AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.34 With General Sīha

Numbered Discourses 5.34 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.34

4. With Sumanā – 4. Sumanavagga

AN 5.34 With General Sīha – Sīhasenāpatisutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

1.2

Then General Sīha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and asked him,

Atha kho sīho senāpati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.3

“Sir, can you point out a fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life?”

“sakkā nu kho, bhante, bhagavā sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ paññāpetun”ti?

2.1

“I can, Sīha,” said the Buddha.

“Sakkā, sīhā”ti bhagavā avoca:

2.2

“A giver, a donor is dear and beloved to many people.

“dāyako, sīha, dānapati bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo.

2.3

This is a fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life.

Yampi, sīha, dāyako dānapati bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

3.1

Furthermore, good people associate with a giver.

Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyakaṁ dānapatiṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti.

3.2

This is another fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life.

Yampi, sīha, dāyakaṁ dānapatiṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

4.1

Furthermore, a giver gains a good reputation.

Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyakassa dānapatino kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati.

4.2

This is another fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life.

Yampi, sīha, dāyakassa dānapatino kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

5.1

Furthermore, a giver enters any kind of assembly bold and assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto.

5.2

This is another fruit of giving that’s apparent in the present life.

Yampi, sīha, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

6.1

Furthermore, when a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

6.2

This is a fruit of giving to do with lives to come.”

Yampi, sīha, dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati, idaṁ samparāyikaṁ dānaphalan”ti.

7.1

When he said this, General Sīha said to the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

7.2

“When it comes to those four fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t have to rely on faith in the Buddha, for I know them too.

“yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sandiṭṭhikāni dānaphalāni akkhātāni, nāhaṁ ettha bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi; ahaṁ petāni jānāmi.

7.3

I’m a giver, a donor, and am dear and beloved to many people.

Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati bahuno janassa piyo manāpo.

7.4

I’m a giver, and good people associate with me.

Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati; maṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti.

7.5

I’m a giver, and I have this good reputation: ‘General Sīha gives, serves, and attends on the Saṅgha.’

Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati; mayhaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘sīho senāpati dāyako kārako saṅghupaṭṭhāko’ti.

7.6

I’m a giver, and I enter any kind of assembly bold and assured, whether it’s an assembly of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics.

Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamāmi—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamāmi amaṅkubhūto.

7.7

When it comes to these four fruits of giving that are apparent in the present life, I don’t have to rely on faith in the Buddha, for I know them too.

Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sandiṭṭhikāni dānaphalāni akkhātāni, nāhaṁ ettha bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi; ahaṁ petāni jānāmi.

7.8

But when the Buddha says:

Yañca kho maṁ, bhante, bhagavā evamāha:

7.9

‘When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ I don’t know this, so I have to rely on faith in the Buddha.”

‘dāyako, sīha, dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatī’ti, etāhaṁ na jānāmi; ettha ca panāhaṁ bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmī”ti.

7.10

“That’s so true, Sīha! That’s so true!

“Evametaṁ, sīha, evametaṁ, sīha.

7.11

When a giver’s body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatīti.

8.1

Giving, you’re loved and befriended by many people.

Dadaṁ piyo hoti bhajanti naṁ bahū,

8.2

You get a good reputation, and your fame grows.

Kittiñca pappoti yaso ca vaḍḍhati;

8.3

A generous man enters an assembly

Amaṅkubhūto parisaṁ vigāhati,

8.4

bold and assured.

Visārado hoti naro amaccharī.

9.1

So an astute person, seeking happiness, would give gifts,

Tasmā hi dānāni dadanti paṇḍitā,

9.2

having driven out the stain of stinginess.

Vineyya maccheramalaṁ sukhesino;

9.3

They live long in the heaven of the Three and Thirty,

Te dīgharattaṁ tidive patiṭṭhitā,

9.4

enjoying the company of the gods.

Devānaṁ sahabyagatā ramanti te.

10.1

Having taken the opportunity to do good, when they pass from here

Katāvakāsā katakusalā ito cutā,

10.2

they wander radiant in the Garden of Delight.

Sayaṁpabhā anuvicaranti nandanaṁ;

10.3

There they delight, rejoice, and enjoy themselves,

Te tattha nandanti ramanti modare,

10.4

provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Samappitā kāmaguṇehi pañcahi;

10.5

Having practiced the word of the unattached, the poised,

Katvāna vākyaṁ asitassa tādino,

10.6

disciples of the Holy One rejoice in heaven.”

Ramanti sagge sugatassa sāvakā”ti.

10.7

Catutthaṁ.