3.
The Discourse on Serī
104.
Standing to one side, Serī the young god addressed the Blessed One in verse -
Then what demon is there who does not delight in food?"
That very food follows him, in this world and the next.
Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."
"Wonderful, venerable sir, marvellous, venerable sir! How well spoken is this, venerable sir, by the Blessed One -
That very food follows him, in this world and the next.
Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."
"Once in the past, venerable sir, I was a king named Sirī, a donor, a master of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. For me, venerable sir, at the four gates, gifts were given to ascetics, brahmins, the destitute, travellers, paupers, and beggars. Then, venerable sir, the women's quarters approached me and said this - 'Gifts are given by His Majesty; gifts are not given by us. It would be good if we too, depending on His Majesty, could give gifts, could make merit.' Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'I am indeed a donor, a master of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say "We will give gifts," what could I say?' So I, venerable sir, gave the first gate to the women's quarters. There gifts were given by the women's quarters; my giving withdrew.
"Then, venerable sir, the warriors who were dependent on me approached me and said this - 'Gifts are given by His Majesty; gifts are given by the women's quarters; gifts are not given by us. It would be good if we too, depending on His Majesty, could give gifts, could make merit.' Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'I am indeed a donor, a master of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say "We will give gifts," what could I say?' So I, venerable sir, gave the second gate to the warriors who were dependent on me. There gifts were given by the warriors who were dependent on me; my giving withdrew.
"Then, venerable sir, the army approached me and said this: 'Gifts are given by His Majesty; gifts are given by the women's quarters; gifts are being given to the warriors who are dependent on him; gifts are not given by us. It would be good if we too, depending on His Majesty, could give gifts, could make merit.' Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'I am indeed a donor, a master of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say "We will give gifts," what could I say?' So I, venerable sir, gave the third gate to the army. There gifts were given by the army; my giving receded.
"Then, venerable sir, brahmin householders approached me and said this: 'Gifts are given by His Majesty; gifts are given by the women's quarters; gifts are being given to the warriors who are dependent on him; gifts are being given to the army; gifts are not given by us. It would be good if we too, depending on His Majesty, could give gifts, could make merit.' Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'I am indeed a donor, a master of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say "We will give gifts," what could I say?' So I, venerable sir, gave the fourth gate to the brahmin householders. There gifts were given by the brahmin householders; my giving receded.
"Then, venerable sir, men approached me and said this: 'Now no gifts at all are being given to the king.' When this was said, venerable sir, I said this to those men: 'Well then, my good men, whatever income arises in the outer provinces, bring half of it into the inner palace, and give half of it right there as gifts to ascetics, brahmins, the destitute, travellers, paupers, and beggars.' So I, venerable sir, do not find the limit of merits performed over such a long time, of wholesome mental states performed over such a long time: 'This much is the merit,' or 'This much is the result of merit,' or 'This long must one remain in heaven.' Wonderful, venerable sir, marvellous, venerable sir! How well spoken is this, venerable sir, by the Blessed One -
That very food follows him, in this world and the next.
Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."