1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.1.3Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,“Good, good fellow, is giving!2.2maccherā ca pamādā ca;Because of stinginess and negligence2.3Evaṁ dānaṁ na dīyati,a gift is not given.2.4puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānena;Wanting merit,2.5Deyyaṁ hoti vijānatā”ti.a smart person would give.”

3.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

4.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,“Good, good fellow, is giving!4.2Api ca appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ.Even when one has little, giving is good.

5.1Appasmeke pavecchanti,∥Some who have little are happy to provide,5.2bahuneke na dicchare;while some who have much don’t wish to give.5.3Appasmā dakkhiṇā dinnā,An offering given from little5.4sahassena samaṁ mitā”ti.is multiplied a thousand times.”

6.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

7.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,∥“Good, good fellow, is giving!7.2Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;Even when one has little, giving is good.7.3Api ca saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,And it’s also good to give out of faith.7.4Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu;Giving and warfare are similar, they say,7.5Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti,for even a few of the good may conquer the many.7.6Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti;If a faithful person gives even a little,7.7Teneva so hoti sukhī paratthā”ti.it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.”

8.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

9.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,“Good, good fellow, is giving!9.2Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;Even when one has little, giving is good.9.3Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,And it’s also good to give out of faith.9.4Api ca dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ.And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.

10.1Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ,∥A personage who gives legitimate wealth,¹10.2Uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatassa jantu;earned by his efforts and initiative,10.3Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa,has passed over Yama’s Vetaraṇī River;²10.4Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco”ti.that mortal arrives at celestial fields.”

11.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

12.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,“Good, good fellow, is giving!12.2Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;Even when one has little, giving is good.12.3Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,And it’s also good to give out of faith.12.4Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.12.5Api ca viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ.And it’s also good to give intelligently.

13.1Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ,∥The Holy One praises giving intelligently13.2Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke;to those worthy of offerings here <j>in the world of the living.13.3Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni,What’s given to these is very fruitful,13.4Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette”ti.like seeds sown in a fertile field.”

14.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

15.1“Sādhu kho mārisa dānaṁ,“Good, good fellow, is giving!15.2Appakasmimpi sāhu dānaṁ;Even when one has little, giving is good.15.3Saddhāyapi sāhu dānaṁ,And it’s also good to give out of faith.15.4Dhammaladdhassāpi sāhu dānaṁ;And it’s also good to give legitimate wealth.15.5Viceyya dānampi sāhu dānaṁ,And it’s also good to give intelligently.15.6Api ca pāṇesupi sādhu saṁyamo.And it’s also good to be restrained <j>when it comes to living creatures.

16.1Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ,∥One who lives without harming any living being16.2Parūpavādā na karonti pāpaṁ;does no bad because of others’ blame.³16.3Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na hi tattha sūraṁ,Were that the case they praise the coward, <j>not the brave;16.4Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpan”ti.for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.”

17.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then another deity said to the Buddha,17.2“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?“Sir, who has spoken well?”

18.1“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

19.1Saddhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ,∥A gift of faith is praised in many ways,⁴19.2Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo;but a passage of teaching is better than giving,19.3Pubbe ca hi pubbatare ca santo,for the virtuous, in days old and older still,19.4Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.even attained extinction with wisdom.”⁵