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Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Sutta Nipata

Sutta Nipata Chapter 3: The Great Chapter

3:5 With Māgha on Giving

3:5 With Māgha on Giving

So I have heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. Then the brahmin student Māgha approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

“I’m a giver, Master Gotama, a donor; I am bountiful and committed to charity. I seek wealth in a principled manner, 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. Giving and sacrificing like this, Master Gotama, do I accrue much merit?”

“Indeed you do, student. A giver or donor who is bountiful and committed to charity, who seeks wealth in a principled manner, and with that legitimate wealth gives to one person, or up to a hundred people or even more, accrues much merit.”

Then Māgha addressed the Buddha in verse:


Māgha

487 “I ask the bountiful Gotama,”
said Māgha,
“wearing an ochre robe, wandering homeless.
Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit.
Giving food and drink to others here,
how is their offering purifed?”


Buddha

488 “Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,”
replied the Buddha,
“makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
giving food and drink to others here:
such a one would succeed due to those who are worthy of donations.”


Māgha

489 “Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity,”
said Māgha,
“makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
giving food and drink to others here:
explain to me who is worthy of donations.”

Buddha

490 “Those who wander the world unattached,
consummate, restrained, owning nothing:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

491 Those who have cut off all fetters and bonds,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

492 Those who are released from all fetters,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, with no need for hope:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.


493 Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,
with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

494 Those in whom dwells no deceit or conceit,
with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

Those rid of greed, unselfish, with no need for hope,
with defilements ended, the spiritual journey completed:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.


495 Those not fallen prey to cravings,
who, having crossed the flood, live unselfishly:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

496 Those with no craving at all in the world
to any form of existence in this life or the next:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.


497 Those who have left sensuality behind, wandering homeless,
self-controlled, straight as a shuttle:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

498 Those freed of greed, with senses stilled,
like the moon released from the eclipse:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

499 Those peaceful ones free of greed and anger,
for whom there are no destinies, being rid of them in this life:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.


500 They’ve given up rebirth and death completely,
and have gone beyond all doubt:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.


501 Those who live as their own island,
everywhere free, owning nothing:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

502 Those here who know this to be true:
‘This is my last life, there are no future lives’:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.

503 A knowledge master, loving absorption, mindful,
who has reached awakening and is a refuge for many:
that is where a brahmin seeking merit
should bestow a timely offering as sacrifice.”


Māgha

504 “Clearly my questions were not in vain!”
said Māgha,
“The Buddha has explained to me who is worthy of donations.
You are the one here who knows this to be true,
for truly you understand this matter.

505 Suppose a lay donor who is committed to charity
makes a sacrifice seeking merit, looking for merit,
giving food and drink to others here:
explain to me how to accomplish the sacrifice.”


Buddha

506 “Sacrifice, and while doing so,”
replied the Buddha,
“be clear and confident in every way.
Sacrifice is the ground standing upon which
the sacrificer sheds their flaws.

507 One free of greed, rid of anger,
developing a heart of limitless love,
spreads that limitlessness in every direction,
ever diligent day and night.”

Māgha

508 “Who is purified, freed, awake?
How can one go to the Brahmā realm oneself?
I do not know, so please tell me when asked,
for the Buddha is the Brahmā I see in person today!
To us you are truly the equal of Brahmā.
Splendid One, how is one reborn in the Brahmā realm?”

Buddha

509 “One who accomplishes the sacrifice with three modes,”
replied the Buddha,
“such a one would succeed due to those who are worthy of donations.
Sacrificing like this, one rightly committed to charity
is reborn in the Brahmā realm, I say.”


When he had spoken, the student Māgha said to the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Māghasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ​:

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho māgho māṇavo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

"Ahañhi, bho gotama, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo; dhammena bhoge pariyesāmi; 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. Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavāmī"ti?

"Taggha tvaṁ, māṇava, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavasi. Yo kho, māṇava, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo; dhammena bhoge pariyesati; dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammādhigatehi ekassapi dadāti … pe … satassapi dadāti, bhiyyopi dadāti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pasavatī"ti.

Atha kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi – 


(iti māgho māṇavo):

487"Pucchāmahaṁ gotamaṁ vadaññuṁ,
Kāsāyavāsiṁ agahaṁ carantaṁ;
Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Kathaṁ hutaṁ yajamānassa sujjhe".


(māghāti bhagavā):

488 "Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi".


(iti māgho māṇavo):

489 "Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Akkhāhi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye".

 

490 "Ye ve asattā vicaranti loke,
Akiñcanā kevalino yatattā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

491 Ye sabbasaṁyojanabandhanacchidā,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

492 Ye sabbasaṁyojanavippamuttā,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.


493 Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

494 Yesu na māyā vasati na māno,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

Ye vītalobhā amamā nirāsā,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.


495 Ye ve na taṇhāsu upātipannā,
Vitareyya oghaṁ amamā caranti;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

496 Yesaṁ taṇhā natthi kuhiñci loke,
Bhavābhavāya idha vā huraṁ vā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.


497 Ye kāme hitvā agahā caranti,
Susaññatattā tasaraṁva ujjuṁ;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

498 Ye vītarāgā susamāhitindriyā,
Candova rāhuggahaṇā pamuttā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

499 Samitāvino vītarāgā akopā,
Yesaṁ gatī natthidha vippahāya;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.


500 Jahitvā jātimaraṇaṁ asesaṁ,
Kathaṅkathiṁ sabbamupātivattā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.


501 Ye attadīpā vicaranti loke,
Akiñcanā sabbadhi vippamuttā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

502 Ye hettha jānanti yathā tathā idaṁ,
Ayamantimā natthi punabbhavoti;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

503 Yo vedagū jhānarato satīmā,
Sambodhipatto saraṇaṁ bahūnaṁ;
Kālena tamhi habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha".


(iti māgho māṇavo):

504 "Addhā amoghā mama pucchanā ahu,
Akkhāsi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye;
Tvañhettha jānāsi yathā tathā idaṁ,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo.

505 Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Akkhāhi me bhagavā yaññasampadaṁ".


 

506 "Yajassu yajamāno māghāti bhagavā,
Sabbattha ca vippasādehi cittaṁ;
Ārammaṇaṁ yajamānassa yañño,
Ettha patiṭṭhāya jahāti dosaṁ.

507 So vītarāgo pavineyya dosaṁ,
Mettaṁ cittaṁ bhāvayamappamāṇaṁ;
Rattindivaṁ satatamappamatto,
Sabbā disā pharati appamaññaṁ".

508 "Ko sujjhati muccati bajjhatī ca,
Kenattanā gacchati brahmalokaṁ;
Ajānato me muni brūhi puṭṭho,
Bhagavā hi me sakkhi brahmajjadiṭṭho;
Tuvañhi no brahmasamosi saccaṁ,
Kathaṁ upapajjati brahmalokaṁ jutima".

(māghāti bhagavā):
509 "Yo yajati tividhaṁ yaññasampadaṁ,
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi;
Evaṁ yajitvā sammā yācayogo,
Upapajjati brahmalokanti brūmī"ti.


Evaṁ vutte, māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:  "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Māghasuttaṁ pañcamaṁ.