Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Mahāyañña-Vagga
Sutta 49
Dāna-Maha-p-Phala Suttaɱ
The Highest Results from Giving Gifts
Translated from the Pali
by Sister Upalavanna
At one time The Blessed One was living on the bank of the Gaggara pond in Campa.
Then many disciples of Campa approached venerable Sāriputta, worshipped, sat on a side and said:
Venerable sir, it is long since that we heard the Teaching from The Blessed One.
Good! If we could hear the Teaching from The Blessed One.
Then friends, come on the full moon day, you will undoubtedly hear the Teaching from the Blesed One.
Those lay disciples agreed got up from their seats, worshipped, venerable Sāriputta, circumambulated and went away.
On the full moon day, those lay disciples approached venerable Sāriputta worshipped and kept standing.
Then venerable Sāriputta approached The Blessed One with those lay disciples, worshipped sat on a side and said to The Blessed One:
Venerable sir, is there a state in which, to a certain one, there isn't the highest benefits and results giving a certain gift and to another there is the highest benefits and results giving the same gift?
Sāriputta, there is that state in which, to a certain one, there isn't the highest benefits and results giving a certain gift and to another there is the highest benefits and results giving the same gift.
Venerable sir, what is the reason and cause for a certain one, there isn't the highest benefits and results giving a certain gift and to another there is the highest benefits and results giving the same gift?
Here, Sāriputta, a certain one gives gifts of eatables, drinks, clothes, carriages, flowers scents, ointments, beds dwellings and lights to recluses or Brahmins with desires, with a bound mind, with desires of accumulating, thinking later I will partake these. Sāriputta, do you know that a certain one gives gifts like these?
Yes, venerable sir.
There, Sāriputta, a certain one gives gifts with desires, with a bound mind, with desires of accumulating, thinking I will later partake these, they after death are born in the company of the four guardian gods.
Finishing up all the results, power, that fame and authority of those actions, they come back here.
There, Sāriputta, a certain one does not give gifts with desires, with a bound mind, with desires of accumulating, thinking I will later partake these.
They give gifts thinking it is good ... re ...
Some do not give gifts thinking it is good to give gifts.
They give gifts thinking my father, grandfather gave gifts, it is not good to disturb this order and they give gifts ... re ...
Some do not give gifts thinking my father, grandfather gave gifts, it is not good to disturb this order and they give gifts thinking we cook, these do not cook, we should give to those who do not cook.
It is not suitable that those who cook should not give to those who do not cook ... re ...
Some do not give gifts thinking we cook, these do not cook, we should give to those who do not cook.
It is not suitable that those who cook should not give to those who do not cook.
They give thinking, great sacrifices were given to ancient sages such as Attaka Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa and Bhagu.
I will arrange the sacrifice to them ... re ...
Some do not give thinking great sacrifices were given to ancient sages such as Attaka Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa and Bhagu, thinking I will arrange the sacrifice to them.
Yet others give gifts, thinking when I give these gifts, my mind becomes pleasant, when the self is pleased pleasure arises and gives gifts, ... re ...
Some do not think when I give these gifts my mind becomes pleasant, when the self is pleased pleasure arises.
Yet some give gifts to adorn and decorate the mind.
He gives those gifts of eatables, drinks, clothes, carriages, flowers scents, ointments, beds dwellings and lights to recluses or Brahmins.
Sāriputta, do you know that such gifts are given?
Yes, venerable sir".
There, Sāriputta, a certain one does not give gifts with desires, with a bound mind, with desires of accumulating, thinking I will later partake these,
it is good to give gifts, gifts were given by my father and grandfather and it is not suitable to disturb this order.
I cook and these do not cook, it is not suitable that those who cook should not give to those who do not cook, great sacrifices were given to ancient sages such as Attaka Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa and Bhagu.
I will arrange the sacrifice to them, nor does he give thinking when I give these gifts my mind becomes pleasant, when the self is pleased pleasure arises.
Yet gives gifts to adorn and decorate the mind.
He giving those gifts, after death is born in the company of the four guardian gods.
Finishing up all the results, power, that fame and authority of those actions, he does not come back here.
That is the reason and cause for a certain one, there isn't the highest benefits and results giving a certain gift and to another there is the highest benefits and results giving the same gift.
