Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Mahāyañña-Vagga
The Book of the Sevens
Chapter V: The Great Sacrifice
Sutta 49
Dāna-Maha-p-Phala Suttaṃ
On Giving
[33]
THUS have I heard:
Once, when the Exalted One dwelt near Campā1
on the banks of lake Gaggarā,
a company of lay-disciples from Campā visited the venerable Sāriputta,
saluted him
and sat down at one side.
And seated thus, they said to him:
''Tis long, reverend2 sir,
since we heard a Dhamma-talk from the Exalted One's mouth;
how good it would be to do so!'
'Then come next Observance3 day, friends,4
and maybe you'll hear a Dhamma-talk from the Exalted One's mouth'
'Yes, reverend sir,' they rejoined;
and getting up,
the lay-disciples from Campā saluted the venerable Sāriputta and departed,
keeping him on their right.
§
Now when the day was come,
they approached the venerable one,
saluted
and stood at one side;
and with them the venerable Sāriputta visited the Exalted One,
saluted and sat down at one side.
So seated, he said to the Exalted One:
'Lord,2 may a man's gift
be given here in such a way
as to become not great in fruit, great in profit;
and may the gift be given in such a way
as to become great in fruit, great in profit?'
'It may, Sāriputta.
A man's gift may
be given here in such a way
as to become not great in fruit, great in profit;
and the gift may be given in such a way
as to become great in fruit, great in profit.'
■
'And what, lord, is the reason, the cause
that a man's gift may
be given here in such a way
as to become not great in fruit, great in profit;
and the gift may be given in such a way
as to become great in fruit, great in profit?'
■
[34] 'Consider, Sāriputta, a self-seeking5 man,
wrapped6 up (in the result),
seeking reward,
who gives a gift, thinking:
'I'll enjoy this hereafter!"
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.7
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a self-seeking man,
wrapt up (in the result),
seeking reward,
who gives a gift, thinking:
'I'll enjoy this hereafter!"
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,8
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
yet gives thinking:
"It's good to give!
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
yet gives thinking:
"It's good to give!
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
but:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking: "It's good to give!"
but, thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse"
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse."
but:
"I am qualifying,9
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse,"
but thinking:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse,"
nor gives thinking:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying."
but:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu10 -
so will I make this alms distribution."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting."
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse,"
nor gives thinking:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying,"
but thinking:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu -
so will I make this alms distribution."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse,"
nor gives thinking:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying,
nor gives thinking:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu -
so will I make this alms distribution.
but:
"This gift of mine calms the mind,
joy and gladness arise."
And to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
[35] Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
nor gives thinking:
"It's good to give!"
nor gives thinking:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse,"
nor gives thinking:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying,
nor gives thinking:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu -
so will I make this alms distribution
but thinking:
"This gift of mine calms the mind,
joy and gladness arise."
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting,
thereafter,
on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the Four Royal devas;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a returner,
a comer to this state here.
§
Then consider one who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
Nor does he think:
"It's good to give!
Nor does he think:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse."
Nor does he think:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying."
Nor does he think:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu -
so will I make this alms distribution."
Nor does he think:
"This gift of mine calms the mind,
joy and gladness arise."
But gives a gift to improve the mind,
to equip the mind;11
and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting.
What think you, Sāriputta,
might a man give here such a gift?
'Yes, lord.'
■
'Now Sāriputta, a man who gives a gift
but is no self-seeker,
not wrapt up in the result,
seeking no reward,
nor thinks to enjoy the fruit hereafter;
Nor does he think:
"It's good to give!
Nor does he think:
"This was given in the past,
done in the past by my father
and my father's father;
I ought not to allow this ancient family custom to lapse."
Nor does he think:
"I am qualifying,
these are not qualifying;
I who am qualifying
am not worthy to give gifts
to those who are no longer qualifying."
Nor does he think:
"As those sages of old had those great offerings -
Aṭṭhaka,
Vāmaka,
Vāmadeva,
Vessāmitta,
Yamataggi,
Aṅgīrasa,
Bhāradvāja,
Vāseṭṭha,
Kassapa
and Bhagu -
so will I make this alms distribution."
Nor does he think:
"This gift of mine calms the mind,
joy and gladness arise,
but thinking to improve the mind,
to equip the mind;
and to recluses and to recluses and godly men gives this gift:
food,
drink,
clothing,
a vehicle,
garlands,
perfumes,
ointments,
bed,
dwelling,
lighting
thereafter, on the breaking up of the body after death,
arises in the company of the devas of Brahma's hosts;
and when he has exhausted that deed,
power,
glory,
dominion,
he becomes a non-returner,
a comer not to this state here.
Verily, this is the reason,
the cause,
why a man's gift given in one way
may become not great in fruit, great in profit;
and this is the reason,
the cause,
why given in such a way
the gift may become great in fruit, great in profit.'
1 The capital of Aṅga, east of Magadha, see Buddh. Ind. 35; Chwang ii, 181. See D.A. i, 279 regarding the lake. Pron. Champī.
2 Bhante.
3 Uposatha; see below, pp. 170 and 259.
4 Āvuso.
5 Sāpekho.
6 Paṭibaddha-citio. Comy. vipāke baddha-citto.
7 M. iii, 205; S. i, 94; A. i, 107; It. 65; below, p. 163.
8 A. i, 63; ii, 159; It. 95.
9 Ahaṃ pacāmi, etc., from √pac, to cook. At Dial. iii, 240, where this recurs (see also below, p. 160), it is rendered literally; in Sk. the Middle or Reflexive voice has developed into meaning: ripen, mature and so, qualify. We may compare sekha, one who is still a learner; while the negative has come to mean an adept. Comy. is silent on the meaning, but observes that this gift is called niravasesa: without remainder; on apada: trackless, the way of one who has reached the sphere of 'infinite space' - at p. 291 below, Comy. glosses, nippada, niravasesa.
10 See G.S. iii, 164.
11 Comy. For calm and insight.