AN 7.52

Dānamahapphalasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre. Atha kho sambahulā campeyyakā upāsakā yena āyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho campeyyakā upāsakā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavocuṁ: “cirassutā no, bhante, bhagavato sammukhā dhammīkathā. Sādhu mayaṁ, bhante, labheyyāma bhagavato sammukhā dhammiṁ kathaṁ savanāyā”ti. “Tenahāvuso, tadahuposathe āgaccheyyātha, appeva nāma labheyyātha bhagavato sammukhā dhammiṁ kathaṁ savanāyā”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho campeyyakā upāsakā āyasmato sāriputtassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkamiṁsu.

A Very Fruitful Gift

At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond. Then several lay followers of Campā went to Venerable Sāriputta, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a Dhamma talk from the Buddha. It would be good if we got to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.” “Well then, reverends, come on the next sabbath day. Hopefully you’ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.” “Yes, sir” they replied. Then they rose from their seats, bowed to Sāriputta, and respectfully circled him before leaving.

Atha kho campeyyakā upāsakā tadahuposathe yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto tehi campeyyakehi upāsakehi saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then on the next sabbath the lay followers of Campā went to Venerable Sāriputta, bowed, and stood to one side. Then they went together with Sāriputta to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Sāriputta said to the Buddha:

“Siyā nu kho, bhante, idhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ; siyā pana, bhante, idhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti? “Siyā, sāriputta, idhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ; siyā pana, sāriputta, idhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti. “Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena midhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ; ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena midhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti?

“Sir, could it be that someone gives a gift and it is not very fruitful or beneficial, while someone else gives exactly the same gift and it is very fruitful and beneficial?” “Indeed it could, Sāriputta.” “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason for this?”

“Idha, sāriputta, ekacco sāpekho dānaṁ deti, patibaddhacitto dānaṁ deti, sannidhipekho dānaṁ deti, ‘imaṁ pecca paribhuñjissāmī’ti dānaṁ deti. So taṁ dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, sāriputta, dadeyya idhekacco evarūpaṁ dānan”ti? “Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Sāriputta, take the case of a someone who gives a gift as an investment, their mind tied to it, expecting to keep it, thinking ‘I’ll enjoy this in my next life.’ They give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. What do you think, Sāriputta, don’t some people give gifts in this way?” “Yes, sir.”

“Tatra, sāriputta, yvāyaṁ sāpekho dānaṁ deti, patibaddhacitto dānaṁ deti, sannidhipekho dānaṁ deti, ‘imaṁ pecca paribhuñjissāmī’ti dānaṁ deti. So taṁ dānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. So taṁ kammaṁ khepetvā taṁ iddhiṁ taṁ yasaṁ taṁ ādhipaccaṁ āgāmī hoti āgantā itthattaṁ.

“Sāriputta, someone who gives a gift as an investment, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings. When that deed, success, glory, and sovereignty is spent they return to this place.

Idha pana, sāriputta, ekacco na heva kho sāpekho dānaṁ deti, na patibaddhacitto dānaṁ deti, na sannidhipekho dānaṁ deti, na ‘imaṁ pecca paribhuñjissāmī’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho ‘sāhu dānan’ti dānaṁ deti …pe….

Next, take the case of a someone who gives a gift not as an investment, their mind not tied to it, not expecting to keep it, and not thinking, ‘I’ll enjoy this in my next life.’ But they give a gift thinking, ‘It’s good to give.’ …

Napi ‘sāhu dānan’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho ‘dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ pitupitāmahehi na arahāmi porāṇaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ hāpetun’ti dānaṁ deti …pe….

They give a gift thinking, ‘Giving was practiced by my father and my father’s father. It would not be right for me to abandon this family custom.’ …

Napi ‘dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ pitupitāmahehi na arahāmi porāṇaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ hāpetun’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho ‘ahaṁ pacāmi, ime na pacanti, nārahāmi pacanto apacantānaṁ dānaṁ adātun’ti dānaṁ deti …pe….

