AN 4.57  Suppavāsā sutta - Suppavāsā

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā koliyesu viharati pajjanikaṁ nāma koliyānaṁ nigamo.

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling among the Koliyans, in a town of the Koliyans called Pajjanika.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena suppavāsāya koliyadhītuyā nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā bhagavantaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho suppavāsaṁ koliyadhītaraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning, taking his alms bowl and outer robe, went to the residence of the Koliyan noblewoman |Suppavāsā::foremost female lay disciple of the Buddha among those who offer excellent items [suppavāsā]|. Having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then Suppavāsā, the Koliyan noblewoman, with her own hands, served and satisfied the Blessed One with various kinds of excellent food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished his meal and put away his bowl, Suppavāsā, the Koliyan noblewoman, sat down to one side. As she sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to Suppavāsā, the Koliyan noblewoman:

“Bhojanaṁ, suppavāse, dentī ariyasāvikā paṭiggāhakānaṁ cattāri ṭhānāni deti. Katamāni cattāri? Āyuṁ deti, vaṇṇaṁ deti, sukhaṁ deti, balaṁ deti. Āyuṁ kho pana datvā āyussa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Vaṇṇaṁ datvā vaṇṇassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Sukhaṁ datvā sukhassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Balaṁ datvā balassa bhāginī hoti dibbassa vā mānusassa vā. Bhojanaṁ, suppavāse, dentī ariyasāvikā paṭiggāhakānaṁ imāni cattāri ṭhānāni detīti.

“Suppavāsā, when a female noble disciple gives food to the recipients, she gives four things. What four? She gives life, beauty, happiness, and strength. 1) Having given life, she becomes a partaker in life, whether divine or human. 2) Having given beauty, she becomes a partaker in beauty, whether divine or human. 3) Having given happiness, she becomes a partaker in happiness, whether divine or human. 4) Having given strength, she becomes a partaker in strength, whether divine or human. Suppavāsā, when a female noble disciple gives food to the recipients, she gives these four things.

Susaṅkhataṁ bhojanaṁ yā dadāti,
Suciṁ paṇītaṁ rasasā upetaṁ;
Sā dakkhiṇā ujjugatesu dinnā,
Caraṇūpapannesu mahaggatesu;
Puññena puññaṁ saṁsandamānā,
Mahapphalā lokavidūna vaṇṇitā.

She who gives well-prepared food,
pure, excellent, and rich in flavor;
to the upright ones who are
exalted and accomplished in conduct;
That offering, which links her merit to their merit,
is praised as very fruitful by the |world knowers::an epithet of the Buddhas [lokavidūna]|.

Etādisaṁ yaññamanussarantā,
Ye vedajātā vicaranti loke;
Vineyya maccheramalaṁ samūlaṁ,
Aninditā saggamupenti ṭhānan”ti.

Those recollecting such an offering,
dwell in the world filled with joy;
Having completely rooted out the stain of |stinginess::selfishness, meanness, tight-fistedness [macchera]|,
they go blameless to the heavenly realm.”