GivingDānasutta

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

“There are, mendicants, these two gifts.“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni— A gift of things of the flesh and a gift of the teaching.āmisadānañca dhammadānañca. The better of these two gifts is the gift of the teaching.Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānaṁ.

There are these two kinds of sharing.Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā— Sharing things of the flesh and sharing the teaching.āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca. The better of these two kinds of sharing is sharing the teaching.Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo.

There are these two kinds of support.Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā— Support in things of the flesh and support in the teaching.āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca. The better of these two kinds of support is support in the teaching.”Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.

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

“It is said to be the supreme, ultimate gift,“Yamāhu dānaṁ paramaṁ anuttaraṁ, and the sharing praised by the Buddha;Yaṁ saṁvibhāgaṁ bhagavā avaṇṇayi; what wise and sensible person, <j>confident in the best of fields,Aggamhi khettamhi pasannacitto, would not sow a such timely gift?Viññū pajānaṁ ko na yajetha kāle.

For those who are diligent <j>in the dispensation of the Holy One,Ye ceva bhāsanti suṇanti cūbhayaṁ, both those who speak and those who listen,Pasannacittā sugatassa sāsane; confident in the dispensation of the Holy One,Tesaṁ so attho paramo visujjhati, such a gift purifies the highest goal.”Ye appamattā sugatassa sāsane”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.