With JānussoṇiJāṇussoṇisutta

Then the brahmin Jānussoṇi went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.Atha kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “We who are known as brahmins“Mayamassu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nāma. give gifts and perform memorial rites for the dead:Dānāni dema, saddhāni karoma: ‘May this gift aid my departed relatives and kin. May they partake of this gift.’‘idaṁ dānaṁ petānaṁ ñātisālohitānaṁ upakappatu, idaṁ dānaṁ petā ñātisālohitā paribhuñjantū’ti. But does this gift really aid departed relatives and kin?Kacci taṁ, bho gotama, dānaṁ petānaṁ ñātisālohitānaṁ upakappati; Do they actually partake of it?”kacci te petā ñātisālohitā taṁ dānaṁ paribhuñjantī”ti?

“It aids them if the conditions are right, brahmin, but not if the conditions are wrong.”“Ṭhāne kho, brāhmaṇa, upakappati, no aṭṭhāne”ti.

“Then, worthy Gotama, what are the right and wrong conditions?”“Katamaṁ pana, bho gotama, ṭhānaṁ, katamaṁ aṭṭhānan”ti?

“Brahmin, take someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view.“Idha, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, pisuṇavāco hoti, pharusavāco hoti, samphappalāpī hoti, abhijjhālu hoti, byāpannacitto hoti, micchādiṭṭhiko hoti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in hell.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā nirayaṁ upapajjati. There they survive feeding on the food of the hell beings.Yo nerayikānaṁ sattānaṁ āhāro, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati. The conditions there are wrong, so the gift does not aid the one who lives there.Idampi kho, brāhmaṇa, aṭṭhānaṁ yattha ṭhitassa taṁ dānaṁ na upakappati.

Take someone else who kills living creatures … and has wrong view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātī …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko hoti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the animal realm.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā tiracchānayoniṁ upapajjati. There they survive feeding on the food of the beings in the animal realm.Yo tiracchānayonikānaṁ sattānaṁ āhāro, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati. The conditions there too are wrong, so the gift does not aid the one who lives there.Idampi kho, brāhmaṇa, aṭṭhānaṁ yattha ṭhitassa taṁ dānaṁ na upakappati.

Take someone else who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or use speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. They're contented, kind-hearted, with right view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, anabhijjhālu hoti, abyāpannacitto hoti, sammādiṭṭhiko hoti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the human realm.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they survive feeding on human food.Yo manussānaṁ āhāro, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati. The conditions there too are wrong, so the gift does not aid the one who lives there.Idampi kho, brāhmaṇa, aṭṭhānaṁ yattha ṭhitassa taṁ dānaṁ na upakappati.

Take someone else who doesn’t kill living creatures … and has right view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko hoti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they survive feeding on the food of the gods.Yo devānaṁ āhāro, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati. The conditions there too are wrong, so the gift does not aid the one who lives there.Idampi, brāhmaṇa, aṭṭhānaṁ yattha ṭhitassa taṁ dānaṁ upakappati.

Take someone else who kills living creatures … and has wrong view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko hoti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the ghost realm.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā pettivisayaṁ upapajjati. There they survive feeding on the food of the beings in the ghost realm. Or else they survive feeding on what friends and colleagues, relatives and kin provide them with from here.Yo pettivesayikānaṁ sattānaṁ āhāro, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati, yaṁ vā panassa ito anuppavecchanti mittāmaccā vā ñātisālohitā vā, tena so tattha yāpeti, tena so tattha tiṭṭhati. The conditions there are right, so the gift aids the one who lives there.”Idaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ṭhānaṁ yattha ṭhitassa taṁ dānaṁ upakappatī”ti.

“But worthy Gotama, who partakes of that gift if the departed relative is not reborn in that place?”“Sace pana, bho gotama, so peto ñātisālohito taṁ ṭhānaṁ anupapanno hoti, ko taṁ dānaṁ paribhuñjatī”ti?

“Other departed relatives reborn there will partake of that gift.”“Aññepissa, brāhmaṇa, petā ñātisālohitā taṁ ṭhānaṁ upapannā honti, te taṁ dānaṁ paribhuñjantī”ti.

