Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga

The Book of Fives

Suttas 34

Sīha-Senāpati Suttaṃ

General Lionheart

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts][than][bodh] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time the Lucky Man, Vesālī-town, the Peaked Roof House in Great Woods residing, when Sīha, the general came to call.

There, after greeting Bhagavā with closed palms,
Sīha took a low seat to one side and asked:

"Is it possible, Bhante,
to show the consequences of giving in this visible thing?"

"It is, general,"
said the Lucky Man.

"The giver is here and now considered good and is liked by many.

Again, good and wise men gather round the giver,
and this is an advantage in this visible thing.

Again, the giver gets a good reputation.

Again, General, whenever the giver enters a council or meeting,
whether of householders
or royalty
or religious leaders
or sorcerers,
he enters fearlessly,
confidently.

And again, General,
at the breakup of the body at death
the giver finds consciousness again in a happy state
among the gods."

"Well, Bhante, as for the first four of these consequences of giving
visible in this visible thing,
I do not need to go by faith to the Lucky Man,
for I am able to see them for myself.

I am a generous person, Bhante,
and I am considered good and am liked by many;
many good and wise men are my companions;
I have a good reputation:
People say:

'The General Sīha is a giver,
he works for and serves the Saṇgha;'

and whenever I enter a council
or meeting,
whether of householders
or royalty
or religious leaders
or sorcerers,
I do so fearlessly,
confidently.

But when the Bhagavā says:

"And again, General, at the breakup of the body at death
the giver finds consciousness again in a happy sate
among the gods.'

this is something of which I have no personal experience and go by faith."

"Even so Sīha.

Even so.

At the breakup of the body at death, Sīha,
the giver finds consciousness again in a happy sate
among the gods."