Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga
The Book of Fives
Suttas 34
Sīha-Senāpati Suttaṃ
General Lionheart
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
[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 Bhaggava 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 Saṅgha;'
■
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 Bhaggava 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."