Dānasutta

Itivuttaka 26

So It Was Said 26

Ekakanipāta

The Book of the Ones

Tatiyavagga

Chapter Three

Dānasutta

Giving

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

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.

“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.

Yopi nesaṁ assa carimo ālopo carimaṁ kabaḷaṁ, tatopi na asaṁvibhajitvā bhuñjeyyuṁ, sace nesaṁ paṭiggāhakā assu.

They would not eat without sharing even their last mouthful, their last morsel, so long as there was someone to receive it.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sattā na evaṁ jānanti dānasaṁvibhāgassa vipākaṁ yathāhaṁ jānāmi, tasmā adatvā bhuñjanti, maccheramalañca nesaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī”ti.

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.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Evañce sattā jāneyyuṁ,

“If sentient beings only knew

yathāvuttaṁ mahesinā;

how great is the fruit

Vipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa,

of giving and sharing

yathā hoti mahapphalaṁ.

as taught by the great seer!

Vineyya maccheramalaṁ,

Rid of the stain of stinginess,

vippasannena cetasā;

with clear and confident heart,

Dajjuṁ kālena ariyesu,

they would duly give to the noble ones,

yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.

where a gift is very fruitful.

Annañca datvā bahuno,

Having given food in abundance

dakkhiṇeyyesu dakkhiṇaṁ;

to those worthy of a religious donation,

Ito cutā manussattā,

after passing from the human realm,

saggaṁ gacchanti dāyakā.

the givers go to heaven.

Te ca saggagatā tattha,

And when they have arrived there in heaven,

modanti kāmakāmino;

they enjoy all the pleasures they desire.

Vipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa,

The generous enjoy the

anubhonti amaccharā”ti.

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.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.