sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.32

Maccharisutta

Stinginess Stinginess

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

Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
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.
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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tameva bālaṁ phusati,
Afflict that fool
hurt the fool

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

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

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

Puññāni paralokasmiṁ,
The good deeds of sentient beings

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

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

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

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

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

esa dhammo sanantano.
This is an ancient principle.
This is an eternal truth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 devatā said to the Blessed One: “Which one,
Then another deity said to the Buddha,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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