4.
The Discourse on Sīha the General
34.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then the general Sīha approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the general Sīha said this to the Blessed One -
"Is it possible, venerable sir, for the Blessed One to declare a fruit of giving visible here and now?"
"It is possible, Sīha," the Blessed One said - "A donor, Sīha, a master of giving, is dear and agreeable to many people. That a donor, Sīha, a master of giving, is dear and agreeable to many people, this too is a fruit of giving visible here and now.
"Furthermore, Sīha, good persons who are peaceful resort to a donor, a master of giving. That good persons who are peaceful resort to a donor, Sīha, a master of giving, this too is a fruit of giving visible here and now.
"Furthermore, Sīha, a good reputation arises for a donor, a master of giving. That a good reputation arises for a donor, Sīha, a master of giving, this too is a fruit of giving visible here and now.
"Furthermore, Sīha, a donor, a master of giving, whatever assembly he approaches - whether an assembly of warriors, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of ascetics - he approaches confident, unabashed. That a donor, Sīha, a master of giving, whatever assembly he approaches - whether an assembly of warriors, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of ascetics - he approaches confident, unabashed, this too is a fruit of giving visible here and now.
"Furthermore, Sīha, a donor, a master of giving, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. That a donor, Sīha, a master of giving, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world, this is a fruit of giving pertaining to the future life."
When this was said, the general Sīha said this to the Blessed One - "These four fruits of giving visible here and now, venerable sir, that have been declared by the Blessed One, I do not go by faith in the Blessed One in this matter; I know these myself. I, venerable sir, am a donor, a master of giving, dear and agreeable to many people. I, venerable sir, am a donor, a master of giving; good persons who are peaceful resort to me. I, venerable sir, am a donor, a master of giving; a good reputation has arisen for me - 'The general Sīha is a donor, a doer, an attendant of the Community.' I, venerable sir, am a donor, a master of giving, whatever assembly I approach - whether an assembly of warriors, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of ascetics - I approach confident, unabashed. These four fruits of giving visible here and now, venerable sir, that have been declared by the Blessed One, I do not go by faith in the Blessed One in this matter; I know these myself. But that which the Blessed One says to me, venerable sir - 'A donor, Sīha, a master of giving, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world' - this I do not know; but in this matter I go by faith in the Blessed One." "So it is, Sīha, so it is, Sīha! A donor, a master of giving, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world."
And he attains fame, and his glory increases;
Unabashed, he enters the assembly,
The man without stinginess is confident.
Having removed the stain of stinginess, seekers of happiness;
They, established for a long time in the celestial abode,
Having attained the company of the gods, they delight.
Self-luminous, they wander about in the celestial Garden of Delight;
There they rejoice, delight, and are glad,
Endowed with the five kinds of sensual pleasure;
"Having done the word of the unattached one, such a one,
The disciples of the Fortunate One delight in heaven." The fourth.