Dānasutta

Itivuttaka 98

So It Was Said 98

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Pañcamavagga

Chapter Five

Dānasutta

Giving

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

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

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni—

“There are, mendicants, these two gifts.

āmisadānañca dhammadānañca.

A gift of things of the flesh and a gift of the teaching.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānaṁ.

The better of these two gifts is the gift of the teaching.

Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā—

There are these two kinds of sharing.

āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca.

Sharing things of the flesh and sharing the teaching.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo.

The better of these two kinds of sharing is sharing the teaching.

Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā—

There are these two kinds of support.

āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca.

Support in things of the flesh and support in the teaching.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.

The better of these two kinds of support is support in the teaching.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Yamāhu dānaṁ paramaṁ anuttaraṁ,

“It is said to be the supreme, ultimate gift,

Yaṁ saṁvibhāgaṁ bhagavā avaṇṇayi;

and the sharing praised by the Buddha;

Aggamhi khettamhi pasannacitto,

what wise and sensible person,
confident in the best of fields,

Viññū pajānaṁ ko na yajetha kāle.

would not sow a such timely gift?

Ye ceva bhāsanti suṇanti cūbhayaṁ,

For those who are diligent
in the dispensation of the Holy One,

Pasannacittā sugatassa sāsane;

both those who speak and those who listen,

Tesaṁ so attho paramo visujjhati,

confident in the dispensation of the Holy One,

Ye appamattā sugatassa sāsane”ti.

such a gift purifies the highest goal.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

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

Navamaṁ.