Alms

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

[1][than] Thus have I heard:

Once when the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park,
Nanda's mother, the Veḷukaṇḍakan^[1] lay-disiple,
founded an offering,
sixfold-endowed,
for the Order of monks with Sāriputta and Mahā Moggllāna at the head.

Now the Exalted One, with the deva-eye,
surpassing in clarity the eye of man,
saw that Nanda's mother, the Veḷukaṇḍakan lay-disiple,
had founded an offering,
sixfold-endowed,
for the Order of monks with Sāriputtaand Mahā Moggllāna at the head,
and addressed the monks thus:

Monks, this lay-disciple of Veḷukaṇḍakan, Nanda's mother,
has founded an offering,
sixfold-endowed,
for the Order of monks
with Sāriputta and Mahā Moggllāna at the head.

■

And how, monks, is the offering^[2] sixfold-endowed?

Monks, the giver's part is threefold
and the receivers' part is threefold.

■

And what is the giver's threefold part?

Herein, monks, before the gift^[3]
he is glad at heart^[4]
in giving the heart^[4] is satisfied;
and uplifted is the heart when he has given.

This is the giver's threefold part.

■

And what is the receivers' threefold part?

Herein, monks, they are lust-freed
or stepping to cast lust out;
are hate-freed or stepping to cast hate out;
are delusion-freed or stepping to become so.

This is the receivers' threefold part.

■

Thus the giver's part is threefold
and the receivers' part is threefold;
thus verily, monks, the offering is sixfold-endowed.

Monks, not easy is it to grasp the measure of merit
of such a sixfold-endowed offering,
and to say:

"Thus much is the yield in merit,
the yield in goodliness,
making for a lucky hereafter,
ripening to happiness,
leading heavenward,
leading [237] to weal and happiness,
longed for,
loved
and lovely."

Verily, the great mass of merit is reckoned just unreckonable,
immeasurable.

■

Monks, just^[5] as it is not easy to grasp the measure of water
in the great ocean, and to say:

"There are so many pailfuls,
so many hundreds of pailfuls,
so many thousands of pailfuls,
so many hundreds of thousands of pailfuls" -

for that great mass of water is reckoned unreckonable,
immeasurable;
even so, monks, it is not easy to grasp the measure of merit
in a sixfold-endowed offering,
and to say:

"Thus much is the yield in merit,
the yield in goodliness,
making for a lucky hereafter,
ripening to happiness,
leading heavenward,
leading to weal and happiness,
longed for,
loved
and lovely."

Gladsome before the gift, giving satisfied,
Uplifted having given-that's bounty's^[6] fullness.^[7]
Lust-freed, hate-freed, delusion-freed, stainless,
Controlled Brahma-wayfarers^[8]- that's the best field for bounty.
If one but cleanse^[9] himself and give by hand,
For self hereafter, ^[10]too, great is the fruit.
So giving-faithful, wise, heart-free, discreet -
In the sorrowless, happy world he'll rise.'^[11]

^[1] See G.S. i, 24; Brethr. 41; A. iv, 63; K.S. ii, 160 (there -kaṇṭkī).

^[2] Dakkhiṇā.

^[3] Dāna.

^[4] Mano, then cititaṃ.

^[5] See above, p. 43, n. 2.

^[6] Yañña.

^[7] Sampadā. Comy. paripuṇṇatā, fulfilment.

^[8] Saññatā brahmacārayo, restrained god-way-ers.

^[9] The Comy. takes this literally: washing his feet and hands, rinsing his/mouth.

^[10] Parato ca. Comy. is silent.

^[11] The last line of the text recurs at It. 16 and 52.

Aṇguttara Nikāya Chakka Nipāta IV. Devatā Vagga

Sutta 37

Jaḷaṇga-Dāna Suttaṃ

Alms

Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga