3.
The Discourse on the Good
33.
At Sāvatthī.
Then many deities of the Satullapa group, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, one deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Through stinginess and through negligence, thus a gift is not given;
By one desiring merit, a gift should be given by one who knows."
Then another deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
But even from little, giving is good."
An offering given from little is measured equal to a thousand."
Then another deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
But giving with faith is also good."
Even few, being good, conquer many;
If one with faith gives even a little,
By that very deed he becomes happy in the hereafter."
Then another deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Giving with faith is also good; But giving of what is righteously acquired is also good."
A person, of what is obtained through effort and energy;
Having passed beyond Yama's Vetaraṇī river,
That mortal attains divine states."
Then another deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Giving with faith is also good; giving from what is righteously acquired is also good;
but giving with discrimination is also good."
those who are worthy of offerings here in the world of the living;
gifts given to them are of great fruit,
like seeds sown in a good field."
Then another deity uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One:
Giving with faith is also good; giving from what is righteously acquired is also good;
giving with discrimination is also good; but self-control towards living beings is also good."
they do not do evil through fear of others' censure;
they praise the timid, not the hero there,
for the peaceful do not do evil out of fear."
Then another deity said this to the Blessed One: "Whose statement, Blessed One, was well spoken?"
"All of yours was well spoken in a way, but listen to me too:
but the state of the Teaching is better than giving;
for in the past and in times even more remote, the peaceful,
those with wisdom, attained Nibbāna itself."