GoodSādhusutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Because of stinginess and negligencemaccherā ca pamādā ca; a gift is not given.Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati, Wanting merit,puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena; a smart person would give.”Deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Even when one has little, giving is good.Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.

Some who have little are happy to provide,Appasmeke pavecchanti, while some who have much don’t wish to give.bahuneke na dicchare; An offering given from littleAppasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā, is multiplied a thousand times.”sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Even when one has little, giving is good.Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give out of faith.Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Giving and warfare are similar, they say,Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu; for even a few of the good may conquer the many.Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti, If a faithful person gives even a little,Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti; it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.”Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Even when one has little, giving is good.Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give out of faith.Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.

A personage who gives legitimate wealth,Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ, earned by his efforts and initiative,Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu; has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River;Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa, that mortal arrives at celestial fields.”Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Even when one has little, giving is good.Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give out of faith.Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give intelligently.Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.

The Holy One praises giving intelligentlyViceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ, to those worthy of offerings here <j>in the world of the living.Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke; What’s given to these is very fruitful,Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni, like seeds sown in a fertile field.”Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Good, good fellow, is giving!“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, Even when one has little, giving is good.Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give out of faith.Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; And it’s also good to give intelligently.Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ, And it’s also good to be restrained <j>when it comes to living creatures.Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.

One who lives without harming any living beingYo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ, does no bad because of others’ blame.Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ; Were that the case they praise the coward, not the brave;Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ, for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.”Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti.

Then another deity said to the Buddha,Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, who has spoken well?”“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?

“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—

A gift of faith is praised in many ways,Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ, but a passage of teaching is better than giving,Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo; for the virtuous, in days old and older still,Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo, even attained extinction with wisdom.”Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.