SN 1.33

Sādhusutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. 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 udānaṁ udānesi:

Good

At Sāvatthī. 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 expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, maccherā ca pamādā ca; Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati, puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena; Deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.

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

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.

“Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good.

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 imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu; Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti, Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti; Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.

“Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it’s also good to give out of faith. Giving and warfare are similar, they say, for even a few of the good may conquer the many. If a faithful person gives even a little, it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.

“Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it’s also good to give out of faith. And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ, Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu; Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa, Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco”ti.

A personage who gives legitimate wealth, earned by his efforts and initiative, has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River; that mortal arrives at celestial fields.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.

“Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it’s also good to give out of faith. And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth. And it’s also good to give intelligently.

Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ, Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke; Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni, Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette”ti.

The Holy One praises giving intelligently to those worthy of offerings here in the world of the living. What’s given to these is very fruitful, like seeds sown in a fertile field.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ, Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.

“Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it’s also good to give out of faith. And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth. And it’s also good to give intelligently. And it’s also good to be restrained when it comes to living creatures.

Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ, Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ; Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ, Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti.

One who lives without harming any living being does no bad because of others’ blame. Were that the case they praise the coward, not the brave; for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ 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:

Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ, Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo; Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo, Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.

A gift of faith is praised in many ways, but a passage of teaching is better than giving, for the virtuous, in days old and older still, even attained extinction with wisdom.”