At that time, King Pasenadi of Kosala came to the Blessed One during the day. Upon arrival, he sat down to one side. The Blessed One said to King Pasenadi of Kosala, who was sitting to one side: "Great King, where are you coming from in the middle of this day?"

"Lord, in this city of Savatthi, a wealthy householder has passed away. I have come after transporting his heirless estate to the royal palace. Lord, there was gold alone worth one hundred lakhs, not to mention the silver. Yet, Lord, that wealthy householder's meals were like this: he ate rough red rice together with sour gruel. His clothing was like this: he wore a three-piece set of hempen cloth. His vehicle was like this: he rode in a dilapidated little cart with a leaf awning."

"That is so, great king, that is so! In the past, great king, that wealthy householder provided almsfood to a paccekabuddha named Tagarasikhi. Having said, 'Give alms to the ascetic,' he rose from his seat and departed. However, after giving, he regretted it, thinking: 'It would have been better if my slaves or workers had eaten that food.' And besides, he murdered his brother's only son for the sake of his fortune.

Great king, because that wealthy householder provided almsfood to the paccekabuddha Tagarasikhi, as a result of that kamma he was reborn seven times in a good destination, in the heavenly world. And as a residual result of that same kamma, he became a wealthy householder seven times in this same city of Savatthi. Great king, because after giving he regretted it, thinking, 'It would have been better if my slaves or workers had eaten that food,' as a result of that kamma his mind did not incline to the enjoyment of excellent food, excellent clothing, excellent vehicles, and excellent offerings of the five sense pleasures. Great king, because he murdered his brother's only son for the sake of his fortune, as a result of that kamma he boiled in hell for many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years, many hundreds of thousands of years. And as a residual result of that same kamma, this is the seventh time that he has died childless and his property goes to the royal treasury. Great king, that wealthy householder's old merit has been exhausted, and he did not accumulate any new merit. Today, great king, the wealthy householder is roasting in the Great Roruva Hell."

"Lord, has that wealthy householder really been reborn in the Great Roruva Hell?"

"Yes, great king, that wealthy householder has indeed been reborn in the Great Roruva Hell."

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Teacher further said this:

"Grain, wealth, silver, gold,

And whatever other possessions there are;

Slaves, workers, messengers,

And those who live as one's dependents:

None of these can be taken along,

But all will have to be left behind.

However, what one has done by body,

Speech, or mind:

This is what is truly one's own,

This one takes when one goes;

This is what follows one along

Like a shadow that never leaves.

Therefore one should do what is good

As a collection for the future life.

Meritorious deeds are the support for beings

When they arise in the other world."

This is the second section.

Its summary is as follows:

The Ascetic with Matted Hair, Five Kings, The Cook,

Two on Battles, Two on Mallika,

Heedfulness, Two on Being Childless,

Thus this is called one chapter.

This sutra profoundly expounds on the principles of karma and the consequences of good and evil actions, prompting us to deeply reflect on the meaning and value of life. Let's analyze it layer by layer:

1. The Contradictory Life of the Wealthy:

The sutra begins by describing a wealthy man who possesses enormous wealth yet lives an extremely frugal, even impoverished life. This stark contrast prompts us to ponder: What is the true meaning of wealth? Why would someone with vast riches not enjoy them?

2. Revealing Past Good and Evil Karma:

The Buddha reveals three key actions from this wealthy man's past: offering alms to a paccekabuddha, regretting the offering, and killing for wealth. These three actions brought different karmic results, demonstrating the complexity and long-term nature of cause and effect.

3. Specific Manifestations of Karmic Retribution:

- Offering alms to the paccekabuddha resulted in seven rebirths in heavenly realms and seven times as a wealthy householder, showing the power of good karma.

- Regretting the offering led to his unwillingness to enjoy life, illustrating how mental attitudes affect future experiences.

- Killing for wealth resulted in long-term suffering in hell and dying childless, demonstrating the severe consequences of evil actions.

4. The Continuity of Karma:

The sutra emphasizes that this is the seventh time his property has been confiscated, indicating that karma can span multiple lifetimes and continue to influence one's fate.

5. The Tragic Ending:

The wealthy man ultimately falls into hell, showing that even temporary wealth and status cannot escape the consequences of evil karma.

6. The Buddha's Concluding Verses:

The verses profoundly point out that all worldly wealth and relationships are temporary, and only the karma we create truly belongs to us and will forever follow us. This inspires us to be mindful of our every action.

This sutra prompts us to deeply contemplate the essence of life and the true value of human existence:

1. The True Meaning of Wealth:

Possessing wealth does not equate to happiness. How can we properly view and use wealth so that it becomes a support for life rather than a shackle?

2. The Far-reaching Impact of Actions:

Every action we take, even a small good or evil thought, can have profound effects on our future. This reminds us to maintain mindfulness at all times and carefully consider each action.

3. The Importance of Intention:

The example of the wealthy man regretting his offering tells us that not only are actions themselves important, but the intentions behind them are equally crucial. How to maintain pure motivations is something we need to constantly practice.

4. The Responsibility of Life:

Our actions not only affect ourselves but also others, even future generations. This awareness should make us cherish life more and live responsibly.

5. True Wealth:

The sutra ultimately points out that the only thing we can truly take with us is our karma. This inspires us to invest more in inner growth and moral improvement, rather than just pursuing material wealth.

6. Long-term Perspective:

The idea that karmic consequences can span multiple lifetimes encourages us to view life with a longer perspective, focusing not just on immediate gains and losses but considering the long-term effects of our actions.

In conclusion, this sutra vividly illustrates the Buddhist concepts of karma and karmic force through the life story of a wealthy man. It reminds us that the true value of life lies not in external wealth and status, but in the quality of our inner being and the goodness or evil of our actions. It encourages us to actively do good, purify our thoughts, and create true blessings for the present and future. This wisdom is not only significant for Buddhists but also provides profound inspiration for anyone seeking the meaning of life.