Aṇguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
IV. Sumanā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
IV: Sumanā
Sutta 36
Kāla-Dāna Suttaṃ
The Timely Gift
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, there are these five timely[1] gifts.
What five?
One gives to the new-comer;
to one going away;
to the sick;
when food is hard to get;
the first-fruits of field and orchard[2] he first sets before the virtuous.
Monks, these are the five timely gifts.
Timely, unstinting give the very wise,
Hie affable; their timely gift to such
As they[3] — the noble upright Ariyan men —
Is a rich offering[4] that brings man peace;[5]
Nor they who laud,[6] nor they who do the deed
Lack offering, but both in merit share.
Give without let of mind where great the fruit,
For living things (such) meritorious deeds
Are in another world a footing sure.'
[1] Kāla. Comy. glosses: yutta-, patta-, anucchavika-.
[2] Nava-sassāni, -phalāni. Comy. ārāmato ...
[3] Tādino. Tādī is a term of reverence that came to be given to Founder and to arahants.
[4] Dakkhiṇā, among brāhmans, a sacrificial gift.
[5] Cf. verse 297 at J. i, 93.
[6] Anumodanti. Comy. ekamante ṭhitā anumodanti (cf. 'They also, serve who only stand and wait.')
