Maccharisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.49

Linked Discourses 1.49

5. Ādittavagga

5. On Fire

Maccharisutta

Stingy

“Yedha maccharino loke,

“Those folk in the world who are stingy,

kadariyā paribhāsakā;

miserly and abusive,

Aññesaṁ dadamānānaṁ,

setting up obstacles

antarāyakarā narā.

for others who give.

Kīdiso tesaṁ vipāko,

What kind of result do they reap?

samparāyo ca kīdiso;

What kind of future life?

Bhagavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,

We’ve come to ask the worthy sir:

kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

how are we to understand this?”

“Yedha maccharino loke,

“Those folk in the world who are stingy,

kadariyā paribhāsakā;

miserly and abusive,

Aññesaṁ dadamānānaṁ,

setting up obstacles

antarāyakarā narā.

for others who give:

Nirayaṁ tiracchānayoniṁ,

they’re reborn in hell,

yamalokaṁ upapajjare;

the animal realm, or Yama’s world.

Sace enti manussattaṁ,

If they return to the human state,

dalidde jāyare kule.

they’re born in a poor family,

Coḷaṁ piṇḍo ratī khiḍḍā,

where clothes, food, pleasure, and play

yattha kicchena labbhati;

are hard to find.

Parato āsīsare bālā,

They don’t even get

tampi tesaṁ na labbhati;

what they hope for from others.

Diṭṭhe dhammesa vipāko,

This is the result in the present life,

samparāye ca duggatī”ti.

and in the next, a bad destination.”

“Itihetaṁ vijānāma,

“We understand what you’re saying,

aññaṁ pucchāma gotama;

and ask another question, Gotama.

Yedha laddhā manussattaṁ,

What about those who’ve gained the human state,

vadaññū vītamaccharā.

who are bountiful and rid of stinginess,

Buddhe pasannā dhamme ca,

confident in the Buddha and the teaching,

saṅghe ca tibbagāravā;

with keen respect for the Saṅgha?

Kīdiso tesaṁ vipāko,

What kind of result do they reap?

samparāyo ca kīdiso;

What kind of future life?

Bhagavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,

We’ve come to ask the worthy sir:

kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

how are we to understand this?”

“Yedha laddhā manussattaṁ,

“Those who’ve gained the human state

vadaññū vītamaccharā;

who are bountiful and rid of stinginess,

Buddhe pasannā dhamme ca,

confident in the Buddha and the teaching,

saṅghe ca tibbagāravā;

with keen respect for the Saṅgha:

Ete saggā pakāsanti,

they illuminate the heavens

yattha te upapajjare.

wherever they’re reborn.

Sace enti manussattaṁ,

If they return to the human state,

aḍḍhe ājāyare kule;

they’re reborn in a rich family,

Coḷaṁ piṇḍo ratī khiḍḍā,

where clothes, food, pleasure, and play

yatthākicchena labbhati.

are easy to find.

Parasambhatesu bhogesu,

They rejoice like those

vasavattīva modare;

who control the possessions of others.

Diṭṭhe dhammesa vipāko,

This is the result in the present life,

samparāye ca suggatī”ti.

and in the next, a good destination.”