From:
Sutta NipÄta 3.5 Anthology of Discourses 3.5
MÄghasutta With MÄgha
Evaį¹ me sutaį¹āSo I have heard.
ekaį¹ samayaį¹ bhagavÄ rÄjagahe viharati gijjhakÅ«į¹e pabbate. At one time the Buddha was staying near RÄjagaha, on the Vultureās Peak Mountain.
Atha kho mÄgho mÄį¹avo yena bhagavÄ tenupasaį¹
kami; upasaį¹
kamitvÄ bhagavatÄ saddhiį¹ sammodi. Then the student MÄgha approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.
SammodanÄ«yaį¹ kathaį¹ sÄraį¹Ä«yaį¹ vÄ«tisÄretvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«di. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side,
Ekamantaį¹ nisinno kho mÄgho mÄį¹avo bhagavantaį¹ etadavoca: and said to the Buddha:
āAhaƱhi, bho gotama, dÄyako dÄnapati vadaĆ±Ć±Å« yÄcayogo; āIām a giver, worthy Gotama, a donor; I am bountiful and committed to charity.
dhammena bhoge pariyesÄmi; I seek wealth in a principled manner,
dhammena bhoge pariyesitvÄ dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammÄdhigatehi ekassapi dadÄmi dvinnampi tiį¹į¹ampi catunnampi paƱcannampi channampi sattannampi aį¹į¹hannampi navannampi dasannampi dadÄmi, vÄ«sÄyapi tiį¹sÄyapi cattÄlÄ«sÄyapi paƱƱÄsÄyapi dadÄmi, satassapi dadÄmi, bhiyyopi dadÄmi. and with that legitimate wealth I give to one person, to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred people or even more.
KaccÄhaį¹, bho gotama, evaį¹ dadanto evaį¹ yajanto bahuį¹ puƱƱaį¹ pasavÄmÄ«āti? Giving and sacrificing like this, worthy Gotama, do I accrue much merit?ā
āTaggha tvaį¹, mÄį¹ava, evaį¹ dadanto evaį¹ yajanto bahuį¹ puƱƱaį¹ pasavasi. āIndeed you do, student.
Yo kho, mÄį¹ava, dÄyako dÄnapati vadaĆ±Ć±Å« yÄcayogo; A giver or donor who is bountiful and committed to charity,
dhammena bhoge pariyesati; who seeks wealth in a principled manner,
dhammena bhoge pariyesitvÄ dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammÄdhigatehi ekassapi dadÄti ā¦peā¦ satassapi dadÄti, bhiyyopi dadÄti, bahuį¹ so puƱƱaį¹ pasavatÄ«āti. and with that legitimate wealth gives to one person, or up to a hundred people or even more, accrues much merit.ā
Atha kho mÄgho mÄį¹avo bhagavantaį¹ gÄthÄya ajjhabhÄsiāThen MÄgha addressed the Buddha in verse:
āPucchÄmahaį¹ gotamaį¹ vadaƱƱuį¹, āI ask the bountiful Gotama,ā
(iti mÄgho mÄį¹avo) said MÄgha,
KÄsÄyavÄsiį¹ agahaį¹ carantaį¹; āwearing an ochre robe, wandering homeless.
Yo yÄcayogo dÄnapati gahaį¹į¹ho, Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
PuƱƱatthiko yajati puƱƱapekkho; makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit.
Dadaį¹ paresaį¹ idha annapÄnaį¹, Giving food and drink to others here,
Kathaį¹ hutaį¹ yajamÄnassa sujjheā. how is their offering purifed?ā
āYo yÄcayogo dÄnapati gahaį¹į¹ho, āSuppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,ā
(mÄghÄti bhagavÄ) replied the Buddha,
PuƱƱatthiko yajati puƱƱapekkho; āmakes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaį¹ paresaį¹ idha annapÄnaį¹, giving food and drink to others here:
ÄrÄdhaye dakkhiį¹eyyebhi tÄdiā. such a one would succeed due to those who are worthy of donations.ā
āYo yÄcayogo dÄnapati gahaį¹į¹ho, āSuppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,ā
(iti mÄgho mÄį¹avo) said MÄgha,
PuƱƱatthiko yajati puƱƱapekkho; āmakes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaį¹ paresaį¹ idha annapÄnaį¹, giving food and drink to others here:
AkkhÄhi me bhagavÄ dakkhiį¹eyyeā. explain to me who is worthy of donations.ā
āYe ve asattÄ vicaranti loke, āThose who wander the world unattached,
AkiƱcanÄ kevalino yatattÄ; consummate, self-controlled, owning nothing:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye sabbasaį¹yojanabandhanacchidÄ, Those who have cut off all fetters and bonds,
DantÄ vimuttÄ anÄ«ghÄ nirÄsÄ; tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye sabbasaį¹yojanavippamuttÄ, Those who are released from all fetters,
DantÄ vimuttÄ anÄ«ghÄ nirÄsÄ; tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
RÄgaƱca dosaƱca pahÄya mohaį¹, Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,
KhÄ«į¹ÄsavÄ vÅ«sitabrahmacariyÄ; with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yesu na mÄyÄ vasati na mÄno, Those in whom dwells no deceit or conceit,
KhÄ«į¹ÄsavÄ vÅ«sitabrahmacariyÄ; with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye vÄ«talobhÄ amamÄ nirÄsÄ, Those rid of greed, unselfish, with no need for hope,
KhÄ«į¹ÄsavÄ vÅ«sitabrahmacariyÄ; with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye ve na taį¹hÄsu upÄtipannÄ, Those not fallen prey to cravings,
