At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:
“Good, good fellow, is giving! Because of stinginess and negligence a gift is not given. Wanting merit,
PL
“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, maccherā ca pamādā ca; Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati, puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena;
EN
a smart person would give.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good.
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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.”
PL
Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu; Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti, Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti; Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.
EN
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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. A personage who gives legitimate wealth, earned by his efforts and initiative, has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River;
PL
Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ. Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ, Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu; Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,
EN
that mortal arrives at celestial fields.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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. The Holy One praises giving intelligently
PL
Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ. Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,
EN
to those worthy of offerings here <j>in the world of the living. What’s given to these is very fruitful, like seeds sown in a fertile field.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:
“Good, good fellow, 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 <j>when it comes to living creatures. One who lives without harming any living being does no bad because of others’ blame.
PL
Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ, Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo. Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ, Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;
EN
Were that the case they praise the coward, not the brave; for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.” Then another deity said to the Buddha, “Sir, who has spoken well?”
PL
Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ, Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti. Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
EN
“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also: A gift of faith is praised in many ways, but a passage of teaching is better than giving, for the virtuous, in days old and older still,
PL
“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha— Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ, Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo; Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,
At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:
“Good, good fellow, is giving! Because of stinginess and negligence a gift is not given. Wanting merit,
PL
“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ, maccherā ca pamādā ca; Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati, puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena;
EN
a smart person would give.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good.
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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.”
PL
Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu; Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti, Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti; Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.
EN
Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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. A personage who gives legitimate wealth, earned by his efforts and initiative, has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River;
PL
Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ. Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ, Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu; Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,
EN
that mortal arrives at celestial fields.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “Good, good fellow, 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. The Holy One praises giving intelligently
PL
Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ, Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ; Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ. Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,
EN
to those worthy of offerings here <j>in the world of the living. What’s given to these is very fruitful, like seeds sown in a fertile field.” Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:
“Good, good fellow, 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 <j>when it comes to living creatures. One who lives without harming any living being does no bad because of others’ blame.
PL
Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ, Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo. Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ, Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;
EN
Were that the case they praise the coward, not the brave; for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.” Then another deity said to the Buddha, “Sir, who has spoken well?”
PL
Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ, Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti. Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
EN
“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also: A gift of faith is praised in many ways, but a passage of teaching is better than giving, for the virtuous, in days old and older still,
PL
“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha— Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ, Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo; Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,
Sutraya