“But who partakes of the gift when neither that relative nor other relatives have been reborn in that place?”“Sace pana, bho gotama, so ceva peto ñātisālohito taṁ ṭhānaṁ anupapanno hoti aññepissa ñātisālohitā petā taṁ ṭhānaṁ anupapannā honti, ko taṁ dānaṁ paribhuñjatī”ti?

“It’s impossible, brahmin, it cannot happen that that place is vacant of departed relatives in all this long time.“Aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anavakāso yaṁ taṁ ṭhānaṁ vivittaṁ assa iminā dīghena addhunā yadidaṁ petehi ñātisālohitehi. It’s never fruitless for the donor.”Api ca, brāhmaṇa, dāyakopi anipphalo”ti.

“Does the worthy Gotama propose this even when the conditions are wrong?”“Aṭṭhānepi bhavaṁ gotamo parikappaṁ vadatī”ti?

“I propose this even when the conditions are wrong.“Aṭṭhānepi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, parikappaṁ vadāmi. Take someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view.Idha, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, pisuṇavāco hoti, pharusavāco hoti, samphappalāpī hoti, abhijjhālu hoti, byāpannacitto hoti, micchādiṭṭhiko hoti; They give to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.so dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of elephants.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hatthīnaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they get to have food and drink, garlands and various adornments.So tattha lābhī hoti annassa pānassa mālānānālaṅkārassa.

Since in this life they killed living creatures … and had wrong view, they were reborn in the company of elephants.Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, idha pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī pisuṇavāco pharusavāco samphappalāpī abhijjhālu byāpannacitto micchādiṭṭhiko, tena so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hatthīnaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Since they gave to ascetics or brahmins … they get to have food and drink, garlands and various adornments.Yañca kho so dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, tena so tattha lābhī hoti annassa pānassa mālānānālaṅkārassa.

Take someone else who kills living creatures … and has wrong view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko hoti. They give to ascetics or brahmins …So dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of horses. …So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā assānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati …pe… cattle …gunnaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati …pe… dogs.kukkurānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they get to have food and drink, garlands and various adornments.So tattha lābhī hoti annassa pānassa mālānānālaṅkārassa.

Since in this life they killed living creatures … and had wrong view, they were reborn in the company of dogs.Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, idha pāṇātipātī …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko, tena so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā kukkurānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Since they gave to ascetics or brahmins … they get to have food and drink, garlands and various adornments.Yañca kho so dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, tena so tattha lābhī hoti annassa pānassa mālānānālaṅkārassa.

Take someone else who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko hoti. They give to ascetics or brahmins …So dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the human realm.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they get to have the five kinds of human sensual stimulation.So tattha lābhī hoti mānusakānaṁ pañcannaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ.

Since in this life they didn’t kill living creatures … and had right view, they were reborn in the company of humans.Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, idha pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko, tena so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Since they gave to ascetics or brahmins … they get to have the five kinds of human sensual stimulation.Yañca kho so dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, tena so tattha lābhī hoti mānusakānaṁ pañcannaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ.

Take someone else who doesn’t kill living creatures … and has right view.Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko hoti. They give to ascetics or brahmins …So dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods.So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. There they get to have the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation.So tattha lābhī hoti dibbānaṁ pañcannaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ.

Since in this life they didn’t kill living creatures … and had right view, they were reborn in the company of the gods.Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, idha pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko, tena so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Since they gave to ascetics or brahmins … they get to have the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation.Yañca kho so dātā hoti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ, tena so tattha lābhī hoti dibbānaṁ pañcannaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ. It’s never fruitless for the donor.”Api ca, brāhmaṇa, dāyakopi anipphalo”ti.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing,“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. This is quite enough to justify giving gifts and performing memorial rites for the dead, since it’s never fruitless for the donor.”Yāvañcidaṁ, bho gotama, alameva dānāni dātuṁ, alaṁ saddhāni kātuṁ, yatra hi nāma dāyakopi anipphalo”ti.

“That’s so true, brahmin. It’s never fruitless for the donor.”“Evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa, dāyakopi hi, brāhmaṇa, anipphalo”ti.

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.