1At Sāvatthī.

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 was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

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

3Then another deity was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

4“Good, sir, is giving!
Even when one has little, giving is good.

5Some 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.”

6Then another deity was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

7“Good, sir, is giving!
Even when one has little, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.
Giving and warfare are similar, they say,
for even a few of the good may conquer the many.
If a faithful person gives even a little,
it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.”

8Then another deity was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

9“Good, sir, is giving!
Even when one has little, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

10A man who gives legitimate wealth,
earned by his efforts and initiative,
has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇi River;
that mortal arrives at celestial fields.”

11Then another deity was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

12“Good, sir, is giving!
Even when one has little, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.
And it’s also good to give intelligently.

13The Holy One praises giving intelligently
to those worthy of offerings here in the world of the living.
What’s given to these is very fruitful,
like seeds sown in a fertile field.”

14Then another deity was inspired to exclaim in the Buddha’s presence:

15“Good, sir, is giving!
Even when one has little, giving is good.
And it’s also good to give out of faith.
And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.
And it’s also good to give intelligently.
And it’s also good to be restrained when it comes to living creatures.

16One who lives without harming any living being
never does bad because of others’ blame;
for in that case they praise the coward, not the brave;
and the virtuous never do bad out of fear.”

7Then another deity said to the Buddha: “Sir, who has spoken well?”

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

9It’s true that giving is praised in many ways
but the path of the teaching is better than giving,
for in days old and older still,
the wise and virtuous even attained extinction.”

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

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 udānaṁ udānesi: 

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2"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
maccherā ca pamādā ca;
Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati,
puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena;
Deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā"ti.

3Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

4"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.

5Appasmeke pavecchanti,
bahuneke na dicchare;
Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,
sahassena samaṁ mitā"ti.

6Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

7"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,

Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu;
Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti,
Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti;
Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā"ti.

8Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

9"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.

10Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ,
Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu;
Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,
Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco"ti.

11Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

12"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.

13Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,
Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke;
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,
Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette"ti.

14Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

15"Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,
Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,
Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;
Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ,
Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.

16Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ,
Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;
Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ,
Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan"ti.

17Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan"ti?

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18"Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha – 

19Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ,
Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo;
Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,
Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā"ti.