1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

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.

Standing to one side, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

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2“Because of stinginess and negligence
a gift is not given.
Wanting merit,
a smart person would give.”

3Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

4“When a miser fails to give because of fear,
the very thing they’re afraid of comes to pass.
The hunger and thirst
that a miser fears
hurt the fool
in this world and the next.

5So you should dispel stinginess,
overcoming that stain, and give a gift.
The good deeds of sentient beings
support them in the next world.”

6Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

7“Among the dead they do not die,
those who, like fellow travelers on the road,
are happy to provide, though they have but little.
This is an ancient principle.

8Some who have little are happy to provide,
while some who have much don’t wish to give.
An offering given from little
is multiplied a thousand times.”

9Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

10“Giving what’s hard to give,
doing what’s hard to do;
the wicked don’t act like this,
for the teaching of the good is hard to follow.

11That’s why the virtuous and the wicked
have different destinations after leaving this place.
The wicked go to hell,
while the virtuous are bound for heaven.”

12Then another deity said to the Buddha: “Sir, who has spoken well?”

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13“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

14A hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices
isn’t worth a fraction
of one who lives rightly, wandering for gleanings,
or one who supports their partner from what little they have.”

105Then another deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

16“Why doesn’t that sacrifice of theirs, so abundant and magnificent,
equal the value of a moral person’s gift?
How is it that a hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices
isn’t worth a fraction of what’s offered by such a person?”

17 “Some give based on immorality —
after injuring, killing, and tormenting.
Such an offering — tearful, violent —
in no way equals the value of a moral person’s gift.

That’s how it is that a hundred thousand people making a thousand sacrifices
isn’t worth a fraction of what’s offered by such a person.”

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

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

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi: 

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2"Maccherā ca pamādā ca,
evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati;
Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena,
deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā"ti.

3Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: 

4"Yasseva bhīto na dadāti maccharī,
Tadevādadato bhayaṁ;
Jighacchā ca pipāsā ca,
Yassa bhāyati maccharī;
Tameva bālaṁ phusati,
Asmiṁ loke paramhi ca.

5Tasmā vineyya maccheraṁ,
dajjā dānaṁ malābhibhū;
Puññāni paralokasmiṁ,
patiṭṭhā honti pāṇinan"ti.

6Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: 

7"Te matesu na mīyanti,
panthānaṁva sahabbajaṁ;
Appasmiṁ ye pavecchanti,
esa dhammo sanantano.

8Appasmeke pavecchanti,
bahuneke na dicchare;
Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,
sahassena samaṁ mitā"ti.

9Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: 

10"Duddadaṁ dadamānānaṁ,
dukkaraṁ kamma kubbataṁ;
Asanto nānukubbanti,
sataṁ dhammo duranvayo.

11Tasmā satañca asataṁ,
nānā hoti ito gati;
Asanto nirayaṁ yanti,
santo saggaparāyanā"ti.

12Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike etadavoca: "kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan"ti?

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13"Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena; api ca mamapi suṇātha – 

14Dhammaṁ care yopi samuñjakaṁ care,
Dārañca posaṁ dadamappakasmiṁ;
Sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te"ti.

15Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 

16"Kenesa yañño vipulo mahaggato,
Samena dinnassa na agghameti;
Kathaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te"ti.

17"Dadanti heke visame niviṭṭhā,
Chetvā vadhitvā atha socayitvā;
Sā dakkhiṇā assumukhā sadaṇḍā,
Samena dinnassa na agghameti.

Evaṁ sataṁ sahassānaṁ sahassayāginaṁ,
Kalampi nāgghanti tathāvidhassa te"ti.