sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.33

Sādhusutta

Good Good

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Savatthi.
At Sāvatthī.

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 udānaṁ udānesi:
Then one devatā, standing to one side, uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

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 imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.
And further: Even when there’s little, giving is good.
Even when one has little, giving is good.

Appasmeke pavecchanti,
“Some provide from what 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 imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Even when there’s little, giving is good.
Even when one has little, giving is good.

Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
And further: When done with faith too, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu;
“Giving and warfare are similar, they say:
Giving and warfare are similar, they say,

Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti,
A few good ones conquer many.
for even a few of the good may conquer the many.

Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti;
If one with faith gives even a little,
If a faithful person gives even a little,

Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.
He thereby becomes happy in the other world. ”
it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Even when there’s little, giving is good.
Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
When done with faith too, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.
And further: The gift of a righteous gain is also good.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ,
“When he gives a gift of a righteous gain
A man who gives legitimate wealth,

Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu;
Obtained by exertion and energy,
earned by his efforts and initiative,

Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,
Having passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇi River,
has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇi River;

Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco”ti.
That mortal arrives at celestial states. ”
that mortal arrives at celestial fields.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Even when there’s little, giving is good.
Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
When done with faith too, giving is good;
And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;
The gift of a righteous gain is also good.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.
And further: Giving discriminately too is good.
And it’s also good to give intelligently.

Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,
“Giving discriminately is praised by the Fortunate One—
The Holy One praises giving intelligently

Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke;
To those worthy of offerings
to those worthy of offerings here <j>in the world of the living.

Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,
What is given to them bears great fruit
What’s given to these is very fruitful,

Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette”ti.
Like seeds sown in a fertile field. ”
like seeds sown in a fertile field.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
“Good is giving, dear sir!
“Good, sir, is giving!

Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Even when there’s little, giving is good.
Even when one has little, giving is good.

Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
When done with faith too, giving is good;
And it’s also good to give out of faith.

Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;
The gift of a righteous gain is also good.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ,
Giving with discretion too is good.
And it’s also good to give intelligently.

Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.
And further: Restraint towards living beings is also good.
And it’s also good to be restrained <j>when it comes to living creatures.

Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ,
“One who fares harming no living beings
One who lives without harming any living being

Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;
Does no evil from fear of others’ censure.
never does bad because of others’ blame;

Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ,
In that they praise the timid, not the brave,
for in that case they praise the coward, not the brave;

Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti.
For out of fear the good do no evil. ”
and the virtuous never do bad out of fear.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then another devatā said to the Blessed One:
Then another deity said to the Buddha,

“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
“Which one, 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.
“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ,
“Surely giving is praised in many ways,
It’s true that giving is praised in many ways

Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo;
But the path of Dhamma surpasses giving.
but the path of the teaching is better than giving,

Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,
For in the past and even long ago,
for in days old and older still,

Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.
The good and wise ones attained Nibbāna. ”
the wise and virtuous even attained extinction.”