up [paggaṇhāti]| the mind, and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]| and |unwholesome::unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, or karmically unprofitable [akusala]| qualities;

uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |giving up::letting go, abandoning, removing [pahāna]| of arisen harmful and unwholesome qualities;

anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |arising::appearance, coming into being [uppāda]| of unarisen |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]| qualities;

uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |stability::establishment, constancy, continuity [ṭhiti]| and |retention::non-confusion and non-decline [asammosa]|, |growth::further development, multiplication [bhiyyobhāva]| and |full development::expansion and maturity [vepulla]| of arisen wholesome qualities.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri sammappadhānānīti.

These, bhikkhus, are the four right strivings.

Sammappadhānā māradheyyābhibhūtā,
Te asitā jātimaraṇabhayassa pāragū;
Te tusitā jetvā māraṁ savāhiniṁ te anejā,
Sabbaṁ namucibalaṁ upātivattā te sukhitā”ti.

Those who strive rightly |overcome Māra’s realm::the sphere of temptation and hindrance [māradheyyābhibhūta]|,
they are |detached::untied, free [asita]|, gone beyond the fear of birth and death;
They are |content::fulfilled, satisfied [tusita]| and |unruffled::unperturbed, unmoved [aneja]|, having conquered Māra with his entire army,
having gone beyond all of |Namuci’s::another name for Māra, meaning one who does not let go| forces, they are truly |at ease::blessed, with inner joy of having attained liberation [sukhita]|.”