Sīhasenāpati Sutta
The Teacher once lived in Vesāli’s great forest,
in the hall of the gabled roof house.
At that time,
the general Sīha went to the Awakened One,
paid loving respects,
sat down beside him
and asked:
“Bhante, is it possible to tell me
directly visible benefits of giving?” [1]
“It is possible Sīha” replied the Teacher.
(1) Sīha,
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
That person is held dear and beloved by many; [2]
This is a directly visible benefit of giving.
(2) Moreover Sīha,
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
Virtuous people seek company; [3]
This is a directly visible benefit of giving.
(3) Moreover Sīha,
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
Fair words are spoken for his renown; [4]
This is a directly visible benefit of giving.
(4) Moreover Sīha,
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
When that person approaches any group,
Whether from they are rulers,
Brahmins,
family folks
or monks;
One approaches them
composed and confident,
not shy. [5]
This is a directly visible benefit of giving.
(5) Moreover Sīha,
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
When his or her body gives away,
after death,
They go to the planes of bliss,
the celestial mansions.[6]
This is a directly visible benefit of giving.
When this was said, Sīha the general answered:
“Bhante,
I do not follow the Awakened one by mere faith
about four of these directly visible benefits of giving.
I experience those myself.” [7]
(1) “For Bhante, I am one who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
And I am held dear and beloved by many;
(2) I am one who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
And virtuous people seek my company.
(3) I am one who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
And these fair words are spoken to my renown,
‘The General Sīha is a generous man,
a benefactor,
servitor of the saṅgha.’ [8]
(4) I am one who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
And whatever group I approach,
whether from they are rulers,
brahmins, family folks or monks,
I approach them
composed and confident,
not shy.”
“But Bhante,
when it is mentioned about the planes of bliss
and the celestial mansions,
I do not personally experience this,
therefore, in this matter,
I follow the Awakened One out of faith. [9]
“So it is Sīha, [I tell you].
One who is generous,
One who is devoted to charity,
When his or her body gives away, after death
They go to the planes of bliss,
the celestial mansions. [10]
Donors are held dear and many resort to them,
Their good repute follows and thus their glory grows, [11]
Moving through assemblies with confidence,
For, composed are the unselfish. [12]
By the very act of giving, the givers are called wise,
Getting rid of slimy selfishness brings happiness
They long delight in the company of the three-world devas.
Living among them in bliss and harmony. [13]
Taking the opportunity to make bright deeds before going,
Luminous, they roam about in Nandana.
There, they know but bliss, happiness and delight,
Given to the five [celestial] pleasures,
Having done as instructed by the Unattached One,
The followers of the Blissful One delight in the celestial abodes. [14]
[1] “sakkā nu kho, bhante, bhagavā sandiṭṭhikaṁ dānaphalaṁ paññāpetun”ti
[2] “dāyako, sīha, dānapati bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo.
[3] dāyakaṁ dānapatiṁ santo sappurisā bhajanti.
[4] dāyakassa dānapatino kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati.
[5] dāyako dānapati yaṁ yadeva parisaṁ upasaṅkamati—yadi khattiyaparisaṁ yadi brāhmaṇaparisaṁ yadi gahapatiparisaṁ yadi samaṇaparisaṁ—visārado upasaṅkamati amaṅkubhūto.
[6] dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.
[7] “yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sandiṭṭhikāni dānaphalāni akkhātāni, nāhaṁ ettha bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi; ahaṁ petāni jānāmi.
[8] ‘sīho senāpati dāyako kārako saṅghupaṭṭhāko’ti.
[9] etāhaṁ na jānāmi; ettha ca panāhaṁ bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmī”ti.
[10] “Evametaṁ, sīha, evametaṁ, sīha. Dāyako dānapati kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjatīti.
[11] Dadaṁ piyo hoti bhajanti naṁ bahū, Kittiñca pappoti yaso ca vaḍḍhati;
[12] Amaṅkubhūto parisaṁ vigāhati, Visārado hoti naro amaccharī.
[13] Tasmā hi dānāni dadanti paṇḍitā, Vineyya maccheramalaṁ sukhesino;
Te dīgharattaṁ tidive patiṭṭhitā, Devānaṁ sahabyagatā ramanti te.
[14] Katāvakāsā katakusalā ito cutā, Sayaṁpabhā anuvicaranti nandanaṁ;
Te tattha nandanti ramanti modare, Samappitā kāmaguṇehi pañcahi;
Katvāna vākyaṁ asitassa tādino,Ramanti sagge sugatassa sāvakā”ti.
