Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga
Sutta 37
Jaḷaṇga-Dāna Suttaṃ
Alms
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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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.
