Majjhima Nikāya 142

Translators: sujato

Middle Discourses 142

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta

The Analysis of Religious Donations

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Atha kho mahāpajāpati gotamī navaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the Buddha bringing a new pair of garments. She bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha,

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.
“Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha.

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.
May the Buddha please accept this from me out of compassion.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:
When she said this, the Buddha said to her,

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.
“Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī.

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.
When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
For a second time …

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
For a third time, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Buddha,

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.
“Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha.

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.
May the Buddha please accept this from me out of compassion.”

Tatiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:
And for a third time, the Buddha said to her,

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.
“Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī.

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.
When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“paṭiggaṇhātu, bhante, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā navaṁ dussayugaṁ.
“Sir, please accept the new pair of garments from Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī.

Bahūpakārā, bhante, mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā;
Sir, Mahāpajāpatī was very helpful to the Buddha. As his aunt, she raised him, nurtured him, and gave him her milk.

bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.
When the Buddha’s birth mother passed away, she nurtured him at her own breast.

Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā.
And the Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā.
It is owing to the Buddha that Mahāpajāpatī has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā.
It’s owing to the Buddha that she refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying, and taking alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā, dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā.
It’s owing to the Buddha that she has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and has the ethics loved by the noble ones.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī dukkhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkhā.
It’s owing to the Buddha that she is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā”ti.
The Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.”

“Evametaṁ, ānanda.
“That’s so true, Ānanda.

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—
When someone has enabled you to go for refuge, it’s not easy to repay them

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.
by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with joined palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—
When someone has enabled you to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, it’s not easy to repay them …

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti, dhamme … saṅghe … ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—
When someone has enabled you to have experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and the ethics loved by the noble ones, it’s not easy to repay them …

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma dukkhe nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkho hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—
When someone has enabled you to be free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, it’s not easy to repay them

Cuddasa kho panimānanda, pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
Ānanda, there are these fourteen religious donations to individuals.

Katamā cuddasa?
What fourteen?

Tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

ayaṁ paṭhamā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the first religious donation to an individual.

Paccekasambuddhe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to an independent Buddha.

ayaṁ dutiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the second religious donation to an individual.

Tathāgatasāvake arahante dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to a perfected one.

ayaṁ tatiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the third religious donation to an individual.

Arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection.

ayaṁ catutthī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the fourth religious donation to an individual.

Anāgāmissa dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to a non-returner.

ayaṁ pañcamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the fifth religious donation to an individual.

Anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return.

ayaṁ chaṭṭhī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the sixth religious donation to an individual.

Sakadāgāmissa dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to a once-returner.

ayaṁ sattamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the seventh religious donation to an individual.

Sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return.

ayaṁ aṭṭhamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the eighth religious donation to an individual.

Sotāpanne dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to a stream-enterer.

ayaṁ navamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the ninth religious donation to an individual.

Sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry.

ayaṁ dasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the tenth religious donation to an individual.

Bāhirake kāmesu vītarāge dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to an outsider who is free of sensual desire.

ayaṁ ekādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the eleventh religious donation to an individual.

Puthujjanasīlavante dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has good ethical conduct.

ayaṁ dvādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the twelfth religious donation to an individual.

Puthujjanadussīle dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has bad ethical conduct.

ayaṁ terasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.
This is the thirteenth religious donation to an individual.

Tiracchānagate dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to an animal.

ayaṁ cuddasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇāti.
This is the fourteenth religious donation to an individual.

Tatrānanda, tiracchānagate dānaṁ datvā sataguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, puthujjanadussīle dānaṁ datvā sahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, puthujjanasīlavante dānaṁ datvā satasahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, bāhirake kāmesu vītarāge dānaṁ datvā koṭisatasahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ datvā asaṅkheyyā appameyyā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, ko pana vādo sotāpanne, ko pana vādo sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo sakadāgāmissa, ko pana vādo anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo anāgāmissa, ko pana vādo arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo arahante, ko pana vādo paccekasambuddhe, ko pana vādo tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe.
Now, Ānanda, gifts to the following persons may be expected to yield the following returns. To an animal, a hundred times. To an unethical ordinary person, a thousand. To an ethical ordinary person, a hundred thousand. To an outsider free of sensual desire, 10,000,000,000. But a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry may be expected to yield incalculable, immeasurable returns. How much more so a gift to a stream-enterer, someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return, a once-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return, a non-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection, a perfected one, or an independent Buddha? How much more so a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha?

