Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then, when the night had advanced, many deities of extraordinary appearance, belonging to the host of one hundred laudatory heavenly beings, having illuminated the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near and paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Maccherā ca pamādā ca,
evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati;
Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena,
deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.
“Through |stinginess::selfishness, meanness, tight-fistedness [macchara]| and |negligence::carelessness, heedlessness [pamāda]|,
a gift is not given.
One who knows, desiring merit,
should give a gift.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Yasseva bhīto na dadāti maccharī,
Tadevādadato bhayaṁ;
Jighacchā ca pipāsā ca,
Yassa bhāyati maccharī;
Tameva bālaṁ phusati,
Asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.
“That which the miser fears when not giving,
is the very danger for the non-giver.
The hunger and thirst
that the miser fears,
afflicts that |immature person::lacking in discernment or good sense, child-like in understanding [bāla]|
in this world and the next.
Tasmā vineyya maccheraṁ,
dajjā dānaṁ malābhibhū;
Puññāni paralokasmiṁ,
patiṭṭhā honti pāṇinan”ti.
Therefore, dispelling stinginess,
|overcoming the stain::lit. conqueror of the stain [malābhibhū]|, one should give a gift.
Merits are the support
for living beings in the next world.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Te matesu na mīyanti,
panthānaṁva sahabbajaṁ;
Appasmiṁ ye pavecchanti,
esa dhammo sanantano.
“Among the dead, they do not die,
who, like fellow travelers on the road,
give though they have but a little:
This is the eternal law.
Appasmeke pavecchanti,
bahuneke na dicchare;
Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,
sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.
Some give from the little they have,
some with much do not wish to give.
An offering given from what little one has
is worth a thousand times its value.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Duddadaṁ dadamānānaṁ,
dukkaraṁ kamma kubbataṁ;
Asanto nānukubbanti,
sataṁ dhammo duranvayo.
“Giving what is hard to give,
doing what is hard to do;
the bad do not emulate them,
the Dhamma of the good is hard to follow.
Tasmā satañca asataṁ,
nānā hoti ito gati;
Asanto nirayaṁ yanti,
santo saggaparāyanā”ti.
Therefore, for the good and the bad,
the destination from here is different.
The bad go to |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]|,
the good are bound for |heaven::a place of happiness, lit. good fortune [sagga]|.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
Then another deity said this in the presence of the Blessed One: “Which one of us, Blessed One, has spoken well?”
“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena; api ca mamapi suṇātha—
“You have all spoken well in your own way, but listen also to me—
Dhammaṁ care yopi samuñjakaṁ care,
Dārañca posaṁ dadamappakasmiṁ;
Sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
Whoever practices the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|,
even if living by gleaning,
supporting a wife
and giving from the little they have;
then a hundred thousand offerings
of those who perform a thousand sacrifices,
do not equal even a fraction
[of the gift] of such a one.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then another deity addressed the Blessed One in verse:
“Kenesa yañño vipulo mahaggato,
Samena dinnassa na agghameti;
Kathaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
“Why does their sacrifice, vast and grand,
not share the value of the |peaceful one::impartial one [samena]|’s gift?
Why are the hundred thousand offerings
of those who perform a thousand sacrifices,
not equal to even a fraction
[of the gift] of such a one?”
“Dadanti heke visame niviṭṭhā,
Chetvā vadhitvā atha socayitvā;
Sā dakkhiṇā assumukhā sadaṇḍā,
Samena dinnassa na agghameti.
“Some give while entrenched in |unsuitable actions::chaotic; lit. unbalanced [visama]|,
|having struck::lit. having cut [chetvā]|, killed, and |caused sorrow::having caused distress [socayitvā]|.
That offering, brought about by tears and violence,
does not share the value of the peaceful one’s gift.
Evaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
Thus, the hundred thousand offerings
of those who perform a thousand sacrifices,
do not equal even a fraction
[of the gift] of such a one.”