Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipata

The Book of Fives

Suttas 148

Sappurisa-Dāna Suttaṃ

A Goodman's Gifts

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts][than] "Beggars! These five are a goodman's gifts.

What five?

He gives trusting in the fruit of good deeds;
he gives with respect;
he gives at the right time;
with a happy heart;
a gift causing injury neither to self or others.

A gift given trusting in the fruit of good deeds, beggars,
whenever it comes to fruition
brings that good man great wealth and possessions,
and such a one is good looking,
handsome,
as pleasant to the eye as the lotus blossom.

A gift given with respect, beggars,
whenever it comes to fruition
brings that good man great wealth and possessions,
and the wife and children and employees of such a one
listen carefully
and know how to follow his instructions.

A gift given at the right time, beggars,
whenever it comes to fruition
brings that good man great wealth and possessions,
and what he gets comes at the right time.

A gift given with a happy heart, beggars,
whenever it comes to fruition
brings that good man great wealth and possessions,
and whatever of such as he enjoys
he does so with the full indulgence
of the five chords of sense pleasure.

A gift given which causes no injury to self or others, beggars,
whenever it comes to fruition
brings that good man great wealth and possessions,
and all such is made safe
against fire
and water
and kings
and thieves
and greedy heirs.

These five are a goodman's gifts.