Sadhu Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

1. I heard thus. Once the Blessed One lived in Sàvatthi, in Jeta's grove in the monastery offered by Anàthapiõóika.

2. When the night was waning a large number of deities of the Satullapa group, approached the Blessed One, illuminating the whole of Jeta's grove, worshiped the Blessed One and stood on a side.

3. One of those deities made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good!
 * "The miserly and the negligent do not give gifts such as these,
 * Desiring merit, gifts should be given knowing!"

4. Another deity made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good, yet even a little should be given with care!
 * A certain one, bestows little another does not give much,
 * Given even a little, has a thousand fold in return!"

5. Then another deity made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good!
 * Giving even a small gift is good!
 * So also giving a gift out of faith is good!
 * It is said, that giving a gift is like a fight!
 * Even a little appeasement is a great victory!
 * Knowing the results for giving, a little is given,
 * By that, they become happy for the well being, of others.".

6. Another deity made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good,
 * Yet, even a little should be given with care!
 * Even with faith, gifts should be given carefully!
 * Giving gifts out of the rightfully earned is good!
 * If someone gives gifts out of the rightfully earned,
 * Exerting himself with sweat dripping
 * Overstepping the warders of Vetaraniya,
 * He procures a place in heaven."

7. Then another deity made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good,
 * Yet, even a little should be given with care!
 * Even with faith, gifts should be given carefully!
 * Giving gifts out of the rightfully earned is good!
 * Also giving a gift, discriminating, is good.
 * A gift given discriminatingly, is praised by the Well Gone One
 * Gifts given thinking of the receiver,
 * Are very fruitful with results
 * Like seeds, embedded in a well prepared field."

8. Then another deity made this solemn utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Venerable sir, giving gifts is good,
 * Yet, even a little should be given with care!
 * Even with faith, gifts should be given carefully!
 * Giving gifts out of the rightfully earned is good!
 * Giving gifts discriminating is also good!
 * Yet the restrain towards living things is better.
 * If one does not hurt living things and does not blame anybody
 * Causing fear is not heroic, out of fear demerit should not be done."

9. Then another deity said to the Blessed One, "Venerable sir, whose words are good words?"


 * "All these are good words, yet listen to what I have to say."
 * A gift given out of faith is always praised,
 * Giving a gift is, as good as a sermon,
 * Before giving and even earlier, one is appeased,
 * And the wise, even attain extinction, by giving gifts."