4.
The Discourse on the Poor
260.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"Once in the past, monks, a certain man in this very Rājagaha was a poor human being, a wretched human being, a miserable human being. He took upon himself faith in the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder, he took upon himself morality, he took upon himself learning, he took upon himself generosity, he took upon himself wisdom. Having taken upon himself faith in the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder, having taken upon himself morality, having taken upon himself learning, having taken upon himself generosity, having taken upon himself wisdom, upon the body's collapse at death, he was reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world, in the company of the Thirty-three gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and glory. Thereupon, monks, the gods of the Thirty-three grumbled, criticised, and complained - 'Wonderful indeed, friend, marvellous indeed, friend! For this young god, when formerly being a human being, was a poor human being, a wretched human being, a miserable human being; upon the body's collapse at death, he was reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world, in the company of the Thirty-three gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and glory.'
"Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed the gods of the Thirty-three - 'Do not, sirs, grumble at this young god. This young god, sirs, when formerly being a human being, took upon himself faith in the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder, he took upon himself morality, he took upon himself learning, he took upon himself generosity, he took upon himself wisdom. Having taken upon himself faith in the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder, having taken upon himself morality, having taken upon himself learning, having taken upon himself generosity, having taken upon himself wisdom, upon the body's collapse at death, he was reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world, in the company of the Thirty-three gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and glory.' Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, conciliating the gods of the Thirty-three, at that time spoke these verses -
And whose morality is good, dear to the noble ones, praised.
They call him 'not poor', his life is not in vain.
The wise one should pursue, remembering the Buddhas' teaching."