1At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

And then Sakka, lord of gods, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and addressed him in verse:

2“For humans, those merit-seeking creatures,
who sponsor sacrifices,
making merit with attachments,
where is a gift very fruitful?”

3“Four practicing the path,
and four established in the fruit.
This is the upright Saṅgha,
with wisdom, ethics, and immersion.

4For humans, those merit-seeking creatures,
who sponsor sacrifices,
making merit with attachments,
what is given to the Saṅgha is very fruitful.”

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe vihārati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

Atha kho sakko devānamindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 

2"Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ,
puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ;
Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ,
kattha dinnaṁ mahapphalan"ti.

3"Cattāro ca paṭipannā,
cattāro ca phale ṭhitā;
Esa saṅgho ujubhūto,
paññāsīlasamāhito.

4Yajamānānaṁ manussānaṁ,
Puññapekkhāna pāṇinaṁ;
Karotaṁ opadhikaṁ puññaṁ,
Saṅghe dinnaṁ mahapphalan"ti.