5.
The Discourse on Māgha
Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain. Then the young man Māgha approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the young man Māgha said this to the Blessed One -
"Indeed, Master Gotama, I am a donor, a master of giving, bountiful, accessible to requests; I seek wealth righteously; having sought wealth righteously, with wealth righteously acquired, righteously obtained, I give to one, I give to two, to three, to four, to five, to six, to seven, to eight, to nine, to ten, I give to twenty, to thirty, to forty, to fifty, I give to a hundred, and I give even more. Am I, Master Gotama, thus giving, thus sacrificing, generating much merit?"
"Truly you, young man, thus giving, thus sacrificing, generate much merit. Whoever, young man, is a donor, a master of giving, bountiful, accessible to requests; seeks wealth righteously; having sought wealth righteously, with wealth righteously acquired, righteously obtained, gives to one, etc. gives to a hundred, and gives even more, he generates much merit." Then the young man Māgha addressed the Blessed One in verse -
"Wearing the ochre robe, wandering homeless;
Whoever is accessible to requests, a master of giving, a householder, desirous of merit, sacrifices hoping for merit;
Giving food and drink to others here, how may the oblation become pure for the one sacrificing?"
"Desirous of merit, sacrifices hoping for merit;
Giving food and drink to others here, such a one may succeed with those worthy of offerings."
"Desirous of merit, sacrifices hoping for merit;
Giving food and drink to others here, tell me, Blessed One, about those worthy of offerings."
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
503.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
505.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to them - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice.
At the right time one should offer the oblation to him - the brahmin hoping for merit should sacrifice."
For you here know this as it truly is, for thus this teaching is known to you.
"Desirous of merit, sacrifices hoping for merit;
Giving food and drink to others here,
Tell me, Blessed One, about the accomplishment of sacrifice."
The sacrifice is the object for one sacrificing, having established oneself here, one gives up hate.
513.
Night and day, constantly diligent, pervades all directions measurelessly."
Being asked, sage, tell me who does not know, for the Blessed One has been seen by me today as a witness to Brahmā;
For you are truly equal to Brahmā for us, how is one reborn in the Brahma world, O Radiant One?"
Such a one may succeed with those worthy of offerings;
Having thus sacrificed rightly, one accessible to requests,
Is reborn in the Brahma world, I say."
When this was said, the young man Māgha said this to the Blessed One - "Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. From this day forth, may he remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life."
The Discourse on Māgha is concluded as fifth.