Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
VIII: Apaṇṇaka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter VIII: The Sure
Sutta 78
Dakkhiṇā-Visuddhi Suttaṃ
Gifts[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four purities in gifts.
What four?
There is a gift, monks,
which is made pure on the part of the giver,
not of the receiver.
There is a gift, monks,
which is made pure on the part of the receiver,
not of the giver.
There is a gift, monks,
which is made pure on neither side,
There is a gift, monks,
which is made pure on both sides.
Now, monks, how is a gift
made pure on the part of the giver,
not of the receiver?
In this case the giver is virtuous,
of a lovely nature;
the receivers are immoral
and of a wicked nature.
Thus the gift is made pure
on the part of the giver,
not of the receiver.[2]
And how is a gift
made pure on the part of the receiver,
not of the giver?
In this case, monks,
the giver is immoral,
of a wicked nature,
while the receivers are virtuous,
of a lovely nature.
Thus the gift
made pure on the part of the receiver,
not of the giver.
And how is a gift
made pure neither on the part of the giver
nor of the receiver?
In this case, monks,
both giver and receiver are immoral,
of a wicked nature.
Thus the gift
made pure neither on the part of the giver
nor of the receiver.
[91] And how is a gift made pure
both on the part of the giver
and of the receiver?
In this case, monks,
the giver is virtuous,
of a lovely nature,
and the receiver virtuous,
of a lovely nature.
Thus the gift is made pure on both sides.
These are the four purities in gifts.'
[1] Cf. D. iii, 231, but in different order; M. iii, 256, which has gāthās on the subject and a fifth set; Pts. of Contr. 322.
[2] Comy. illustrates (i) by Vessantara's gift, JA. vi, 487, [Jāt 547] and that of Kevaṭṭa to Dīgha-sammatthera; (iii) by that of a hunter at Vaḍḍhamāna, at a peta-dāna. 'Made pure' is explained by Comy. as 'one of great fruit.'
