Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.35

Translators: sujato

Numbered Discourses 8.35

4. Dānavagga
4. Giving

Dānūpapattisutta

Rebirth by Giving

“Aṭṭhimā, bhikkhave, dānūpapattiyo.
“Mendicants, there are these eight rebirths by giving.

Katamā aṭṭha?
What eight?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.
First, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati.
Whatever they give they expect back.

So passati khattiyamahāsāle vā brāhmaṇamahāsāle vā gahapatimahāsāle vā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappite samaṅgībhūte paricārayamāne.
They see a well-to-do aristocrat or brahmin or householder amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:
It occurs to them:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṁ vā brāhmaṇamahāsālānaṁ vā gahapatimahāsālānaṁ vā sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
‘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!’

So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.
They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.

Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati.
As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.

Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṁ vā brāhmaṇamahāsālānaṁ vā gahapatimahāsālānaṁ vā sahabyataṁ upapajjati.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of well-to-do aristocrats or brahmins or householders.

Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa.
But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.

Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.
The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.

So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati.
Whatever they give they expect back.

Tassa sutaṁ hoti:
And they’ve heard:

‘cātumahārājikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.
‘The gods of the four great kings are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’

Tassa evaṁ hoti:
It occurs to them:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings!’ …

So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati.

Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the four great kings.

Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa.
But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.

Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.
The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.

So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati.
Whatever they give they expect back.

Tassa sutaṁ hoti—
And they’ve heard:

tāvatiṁsā devā …pe…
‘The gods of the thirty-three …’

yāmā devā …
‘The gods of Yama …’

tusitā devā …
‘The joyful gods …’

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

paranimmitavasavattī devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulāti.
‘The gods who control what is imagined by others are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’

Tassa evaṁ hoti:
It occurs to them:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods who control what is imagined by others!’

So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.
They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.

Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati.
As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.

Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods who control what is imagined by others.

Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa.
But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.

Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā.
The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their purity.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco dānaṁ deti samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā annaṁ pānaṁ vatthaṁ yānaṁ mālāgandhavilepanaṁ seyyāvasathapadīpeyyaṁ.
Next, someone gives to ascetics or brahmins such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.

So yaṁ deti taṁ paccāsīsati.
Whatever they give they expect back.

Tassa sutaṁ hoti:
And they’ve heard:

‘brahmakāyikā devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā’ti.
‘The gods of the Divinity’s host are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’

Tassa evaṁ hoti:
It occurs to them:

‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.
‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the gods of the Divinity’s host!’

So taṁ cittaṁ dahati, taṁ cittaṁ adhiṭṭhāti, taṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.
They settle on that thought, stabilize it, and develop it.

Tassa taṁ cittaṁ hīne vimuttaṁ, uttari abhāvitaṁ, tatrūpapattiyā saṁvattati.
As they’ve settled for less and not developed further, their thought leads to rebirth there.

Kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.
When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of the Divinity’s host.

Tañca kho sīlavato vadāmi, no dussīlassa;
But I say that this is only for those of ethical conduct, not for the unethical.

vītarāgassa, no sarāgassa.
And for those free of desire, not those with desire.

Ijjhati, bhikkhave, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi vītarāgattā.
The heart’s wish of an ethical person succeeds because of their freedom from desire.

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

Pañcamaṁ.