GivingDānasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, if sentient beings only knew, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess would not occupy their minds.“Evañce, bhikkhave, sattā jāneyyuṁ dānasaṁvibhāgassa vipākaṁ yathāhaṁ jānāmi, na adatvā bhuñjeyyuṁ, na ca nesaṁ maccheramalaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭheyya. They would not eat without sharing even their last mouthful, their last morsel, so long as there was someone to receive it.Yopi nesaṁ assa carimo ālopo carimaṁ kabaḷaṁ, tatopi na asaṁvibhajitvā bhuñjeyyuṁ, sace nesaṁ paṭiggāhakā assu. It is because sentient beings do not know, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, that they eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess occupies their minds.”Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sattā na evaṁ jānanti dānasaṁvibhāgassa vipākaṁ yathāhaṁ jānāmi, tasmā adatvā bhuñjanti, maccheramalañca nesaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“If sentient beings only knew“Evañce sattā jāneyyuṁ, how great is the fruityathāvuttaṁ mahesinā; of giving and sharingVipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa, as taught by the great seer!yathā hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Rid of the stain of stinginess,Vineyya maccheramalaṁ, with clear and confident heart,vippasannena cetasā; they would duly give to the noble ones,Dajjuṁ kālena ariyesu, where a gift is very fruitful.yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.

Having given food in abundanceAnnañca datvā bahuno, to those worthy of a religious donation,dakkhiṇeyyesu dakkhiṇaṁ; after passing from the human realm,Ito cutā manussattā, the givers go to heaven.saggaṁ gacchanti dāyakā.

And when they have arrived there in heaven,Te ca saggagatā tattha, they enjoy all the pleasures they desire.modanti kāmakāmino; The generous enjoy theVipākaṁ saṁvibhāgassa, fruit of giving and sharing.”anubhonti amaccharā”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.