Aṇguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
IV: Sumanā
Sutta 37
Bhojana Suttaṃ
The Gift of a Meal
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][than][olds][bodh] 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, wheresoe'er they be reborn.'[3]
Paṭibhāna. see discussion of this term in the Give Ear Forum.
— p.p.
[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.]
