SN 1.32

Maccharisutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Stinginess

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Maccherā ca pamādā ca, evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati; Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena, deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.

“Because of stinginess and negligence a gift is not given. Wanting merit, a smart person would give.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Yasseva bhīto na dadāti maccharī, Tadevādadato bhayaṁ; Jighacchā ca pipāsā ca, Yassa bhāyati maccharī; Tameva bālaṁ phusati, Asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

“When a miser fails to give because of fear, the very thing they’re afraid of comes to pass. The hunger and thirst that a miser fears hurt the fool in this world and the next.

Tasmā vineyya maccheraṁ, dajjā dānaṁ malābhibhū; Puññāni paralokasmiṁ, patiṭṭhā honti pāṇinan”ti.

So you should dispel stinginess, overcoming that stain, and give a gift. The good deeds of sentient beings support them in the next world.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Te matesu na mīyanti, panthānaṁva sahabbajaṁ; Appasmiṁ ye pavecchanti, esa dhammo sanantano.

“Among the dead they do not die, those who, like fellow travelers on the road, are happy to provide, though they have but little. This is an ancient teaching.

Appasmeke pavecchanti, bahuneke na dicchare; Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā, sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.

Some who have little are happy to provide, while some who have much don’t wish to give. An offering given from little is multiplied a thousand times.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Duddadaṁ dadamānānaṁ, dukkaraṁ kamma kubbataṁ; Asanto nānukubbanti, sataṁ dhammo duranvayo.

“Giving what’s hard to give, doing what’s hard to do; the wicked don’t act like this, for the teaching of the good is hard to follow.

Tasmā satañca asataṁ, nānā hoti ito gati; Asanto nirayaṁ yanti, santo saggaparāyanā”ti.

That’s why the virtuous and the wicked have different destinations after here. The wicked go to hell, while the virtuous are bound for heaven.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?

Then another deity said to the Buddha, “Sir, who has spoken well?”

“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena; api ca mamapi suṇātha—

“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

Dhammaṁ care yopi samuñjakaṁ care, Dārañca posaṁ dadamappakasmiṁ; Sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ, Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.

A hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices isn’t worth a fraction of that sort, who lives rightly, wandering for gleanings, or one who supports their partner with what little they have.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then another deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kenesa yañño vipulo mahaggato, Samena dinnassa na agghameti; Kathaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ, Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.

“Why doesn’t that sacrifice of theirs, so abundant and magnificent, equal the value of a moral person’s gift? How is it that a hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices isn’t worth a fraction of what’s offered by that sort?”

“Dadanti heke visame niviṭṭhā, Chetvā vadhitvā atha socayitvā; Sā dakkhiṇā assumukhā sadaṇḍā, Samena dinnassa na agghameti.

“Some give based on immorality— after slaying, killing, and tormenting. Such an offering—tearful, violent— in no way equals the value of a moral person’s gift.

Evaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ, Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.

That’s how it is that a hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices isn’t worth a fraction of what’s offered by that sort.”