SA 95（九五） 生闻

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the brāhman Saṃjīva came to where the Buddha was, and after exchanging greetings with the World-Honored One, he sat to one side and said to the Buddha, "Gautama, I have heard Gautama say, 'Only give to me, not to others; giving to me brings great fruit, not giving to others brings great fruit. Only give to my disciples, not to the disciples of others; giving to my disciples brings great fruit, not giving to the disciples of others brings great fruit.' How is it, Gautama? Is what you say true? Are you not slandering Gautama? Is it as you say, as the Dharma says? Do you speak in accordance with the Dharma, not being criticized by others for the same Dharma?"

The Buddha told the brāhman, "Those who say that slander me! It is not as they say, as the Dharma says, as the Dharma follows the Dharma, and it does not lead others to criticize with the same Dharma. Why is that? I do not say, 'Only give to me, not to others; giving to me brings great fruit, not giving to others brings great fruit. Only give to my disciples, giving to my disciples brings great fruit, not giving to the disciples of others brings great fruit.' Rather, brāhman, I say that those who do so create two kinds of obstacles: obstacles to the giver's giving and obstacles to the receiver's benefit. Brāhman, even a man who puts leftover food from washing a vessel on a clean spot brings benefit and happiness to the beings there. I say that even this enters the gate of merit, let alone giving to people. Brāhman, I also say that giving to those who keep precepts brings different fruits than giving to those who break precepts."

The brāhman Saṃjīva said to the Buddha, "So it is, Gautama! I also say that giving to those who keep precepts brings great fruit, not giving to those who break precepts."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

Whether black, white, red, or colored, mixed with gold, pure
yellow, or dove-colored, if the cows give birth to beautiful
calves, strong and well-proportioned, well-trained and swift in movement, able
to carry heavy loads, regardless of their original color, it
is the same for humans. Each is born into different
castes, such as kṣatriyas, brahmins, vaiśyas, śūdras, and low-born candālas
But if they uphold pure precepts, free from the heavy
burden of afflictions, single-mindedly practicing pure conduct, with the exhaustion
of taints, they become arhats. In the world, the Tathāgata
says that giving to them brings great fruit. The foolish
lack wisdom and have never heard the true Dharma. Giving
to them brings no great fruit, because they do not
associate with good friends. If one associates with good friends
such as the Tathāgata and his disciples, with pure faith
in the Tathāgata, the faculties will grow strong. The good
destinies they abide in and the great families they are
born into will ultimately lead to parinirvāṇa. This is what
the Great Sage says.

Having spoken this sūtra, the Buddha said to the brāhman Jīvaka, "The brāhman Jīvaka, you should know that the Tathāgata is now old and feeble, and his body is worn out. I wish to go to the city of Kuśinagara to enter parinirvāṇa. I now entrust the four assemblies to you.