Sādhusutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.33

Linked Discourses 1.33

4. Satullapakāyikavagga

4. The Host of a Hundred Felicities

Sādhusutta

Good

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

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.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

maccherā ca pamādā ca;

Because of stinginess and negligence

Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati,

a gift is not given.

puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena;

Wanting merit,

Deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.

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,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.

Even when one has little, giving is good.

Appasmeke pavecchanti,

Some who have little are happy to provide,

bahuneke na dicchare;

while some who have much don’t wish to give.

Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,

An offering given from little

sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.

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,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;

Even when one has little, giving is good.

Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,

And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu;

Giving and warfare are similar, they say,

Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti,

for even a few of the good may conquer the many.

Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti;

If a faithful person gives even a little,

Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.

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,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;

Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,

And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.

And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ,

A personage who gives legitimate wealth,

Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu;

earned by his efforts and initiative,

Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,

has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River;

Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco”ti.

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,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;

Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,

And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;

And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.

And it’s also good to give intelligently.

Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,

The Holy One praises giving intelligently

Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke;

to those worthy of offerings here
in the world of the living.

Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,

What’s given to these is very fruitful,

Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette”ti.

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,

“Good, good fellow, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;

Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,

And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;

And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ,

And it’s also good to give intelligently.

Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.

And it’s also good to be restrained
when it comes to living creatures.

Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ,

One who lives without harming any living being

Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;

does no bad because of others’ blame.

Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ,

Were that the case they praise the coward,
not the brave;

Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti.

for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then another deity said to the Buddha,

“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?

“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,

A gift of faith is praised in many ways,

Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo;

but a passage of teaching is better than giving,

Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,

for the virtuous, in days old and older still,

Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.

even attained extinction with wisdom.”