SN 11.16

Yajamānasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho sakko devānamindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Sponsoring Sacrifice

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. And then Sakka, lord of gods, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and addressed him in verse:

“Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ, puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ; Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ, kattha dinnaṁ mahapphalan”ti.

“For humans, those merit-seeking creatures, who sponsor sacrifices, making worldly merit, where is a gift very fruitful?”

“Cattāro ca paṭipannā, cattāro ca phale ṭhitā; Esa saṅgho ujubhūto, paññāsīlasamāhito.

“Four practicing the path, and four established in the fruit. This is the upright Saṅgha, with wisdom, ethics, and immersion.

Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ, Puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ; Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ, Saṅghe dinnaṁ mahapphalan”ti.

For humans, those merit-seeking creatures, who sponsor sacrifices, making worldly merit, what is given to the Saṅgha is very fruitful.”