AN 4.57

Suppavāsāsutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā koliyesu viharati pajjanikaṁ nāma koliyānaṁ nigamo. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena suppavāsāya koliyadhītuyā nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā bhagavantaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho suppavāsaṁ koliyadhītaraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Suppavāsā

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Koliyans, where they have a town named Pajjanika. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Suppavāsā the Koliyan, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then Suppavāsā served and satisfied the Buddha with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, she sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her:

“Bhojanaṁ, suppavāse, dentī ariyasāvikā paṭiggāhakānaṁ cattāri ṭhānāni deti. Katamāni cattāri? Āyuṁ deti, vaṇṇaṁ deti, sukhaṁ deti, balaṁ deti. Āyuṁ kho pana datvā āyussa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Vaṇṇaṁ datvā vaṇṇassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Sukhaṁ datvā sukhassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Balaṁ datvā balassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Bhojanaṁ, suppavāse, dentī ariyasāvikā paṭiggāhakānaṁ imāni cattāri ṭhānāni detīti.

“Suppavāsā, when a noble disciple gives food, she gives the recipients four things. What four? Long life, beauty, happiness, and strength. Giving long life, she has long life as a god or human. Giving beauty, she has beauty as a god or human. Giving happiness, she has happiness as a god or human. Giving strength, she has strength as a god or human. When a noble disciple gives food, she gives the recipients these four things.

Susaṅkhataṁ bhojanaṁ yā dadāti, Suciṁ paṇītaṁ rasasā upetaṁ; Sā dakkhiṇā ujjugatesu dinnā, Caraṇūpapannesu mahaggatesu; Puññena puññaṁ saṁsandamānā, Mahapphalā lokavidūna vaṇṇitā.

When she gives well-prepared food, pure, fine, and full of flavor, that offering—given to the sincere, who have good conduct, and are big-hearted— joins merit to merit. It’s very fruitful, and is praised by those who know the world.

Etādisaṁ yaññamanussarantā, Ye vedajātā vicaranti loke; Vineyya maccheramalaṁ samūlaṁ, Aninditā saggamupenti ṭhānan”ti.

Those who recall such sacrifices, live in the world full of inspiration. They’ve driven out the stain of stinginess, root and all, blameless, they go to a heavenly place.”