Vitareyya oghaį¹ amamÄ caranti; who, having crossed the flood, live unselfishly:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yesaį¹ taį¹hÄ natthi kuhiƱci loke, Those with no craving at all in the world
BhavÄbhavÄya idha vÄ huraį¹ vÄ; for any state of existence in this life or the next:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye kÄme hitvÄ agahÄ caranti, Those who have left sensuality behind, wandering homeless,
SusaƱƱatattÄ tasaraį¹va ujjuį¹; self-controlled, straight as a shuttle:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye vÄ«tarÄgÄ susamÄhitindriyÄ, Those freed of greed, with senses stilled,
Candova rÄhuggahaį¹Ä pamuttÄ; like the moon released from the eclipse:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
SamitÄvino vÄ«tarÄgÄ akopÄ, Those calm ones free of greed and anger,
Yesaį¹ gatÄ« natthidha vippahÄya; for whom there are no destinies, being rid of them in this life:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
JahitvÄ jÄtimaraį¹aį¹ asesaį¹, Theyāve given up rebirth and death completely,
Kathaį¹
kathiį¹ sabbamupÄtivattÄ; and have gone beyond all indecision:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye attadÄ«pÄ vicaranti loke, Those who live as their own island,
AkiƱcanÄ sabbadhi vippamuttÄ; everywhere free, owning nothing:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye hettha jÄnanti yathÄ tathÄ idaį¹, Those here who know this to be true:
AyamantimÄ natthi punabbhavoti; āThis is my last life, there are no future livesā:
KÄlena tesu habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajetha. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yo vedagÅ« jhÄnarato satÄ«mÄ, A knowledge master, loving absorption, mindful,
Sambodhipatto saraį¹aį¹ bahÅ«naį¹; who has reached awakening and is a refuge for many:
KÄlena tamhi habyaį¹ pavecche, that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brÄhmaį¹o puƱƱapekkho yajethaā. should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.ā
āAddhÄ amoghÄ mama pucchanÄ ahu, āClearly my questions were not in vain!ā
(iti mÄgho mÄį¹avo) said MÄgha,
AkkhÄsi me bhagavÄ dakkhiį¹eyye; āThe Buddha has explained to me who is worthy of donations.
TvaƱhettha jÄnÄsi yathÄ tathÄ idaį¹, You are the one here who knows this to be true,
TathÄ hi te vidito esa dhammo. for truly you understand this matter.
Yo yÄcayogo dÄnapati gahaį¹į¹ho, Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
PuƱƱatthiko yajati puƱƱapekkho; makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaį¹ paresaį¹ idha annapÄnaį¹, giving food and drink to others here:
AkkhÄhi me bhagavÄ yaƱƱasampadaį¹ā. explain to me how to accomplish the sacrifice.ā
āYajassu yajamÄno, āSacrifice, and while doing so,ā
(mÄghÄti bhagavÄ) replied the Buddha,
Sabbattha ca vippasÄdehi cittaį¹; ābe clear and confident in every way.
Ärammaį¹aį¹ yajamÄnassa yaƱƱo, Sacrifice is the ground standing upon which
Ettha patiį¹į¹hÄya jahÄti dosaį¹. the sacrificer sheds their flaws.
So vÄ«tarÄgo pavineyya dosaį¹, One free of greed, rid of anger,
Mettaį¹ cittaį¹ bhÄvayamappamÄį¹aį¹; developing a heart of limitless love,
Rattindivaį¹ satatamappamatto, spreads that limitlessness in every direction,
SabbÄ disÄ pharati appamaƱƱaį¹ā. ever diligent day and night.ā
āKo sujjhati muccati bajjhatÄ« ca, āWho is purified, freed, awake?
KenattanÄ gacchati brahmalokaį¹; How can one go to the realm of divinity oneself?
AjÄnato me muni brÅ«hi puį¹į¹ho, I do not know, so please tell me when asked,
BhagavÄ hi me sakkhi brahmajjadiį¹į¹ho; for the Buddha is the divinity I see in person today!
TuvaƱhi no brahmasamosi saccaį¹, To us you are truly the equal of divinity.
Kathaį¹ upapajjati brahmalokaį¹ jutimaā. Splendid One, how is one reborn in the realm of divinity?ā
āYo yajati tividhaį¹ yaƱƱasampadaį¹, āOne who accomplishes the sacrifice with three modes,ā
(mÄghÄti bhagavÄ) replied the Buddha,
ÄrÄdhaye dakkhiį¹eyyebhi tÄdi; āsuch a one would succeed due to those who are worthy of donations.
Evaį¹ yajitvÄ sammÄ yÄcayogo, Sacrificing like this, one rightly committed to charity
Upapajjati brahmalokanti brÅ«mÄ«āti. is reborn in the realm of divinity, I say.ā
Evaį¹ vutte, mÄgho mÄį¹avo bhagavantaį¹ etadavoca: When he had spoken, the student MÄgha said to the Buddha,
āabhikkantaį¹, bho gotama ā¦peā¦ āExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! ā¦
ajjatagge pÄį¹upetaį¹ saraį¹aį¹ gatanāti. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.ā
MÄghasuttaį¹ paƱcamaį¹.