Iti 26

Dānasutta

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

Giving

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Evañce, bhikkhave, sattā jāneyyuṁ dānasaṁvibhāgassa vipākaṁ yathāhaṁ jānāmi, na adatvā bhuñjeyyuṁ, na ca nesaṁ maccheramalaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭheyya. Yopi nesaṁ assa carimo ālopo carimaṁ kabaḷaṁ, tatopi na asaṁvibhajitvā bhuñjeyyuṁ, sace nesaṁ paṭiggāhakā assu. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sattā na evaṁ jānanti dānasaṁvibhāgassa vipākaṁ yathāhaṁ jānāmi, tasmā adatvā bhuñjanti, maccheramalañca nesaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī”ti. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Mendicants, if sentient beings only knew, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess would not occupy their minds. They would not eat without sharing even their last mouthful, their last morsel, so long as there was someone to receive it. It is because sentient beings do not know, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, that they eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess occupies their minds.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Evañce sattā jāneyyuṁ, yathāvuttaṁ mahesinā; Vipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa, yathā hoti mahapphalaṁ.

“If sentient beings only knew how great is the fruit of giving and sharing as taught by the great seer!

Vineyya maccheramalaṁ, vippasannena cetasā; Dajjuṁ kālena ariyesu, yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.

Rid of the stain of stinginess, with clear and confident heart, they would duly give to the noble ones, where a gift is very fruitful.

Annañca datvā bahuno, dakkhiṇeyyesu dakkhiṇaṁ; Ito cutā manussattā, saggaṁ gacchanti dāyakā.

Having given food in abundance to those worthy of a religious donation, after passing from the human realm, the givers go to heaven.

Te ca saggagatā tattha, modanti kāmakāmino; Vipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa, anubhonti amaccharā”ti.

And when they have arrived there in heaven, they enjoy all the pleasures they desire. The generous enjoy the fruit of giving and sharing.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.