Sutta Nipāta 3.5
Translators: sujato
Anthology of Discourses 3.5
Māghasutta
With Māgha
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
Atha kho māgho māṇavo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then the brahmin student Māgha approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side,
Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
and said to the Buddha:
“Ahañhi, bho gotama, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo;
“I’m a giver, Mister Gotama, a donor; I am bountiful and committed to charity.
dhammena bhoge pariyesāmi;
I seek wealth in a principled manner,
dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammādhigatehi ekassapi dadāmi dvinnampi tiṇṇampi catunnampi pañcannampi channampi sattannampi aṭṭhannampi navannampi dasannampi dadāmi, vīsāyapi tiṁsāyapi cattālīsāyapi paññāsāyapi dadāmi, satassapi dadāmi, bhiyyopi dadāmi.
and with that legitimate wealth I give to one person, to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred people or even more.
Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavāmī”ti?
Giving and sacrificing like this, Mister Gotama, do I accrue much merit?”
“Taggha tvaṁ, māṇava, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavasi.
“Indeed you do, student.
Yo kho, māṇava, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo;
A giver or donor who is bountiful and committed to charity,
dhammena bhoge pariyesati;
who seeks wealth in a principled manner,
dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammādhigatehi ekassapi dadāti …pe… satassapi dadāti, bhiyyopi dadāti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pasavatī”ti.
and with that legitimate wealth gives to one person, or up to a hundred people or even more, accrues much merit.”
Atha kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi—
Then Māgha addressed the Buddha in verse:
“Pucchāmahaṁ gotamaṁ vadaññuṁ,
“I ask the bountiful Gotama,”
(iti māgho māṇavo)
said Māgha,
Kāsāyavāsiṁ agahaṁ carantaṁ;
“wearing an ochre robe, wandering homeless.
Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit.
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Giving food and drink to others here,
Kathaṁ hutaṁ yajamānassa sujjhe”.
how is their offering purifed?”
“Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
“Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,”
(māghāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
“makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
giving food and drink to others here:
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi”.
such a one would succeed due to those <j>who are worthy of donations.”
“Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
“Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,”
(iti māgho māṇavo)
said Māgha,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
“makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
giving food and drink to others here:
Akkhāhi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye”.
explain to me who is worthy of donations.”
“Ye ve asattā vicaranti loke,
“Those who wander the world unattached,
Akiñcanā kevalino yatattā;
consummate, restrained, owning nothing:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye sabbasaṁyojanabandhanacchidā,
Those who have cut off all fetters and bonds,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye sabbasaṁyojanavippamuttā,
Those who are released from all fetters,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
with defilements ended, <j>the spiritual journey completed:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yesu na māyā vasati na māno,
Those in whom dwells no deceit or conceit,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
with defilements ended, <j>the spiritual journey completed:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye vītalobhā amamā nirāsā,
Those rid of greed, unselfish, with no need for hope,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
with defilements ended, <j>the spiritual journey completed:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye ve na taṇhāsu upātipannā,
Those not fallen prey to cravings,
Vitareyya oghaṁ amamā caranti;
who, having crossed the flood, live unselfishly:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yesaṁ taṇhā natthi kuhiñci loke,
Those with no craving at all in the world
Bhavābhavāya idha vā huraṁ vā;
to any form of existence in this life or the next:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye kāme hitvā agahā caranti,
Those who have left sensuality behind, <j>wandering homeless,
Susaññatattā tasaraṁva ujjuṁ;
self-controlled, straight as a shuttle:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye vītarāgā susamāhitindriyā,
Those freed of greed, with senses stilled,
Candova rāhuggahaṇā pamuttā;
like the moon released from the eclipse:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Samitāvino vītarāgā akopā,
Those calm ones free of greed and anger,
Yesaṁ gatī natthidha vippahāya;
for whom there are no destinies, <j>being rid of them in this life:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Jahitvā jātimaraṇaṁ asesaṁ,
They’ve given up rebirth and death completely,
Kathaṅkathiṁ sabbamupātivattā;
and have gone beyond all doubt:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye attadīpā vicaranti loke,
Those who live as their own island,
Akiñcanā sabbadhi vippamuttā;
everywhere free, owning nothing:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Ye hettha jānanti yathā tathā idaṁ,
Those here who know this to be true:
Ayamantimā natthi punabbhavoti;
‘This is my last life, there are no future lives’:
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.
Yo vedagū jhānarato satīmā,
A knowledge master, loving absorption, mindful,
Sambodhipatto saraṇaṁ bahūnaṁ;
who has reached awakening and is a refuge for many:
Kālena tamhi habyaṁ pavecche,
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha”.
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.”
“Addhā amoghā mama pucchanā ahu,
“Clearly my questions were not in vain!”
(iti māgho māṇavo)
said Māgha,
Akkhāsi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye;
“The Buddha has explained to me <j>who is worthy of donations.
Tvañhettha jānāsi yathā tathā idaṁ,
You are the one here who knows this to be true,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo.
for truly you understand this matter.
Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
giving food and drink to others here:
Akkhāhi me bhagavā yaññasampadaṁ”.
explain to me how to accomplish the sacrifice.”
“Yajassu yajamāno,
“Sacrifice, and while doing so,”
(māghāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
Sabbattha ca vippasādehi cittaṁ;
“be clear and confident in every way.
Ārammaṇaṁ yajamānassa yañño,
Sacrifice is the ground standing upon which
Ettha patiṭṭhāya jahāti dosaṁ.
the sacrificer sheds their flaws.
So vītarāgo pavineyya dosaṁ,
One free of greed, rid of anger,
Mettaṁ cittaṁ bhāvayamappamāṇaṁ;
developing a heart of limitless love,
Rattindivaṁ satatamappamatto,
spreads that limitlessness in every direction,
Sabbā disā pharati appamaññaṁ”.
ever diligent day and night.”
“Ko sujjhati muccati bajjhatī ca,
“Who is purified, freed, awake?
Kenattanā gacchati brahmalokaṁ;
How can one go to the Brahmā realm oneself?
Ajānato me muni brūhi puṭṭho,
I do not know, so please tell me when asked,
Bhagavā hi me sakkhi brahmajjadiṭṭho;
for the Buddha is the Brahmā I see in person today!
Tuvañhi no brahmasamosi saccaṁ,
To us you are truly the equal of Brahmā.
Kathaṁ upapajjati brahmalokaṁ jutima”.
Splendid One, how is one reborn <j>in the Brahmā realm?”
“Yo yajati tividhaṁ yaññasampadaṁ,
“One who accomplishes the sacrifice <j>with three modes,”
(māghāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi;
“such a one would succeed <j>due to those who are worthy of donations.
Evaṁ yajitvā sammā yācayogo,
Sacrificing like this, one rightly committed to charity
Upapajjati brahmalokanti brūmī”ti.
is reborn in the Brahmā realm, I say.”
Evaṁ vutte, māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, the student Māgha said to the Buddha,
“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
“Excellent, Mister Gotama! Excellent! …
ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may Mister Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Māghasuttaṁ pañcamaṁ.