Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
IV: Sumanā Vagga
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha
V. The Book of the Fives
IV. Sumanā
Sutta 37
Bhojana Suttaɱ
Food
Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
© 2012 Bhikkhu Bodhi
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[1][pts][than][olds] "Bhikkhus, a donor who gives food gives the recipients five things.
What five?
One gives life, beauty, happiness, strength, and discernment.
(1) Having given life, one partakes of life, whether celestial or human.
(2) Having given beauty, one partakes of beauty, whether celestial or human.
(3) Having given happiness, one partakes of happiness, whether celestial or human.
(4) Having given strength, one partakes of strength, whether celestial or human.
(5) Having given discernment, one partakes of discernment, whether celestial or human.
A donor who gives food gives the recipients these five things."
The wise one is a giver
of life, strength, beauty, and discernment.
The intelligent one is a donor of happiness
and in turn acquires happiness.
Having given life, strength, beauty,
happiness, and discernment,
one is long-lived and famous
wherever one is reborn.
