AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.36 Grounds for Making Merit

Numbered Discourses 8.36 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.36

4. Giving – 4. Dānavagga

AN 8.36 Grounds for Making Merit – Puññakiriyavatthusutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these three grounds for making merit.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, puññakiriyavatthūni.

1.2

What three?

Katamāni tīṇi?

1.3

Giving, ethical conduct, and meditation are all grounds for making merit.

Dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu.

2.1

First, someone has practiced a little giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu parittaṁ kataṁ hoti, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu parittaṁ kataṁ hoti, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ nābhisambhoti.

2.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn among disadvantaged humans.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussadobhagyaṁ upapajjati.

3.1

Next, someone has practiced a moderate amount of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekaccassa dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu mattaso kataṁ hoti, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu mattaso kataṁ hoti, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ nābhisambhoti.

3.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn among well-off humans.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā manussasobhagyaṁ upapajjati.

4.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekaccassa dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu adhimattaṁ kataṁ hoti, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu adhimattaṁ kataṁ hoti, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ nābhisambhoti.

4.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Gods of the Four Great Kings.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

4.3

There, the Four Great Kings themselves have practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So they surpass them in ten respects:

Tatra, bhikkhave, cattāro mahārājāno dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, cātumahārājike deve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhanti—

4.4

divine life span, beauty, happiness, glory, sovereignty, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

dibbena āyunā, dibbena vaṇṇena, dibbena sukhena, dibbena yasena, dibbena ādhipateyyena, dibbehi rūpehi, dibbehi saddehi, dibbehi gandhehi, dibbehi rasehi, dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

5.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

5.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Gods of the Thirty-Three.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā tāvatiṁsānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

5.3

There, Sakka, lord of gods, has practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So he surpasses them in ten respects …

Tatra, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā tāvatiṁse deve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

5.4

dibbena āyunā …pe…

5.5

dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

6.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

6.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Gods of Yama.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā yāmānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

6.3

There, the god Suyāma has practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So he surpasses them in ten respects …

Tatra, bhikkhave, suyāmo devaputto dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, yāme deve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

6.4

dibbena āyunā …pe…

6.5

dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

7.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

7.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Joyful Gods.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā tusitānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

7.3

There, the god Santusita has practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So he surpasses them in ten respects …

Tatra, bhikkhave, santusito devaputto dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, tusite deve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

7.4

dibbena āyunā …pe…

7.5

dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

8.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

8.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Gods Who Love to Create.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā nimmānaratīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

8.3

There, the god Sunimmita has practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So he surpasses them in ten respects …

Tatra, bhikkhave, sunimmito devaputto dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, nimmānaratīdeve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

8.4

dibbena āyunā …pe…

8.5

dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

9.1

Next, someone has practiced a lot of giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit, but they haven’t got as far as meditation as a ground for making merit.

9.2

When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati.

9.3

There, the god Vasavattī has practiced giving and ethical conduct as grounds for making merit to a greater degree than the other gods. So he surpasses them in ten respects:

Tatra, bhikkhave, vasavattī devaputto dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthuṁ atirekaṁ karitvā, paranimmitavasavattīdeve dasahi ṭhānehi adhigaṇhāti—

9.4

divine life span, beauty, happiness, glory, sovereignty, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

dibbena āyunā, dibbena vaṇṇena, dibbena sukhena, dibbena yasena, dibbena ādhipateyyena, dibbehi rūpehi, dibbehi saddehi, dibbehi gandhehi, dibbehi rasehi, dibbehi phoṭṭhabbehi.

9.5

These are the three grounds for making merit.”

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi puññakiriyavatthūnī”ti.

9.6

Chaṭṭhaṁ.