They give a gift thinking, ‘I cook, they don’t. It wouldn’t be right for me to not give to them.’ …

Napi ‘ahaṁ pacāmi, ime na pacanti, nārahāmi pacanto apacantānaṁ dānaṁ adātun’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho ‘yathā tesaṁ pubbakānaṁ isīnaṁ tāni mahāyaññāni ahesuṁ, seyyathidaṁ— aṭṭhakassa vāmakassa vāmadevassa vessāmittassa yamadaggino aṅgīrasassa bhāradvājassa vāseṭṭhassa kassapassa bhaguno, evaṁ me ayaṁ dānasaṁvibhāgo bhavissatī’ti dānaṁ deti …pe….

They give a gift thinking, ‘The ancient brahmin seers were Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamadaggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu. Just as they performed great sacrifices, I will share a gift.’ …

Napi ‘yathā tesaṁ pubbakānaṁ isīnaṁ tāni mahāyaññāni ahesuṁ, seyyathidaṁ— aṭṭhakassa vāmakassa vāmadevassa vessāmittassa yamadaggino aṅgīrasassa bhāradvājassa vāseṭṭhassa kassapassa bhaguno, evaṁ me ayaṁ dānasaṁvibhāgo bhavissatī’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho ‘imaṁ me dānaṁ dadato cittaṁ pasīdati, attamanatā somanassaṁ upajāyatī’ti dānaṁ deti …pe….

They give a gift thinking, ‘When giving this gift my mind becomes clear, and I become happy and joyful.’ …

Napi ‘imaṁ me dānaṁ dadato cittaṁ pasīdati, attamanatā somanassaṁ upajāyatī’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho cittālaṅkāracittaparikkhāraṁ dānaṁ deti. So taṁ dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, sāriputta, dadeyya idhekacco evarūpaṁ dānan”ti? “Evaṁ, bhante”.

They don’t give a gift thinking, ‘When giving this gift my mind becomes clear, and I become happy and joyful.’ But they give a gift thinking, ‘This is an adornment and requisite for the mind.’ They give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. What do you think, Sāriputta, don’t some people give gifts in this way?” “Yes, sir.”

“Tatra, sāriputta, yvāyaṁ na heva sāpekho dānaṁ deti; na patibaddhacitto dānaṁ deti; na sannidhipekho dānaṁ deti; na ‘imaṁ pecca paribhuñjissāmī’ti dānaṁ deti; napi ‘sāhu dānan’ti dānaṁ deti; napi ‘dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ pitupitāmahehi na arahāmi porāṇaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ hāpetun’ti dānaṁ deti; napi ‘ahaṁ pacāmi, ime na pacanti, nārahāmi pacanto apacantānaṁ dānaṁ adātun’ti dānaṁ deti; napi ‘yathā tesaṁ pubbakānaṁ isīnaṁ tāni mahāyaññāni ahesuṁ, seyyathidaṁ— aṭṭhakassa vāmakassa vāmadevassa vessāmittassa yamadaggino aṅgīrasassa bhāradvājassa vāseṭṭhassa kassapassa bhaguno, evaṁ me ayaṁ dānasaṁvibhāgo bhavissatī’ti dānaṁ deti; napi ‘imaṁ me dānaṁ dadato cittaṁ pasīdati, attamanatā somanassaṁ upajāyatī’ti dānaṁ deti; api ca kho cittālaṅkāracittaparikkhāraṁ dānaṁ deti. So taṁ dānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. So taṁ kammaṁ khepetvā taṁ iddhiṁ taṁ yasaṁ taṁ ādhipaccaṁ anāgāmī hoti anāgantā itthattaṁ.

“Sāriputta, someone who gives gifts, not for any other reason, but thinking, ‘This is an adornment and requisite for the mind’, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn among the gods of the Divinity’s host. When that deed, success, glory, and sovereignty is spent they are a non-returner; they do not return to this place.

Ayaṁ kho, sāriputta, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena midhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ. Ayaṁ pana, sāriputta, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena midhekaccassa tādisaṁyeva dānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti.

This is the cause, this is the reason why someone gives a gift and it is not very fruitful or beneficial, while someone else gives exactly the same gift and it is very fruitful and beneficial.”