sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.32

Maccharisutta

Stinginess Stinginess

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapiṇḍika’s Park.

Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the Satullapa Group, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Then, when the night had advanced, a number of devatās belonging to the Satullapa host, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’ s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Standing to one side, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
Then one devatā, standing to one side, recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Maccherā ca pamādā ca,
“Because of stinginess and negligence
“Through stinginess and negligence

evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati;
a gift is not given.
A gift is not given.

Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena,
Wanting merit,
One who knows, desiring merit,

deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.
a smart person would give.”
Should surely give a gift. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Then another devatā recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Yasseva bhīto na dadāti maccharī,
“When a miser fails to give because of fear,
“That which the miser fears when he does not give

Tadevādadato bhayaṁ;
the very thing they’re afraid of comes to pass.
Is the very danger that comes to the nongiver.

Jighacchā ca pipāsā ca,
The hunger and thirst
The hunger and thirst

Yassa bhāyati maccharī;
that a miser fears
that the miser fears

Tameva bālaṁ phusati,
hurt the fool
Afflict that fool

Asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.
in this world and the next.
in this world and the next.

Tasmā vineyya maccheraṁ,
So you should dispel stinginess,
“Therefore, having removed stinginess,

dajjā dānaṁ malābhibhū;
overcoming that stain, and give a gift.
The conqueror of the stain should give a gift.

Puññāni paralokasmiṁ,
The good deeds of sentient beings

patiṭṭhā honti pāṇinan”ti.
support them in the next world.”
Deeds of merit are the support for living beings

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Then another devatā recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Te matesu na mīyanti,
“Among the dead they do not die,
“They do not die among the dead

panthānaṁva sahabbajaṁ;
those who, like fellow travelers on the road,
Who, like fellow travellers on the road,

Appasmiṁ ye pavecchanti,
are happy to provide, though they have but little.
Provide though they have but a little:

esa dhammo sanantano.
This is an ancient teaching.
This is an ancient principle.

Appasmeke pavecchanti,
Some who have little are happy to provide,
“Some provide from the little they have,

bahuneke na dicchare;
while some who have much don’t wish to give.
Others who are affluent don’t like to give.

Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,
An offering given from little
An offering given from what little one has

sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.
is multiplied a thousand times.”
Is worth a thousand times its value.

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Then another devatā recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Duddadaṁ dadamānānaṁ,
“Giving what’s hard to give,
Who give what is hard to give

dukkaraṁ kamma kubbataṁ;
doing what’s hard to do;
And do deeds hard to do:

Asanto nānukubbanti,
the wicked don’t act like this,
“The bad do not emulate the good,

sataṁ dhammo duranvayo.
for the teaching of the good is hard to follow.
The Dhamma of the good is hard to follow.

Tasmā satañca asataṁ,
That’s why the virtuous and the wicked
Differs for the good and the bad:

nānā hoti ito gati;
have different destinations after here.
The bad go to hell, The good are bound for heaven.

Asanto nirayaṁ yanti,
The wicked go to hell,
”

santo saggaparāyanā”ti.
while the virtuous are bound for heaven.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike etadavoca:
Then another deity said to the Buddha,
Then another devatā said to the Blessed One: “Which one,

“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
“Sir, who has spoken well?”
Blessed One, has spoken well?”

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

Dhammaṁ care yopi samuñjakaṁ care,
A hundred thousand people <j>making a thousand sacrifices
“If one practises the Dhamma Though getting on by gleaning,

Dārañca posaṁ dadamappakasmiṁ;
isn’t worth a fraction
If while one supports one’s wife One gives from the little one has,

Sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
of one who lives rightly, wandering for gleanings,
Then a hundred thousand offerings Of those who sacrifice a thousand

Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
or one who supports their partner <j>from what little they have.”
Are not worth even a fraction Of the gift of one like him. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then another deity addressed the Buddha in verse:
Then another devatā addressed the Blessed One in verse:

“Kenesa yañño vipulo mahaggato,
“Why doesn’t that sacrifice of theirs, so abundant and magnificent,
“Why does their sacrifice, vast and grand,

Samena dinnassa na agghameti;
equal the value of a moral person’s gift?
Not share the value of the righteous one’s gift?

Kathaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
How is it that a hundred thousand people <j>making a thousand sacrifices
Why are a hundred thousand offerings

Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
isn’t worth a fraction <j>of what’s offered by such a person?”
Of those who sacrifice a thousand Not worth even a fraction Of the gift of one like him?”

“Dadanti heke visame niviṭṭhā,
“Some give based on immorality—
“Since they give while settled in unrighteousness,

Chetvā vadhitvā atha socayitvā;
after injuring, killing, and tormenting.
Having slain and killed, causing sorrow,

Sā dakkhiṇā assumukhā sadaṇḍā,
Such an offering—tearful, violent—
Their offering—tearful, fraught with violence—

Samena dinnassa na agghameti.
in no way equals the value of a moral person’s gift.
Shares not the value of the righteous one’s gift.

Evaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
That’s how it is that a hundred thousand people <j>making a thousand sacrifices
That is why a hundred thousand offerings

Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te”ti.
isn’t worth a fraction <j>of what’s offered by such a person.”
Of those who sacrifice a thousand Are not worth even a fraction Of the gift of one like him.