Satta kho panimānanda, saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
But there are, Ānanda, seven religious donations bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Katamā satta?
What seven?

Buddhappamukhe ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns headed by the Buddha.

ayaṁ paṭhamā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the first religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Tathāgate parinibbute ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns after the Buddha has finally become extinguished.

ayaṁ dutiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the second religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Bhikkhusaṅghe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of monks.

ayaṁ tatiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the third religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Bhikkhunisaṅghe dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of nuns.

ayaṁ catutthī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the fourth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

‘Ettakā me bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks and nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’

ayaṁ pañcamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the fifth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

‘Ettakā me bhikkhū saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks for me from the Saṅgha.’

ayaṁ chaṭṭhī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the sixth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

‘Ettakā me bhikkhuniyo saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—
One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’

ayaṁ sattamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.
This is the seventh religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Bhavissanti kho panānanda, anāgatamaddhānaṁ gotrabhuno kāsāvakaṇṭhā dussīlā pāpadhammā.
In times to come there will be members of the spiritual family merely by virtue of wearing ocher cloth around their necks; but they are unethical and of bad character.

Tesu dussīlesu saṅghaṁ uddissa dānaṁ dassanti.
People will give gifts to those unethical people in the name of the Saṅgha.

Tadāpāhaṁ, ānanda, saṅghagataṁ dakkhiṇaṁ asaṅkheyyaṁ appameyyaṁ vadāmi.
Even then, I say, a religious donation bestowed on the Saṅgha is incalculable and immeasurable.

Na tvevāhaṁ, ānanda, kenaci pariyāyena saṅghagatāya dakkhiṇāya pāṭipuggalikaṁ dānaṁ mahapphalataraṁ vadāmi.
But I say that there is no way a personal offering can be more fruitful than one bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Catasso kho imā, ānanda, dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo.
Ānanda, there are these four ways of purifying a religious donation.

Katamā catasso?
What four?

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.
There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the giver, not the recipient.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.
There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the recipient, not the giver.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.
There’s a religious donation that’s purified by neither the giver nor the recipient.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.
There’s a religious donation that’s purified by both the giver and the recipient.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato?
And how is a religious donation purified by the giver, not the recipient?

Idhānanda, dāyako hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—
It’s when the giver is ethical, of good character, but the recipient is unethical, of bad character.

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato?
And how is a religious donation purified by the recipient, not the giver?

Idhānanda, dāyako hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—
It’s when the giver is unethical, of bad character, but the recipient is ethical, of good character.

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato?
And how is a religious donation purified by neither the giver nor the recipient?

Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—
It’s when both the giver and the recipient are unethical, of bad character.

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca?
And how is a religious donation purified by both the giver and the recipient?

Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—
It’s when both the giver and the recipient are ethical, of good character.

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.

Imā kho, ānanda, catasso dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo”ti.
These are the four ways of purifying a religious donation.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Yo sīlavā dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,
“When an ethical person with trusting heart

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;
gives a proper gift to unethical persons,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,
trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Sā dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati.
that offering is purified by the giver.

Yo dussīlo sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,
When an unethical and untrusting person,

Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;
gives an improper gift to ethical persons,

Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,
not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Sā dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati.
that offering is purified by the receivers.

Yo dussīlo dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,
When an unethical and untrusting person,

Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;
gives an improper gift to unethical persons,

Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,
not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Na taṁ dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.
I declare that gift is not very fruitful.

Yo sīlavā sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,
When an ethical person with trusting heart

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;
gives a proper gift to ethical persons,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,
trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Taṁ ve dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.
I declare that gift is abundantly fruitful.

Yo vītarāgo vītarāgesu dadāti dānaṁ,
But when a passionless one gives to the passionless

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;
a proper gift with trusting heart,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,
trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Taṁ ve dānaṁ āmisadānānamaggan”ti.
that’s truly the best of material gifts.”

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dvādasamaṁ.

Vibhaṅgavaggo niṭṭhito catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Bhaddekānandakaccāna,

Lomasakaṅgiyāsubho;

Mahākammasaḷāyatanavibhaṅgā,

Uddesaaraṇā dhātu saccaṁ.

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasuttanti.