Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga

The Book of the Fives

IV: Sumanā

Sutta 37

Bhojana Suttaṃ

The Gift of a Meal

[42] [34]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, in giving a meal,
a giver gives five things
to an almsman.

What five?

He gives life,
beauty,
ease,
strength
and wit.¹

But in giving life,
he becomes a partaker in life,²
in heaven and among men;
in giving beauty,
he becomes a partaker in beauty,
in heaven and among men;
in giving ease,
he becomes a partaker in ease,
in heaven and among men;
in giving strength,
he becomes a partaker in strength,
in heaven and among men;
in giving wits,
he becomes a partaker in wit,
in heaven and among men.

Monks, in giving a meal,
a giver gives these five things
to an almsman.

In giving life and strength and beauty, wit,
In giving ease, wise men find happiness;
Whoso shall give these gifts shall have long life
And honour, wheresoever they be reborn.'³

¹ Paṭibhāna. Comy. yutta-mutta-paṭibhāna, which, I suppose may mean apt and ready wit, understanding; Bacon's 'a ready man,' but see P.E.D. s.v. mutta, also Pts. of Contr. 379.

² The text repeats in full for each. [Ed.: Expanded here according to the Pali.]