1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood. Then Sīha the general approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said: [n.1011] He was originally a lay follower of the Jains. The story of his conversion is told at AN8.12.

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"Is it possible, Bhante, to point out a directly visible fruit of giving?" [n.1012] Sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ. A benefit that can be experienced in this present life.

2"It is, Sīha," the Blessed One said.

(1) "A donor, Sīha, a munificent giver, is dear and agreeable to many people. This is a directly visible fruit of giving.

3(2) "Again, good persons resort to a donor, a munificent giver. This, too, is a directly visible fruit of giving.

4(3) "Again, a donor, a munificent giver, acquires a good reputation. This, too, is a directly visible fruit of giving.

5(4) "Again, whatever assembly a donor, a munificent giver, approaches—whether of khattiyas, brahmins, householders, or ascetics—he approaches it confidently and composed. [n.1013] Visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto. Mp explains "confidently" (visārado) as knowledgeable and joyous (ñāṇasomanassappatto) and "composed" (amaṅkubhūto) as not diffident (na nittejabhūto). This too is a directly visible fruit of giving.

6(5) "Again, with the breakup of the body, after death, a donor, a munificent giver, is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. This is a fruit of giving pertaining to future lives." [n.1014] Samparāyikaṁ dānaphalaṁ. With this fifth benefit, the Buddha has gone beyond Sīha's original request and explained, not a directly visible fruit of giving, but a fruit pertaining to the next life.

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7When this was said, Sīha the general said to the Blessed One: "Bhante, I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning those four directly visible fruits of giving declared by him. I know them, too. For I am a donor, a munificent giver, and I am dear and agreeable to many people. I am a donor, a munificent giver, and many good persons resort to me. I am a donor, a munificent giver, and I have acquired a good reputation as a donor, sponsor, and supporter of the Saṅgha. I am a donor, a munificent giver, and whatever assembly I approach—whether of khattiyas, brahmins, householders, or ascetics—I approach it confidently and composed. I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning these four directly visible fruits of giving declared by him. I know them, too. But when the Blessed One tells me: ‘Sīha, with the breakup of the body, after death, a donor, a munificent giver, is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world,’ I do not know this, and here I go by faith in the Blessed One."

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"So it is, Sīha, so it is! With the breakup of the body, after death, a donor, a munificent giver, is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world."

8By giving, he becomes dear and many resort to him.
He attains a good reputation and his fame increases.
The generous man is composed
and confidently enters the assembly.

9Therefore, seeking happiness,
wise persons give gifts,
having removed the stain of miserliness.
When they are settled in the triple heaven,
for a long time they delight
in companionship with the devas.

10Having taken the opportunity to do wholesome deeds,
passing from here, self-luminous, they roam in Nandana, [n.1015] Nandana: the Garden of Delight in the Tāvatiṁsa heaven.
where they delight, rejoice, and enjoy themselves,
furnished with the five objects of sensual pleasure.
Having fulfilled the word of the unattached Stable One,
the Fortunate One's disciples rejoice in heaven.

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho sīho senāpati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

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"sakkā nu kho, bhante, bhagavā sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ paññāpetun"ti?

2"Sakkā, sīhā"ti bhagavā avoca:

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

3Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyakaṁ dānapatiṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti. Yampi, sīha, dāyakaṁ dānapatiṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

4Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyakassa dānapatino kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. Yampi, sīha, dāyakassa dānapatino kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

5Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati – yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ – visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto. Yampi, sīha, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati – yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ – visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto, idampi sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ.

6Puna caparaṁ, sīha, dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Yampi, sīha, dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati, idaṁ samparāyikaṁ dānaphalan"ti.

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7Evaṁ vutte, sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sandiṭṭhikāni dānaphalāni akkhātāni, nāhaṁ ettha bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi; ahaṁ petāni jānāmi. Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati bahuno janassa piyo manāpo. Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati; maṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti. Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati; mayhaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘sīho senāpati dāyako kārako saṅghupaṭṭhāko’ti. Ahaṁ, bhante, dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamāmi – yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ – visārado upasaṅkamāmi amaṅkubhūto. Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sandiṭṭhikāni dānaphalāni akkhātāni, nāhaṁ ettha bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi; ahaṁ petāni jānāmi. Yañca kho maṁ, bhante, bhagavā evamāha: ‘dāyako, sīha, dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatī’ti, etāhaṁ na jānāmi; ettha ca panāhaṁ bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmī"ti.

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"Evametaṁ, sīha, evametaṁ, sīha. Dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatīti.

8Dadaṁ piyo hoti bhajanti naṁ bahū,
Kittiñca pappoti yaso ca vaḍḍhati;
Amaṅkubhūto parisaṁ vigāhati,
Visārado hoti naro amaccharī.

9Tasmā hi dānāni dadanti paṇḍitā,
Vineyya maccheramalaṁ sukhesino;
Te dīgharattaṁ tidive patiṭṭhitā,
Devānaṁ sahabyagatā ramanti te.

10Katāvakāsā katakusalā ito cutā,
Sayaṁpabhā anuvicaranti nandanaṁ;
Te tattha nandanti ramanti modare,
Samappitā kāmaguṇehi pañcahi;
Katvāna vākyaṁ asitassa tādino,
Ramanti sagge sugatassa sāvakā"ti.

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Catutthaṁ.