Rebirth by GivingDānūpapattisutta

“Mendicants, there are these eight rebirths by giving.“Aṭṭhimā, bhikkhave, dānūpapattiyo. What eight?Katamā aṭṭha?

First, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Whatever they give they expect back.So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati. They see a well-to-do aristocrat or brahmin or householder amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.So passati khattiyamahāsāle vā brāhmaṇamahāsāle vā gahapatimahāsāle vā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappite samaṅgībhūte paricārayamāne. It occurs to them:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of well-to-do aristocrats or brahmins or householders!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṁ vā brāhmaṇamahāsālānaṁ vā gahapatimahāsālānaṁ vā sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of well-to-do aristocrats or brahmins or householders.Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṁ vā brāhmaṇamahāsālānaṁ vā gahapatimahāsālānaṁ vā sahabyataṁ upapajjati. But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa. The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.

Next, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins …Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Whatever they give they expect back.So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The gods of the four great kings are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘cātumahārājikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. It occurs to them:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings!’ …‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings.Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa. The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.

Next, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins …Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Whatever they give they expect back.So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti— ‘The gods of the thirty-three …’tāvatiṁsā devā …pe…

‘The gods of Yama …’yāmā devā …

‘The joyful gods …’tusitā devā …

‘The gods who love to create …’nimmānaratī devā …

‘The gods who control what is created by others are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’paranimmitavasavattī devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti. It occurs to them:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others.Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa. The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.

Next, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ. Whatever they give they expect back.So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati. And they’ve heard:Tassa sutaṁ hoti: ‘The gods of the Divinity’s host are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’‘brahmakāyikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti. It occurs to them:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the Divinity’s host!’‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti. They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the Divinity’s host.Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa; And for those free of desire, not those with desire.vītarāgassa, no sarāgassa. The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their freedom from desire.Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi vītarāgattā.

These are the eight rebirths by giving.”Imā kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dānūpapattiyo”ti.