Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho vacchagotto paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vacchagotto paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“I have heard, worthy Gotama, that the ascetic Gotama says this: “sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, samaṇo gotamo evamāha: ‘Gifts should only be given to me, not to others. ‘mayhameva dānaṁ dātabbaṁ, nāññesaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ; Gifts should only be given to my disciples, not to the disciples of others. mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ, nāññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ; Only what is given to me is very fruitful, not what is given to others. mayhameva dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, nāññesaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ; Only what is given to my disciples is very fruitful, not what is given to the disciples of others.’ mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, nāññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalan’ti. Ye te, bho gotama, evamāhaṁsu ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha: “mayhameva dānaṁ dātabbaṁ, nāññesaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ. Mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ, nāññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dānaṁ dātabbaṁ. Mayhameva dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, nāññesaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ. Mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, nāññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalan”’ti.

I trust that those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism? Kacci te bhoto gotamassa vuttavādino na ca bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhanti, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaronti, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānupāto gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchati? For we don’t want to misrepresent the worthy Gotama.” Anabbhakkhātukāmā hi mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotaman”ti.

“Vaccha, those who say this “Ye te, vaccha, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha: “mayhameva dānaṁ dātabbaṁ …pe… nāññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalan”’ti do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue. na me te vuttavādino. Abbhācikkhanti ca pana maṁ asatā abhūtena.

Anyone who prevents another from giving makes an obstacle and a roadblock for three individuals. Yo kho, vaccha, paraṁ dānaṁ dadantaṁ vāreti so tiṇṇaṁ antarāyakaro hoti, tiṇṇaṁ pāripanthiko. What three? Katamesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ? The giver is obstructed from making merit. The receiver is obstructed from getting what is offered. And they’ve already broken and damaged themselves. Dāyakassa puññantarāyakaro hoti, paṭiggāhakānaṁ lābhantarāyakaro hoti, pubbeva kho panassa attā khato ca hoti upahato ca. Anyone who prevents another from giving makes an obstacle and a roadblock for these three individuals. Yo kho, vaccha, paraṁ dānaṁ dadantaṁ vāreti so imesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ antarāyakaro hoti, tiṇṇaṁ pāripanthiko.

Vaccha, this is what I say: Ahaṁ kho pana, vaccha, evaṁ vadāmi: ‘You even make merit by tipping out dish-washing water in a cesspool or a sump with living creatures in it, thinking, ‘ye hi te candanikāya vā oligalle vā pāṇā, tatrapi yo thālidhovanaṁ vā sarāvadhovanaṁ vā chaḍḍeti: “May any creatures here be nourished!”’ “ye tattha pāṇā te tena yāpentū”’ti, tato nidānampāhaṁ, vaccha, puññassa āgamaṁ vadāmi. How much more then for human beings! Ko pana vādo manussabhūte.

However, I also say that a gift to an ethical person is more fruitful than one to an unethical person. They’ve given up five factors, and possess five factors. Api cāhaṁ, vaccha, sīlavato dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ vadāmi, no tathā dussīlassa, so ca hoti pañcaṅgavippahīno pañcaṅgasamannāgato.

What are the five factors they’ve given up? Katamāni pañcaṅgāni pahīnāni honti? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. Kāmacchando pahīno hoti, byāpādo pahīno hoti, thinamiddhaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, vicikicchā pahīnā hoti. These are the five factors they’ve given up. Imāni pañcaṅgāni vippahīnāni honti.

What are the five factors they possess? Katamehi pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato hoti? The entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and knowledge and vision of freedom. Asekkhena sīlakkhandhena samannāgato hoti, asekkhena samādhikkhandhena samannāgato hoti, asekkhena paññākkhandhena samannāgato hoti, asekkhena vimuttikkhandhena samannāgato hoti, asekkhena vimuttiñāṇadassanakkhandhena samannāgato hoti; These are the five factors they possess. imehi pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato hoti.

I say that a gift to anyone who has given up these five factors and possesses these five factors is very fruitful. Iti pañcaṅgavippahīne pañcaṅgasamannāgate dinnaṁ mahapphalanti vadāmīti.

Cows may be black or white, Iti kaṇhāsu setāsu, red or tawny, rohiṇīsu harīsu vā; mottled or uniform, Kammāsāsu sarūpāsu, or pigeon-colored. gosu pārevatāsu vā.

But when one is born among them, Yāsu kāsuci etāsu, the bull that’s tamed—danto jāyati puṅgavo; a behemoth, powerful, Dhorayho balasampanno, well-paced in pulling forward—kalyāṇajavanikkamo; they yoke the load just to him, Tameva bhāre yuñjanti, regardless of his color. nāssa vaṇṇaṁ parikkhare.

So it is for humans, Evamevaṁ manussesu, wherever they may be born—yasmiṁ kasmiñci jātiye; among aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse, menials, or corpse-workers and scavengers—sudde caṇḍālapukkuse.

one is born among them, Yāsu kāsuci etāsu, tamed, true to their vows. danto jāyati subbato; Firm in principle, accomplished in ethical conduct, Dhammaṭṭho sīlasampanno, truthful, conscientious, saccavādī hirīmano.

they’ve given up birth and death. Pahīnajātimaraṇo, Complete in the spiritual journey, brahmacariyassa kevalī; with burden put down, detached, Pannabhāro visaṁyutto, they’ve completed the task
and are free of defilements.
katakicco anāsavo.

Gone beyond all things, Pāragū sabbadhammānaṁ, they’re quenched by not grasping. anupādāya nibbuto; In that flawless field, Tasmiṁyeva viraje khette, a religious donation is abundant. vipulā hoti dakkhiṇā.

Fools who don’t understand—Bālā ca avijānantā, unlearned simpletons—dummedhā assutāvino; give their gifts to those outside, Bahiddhā denti dānāni, and don’t attend the peaceful ones. na hi sante upāsare.

But those who do attend the peaceful ones—Ye ca sante upāsanti, wise, esteemed as attentive—sappaññe dhīrasammate; and whose faith in the Holy One Saddhā ca nesaṁ sugate, has roots planted deep, mūlajātā patiṭṭhitā.

they go to the realm of the gods, Devalokañca te yanti, or are born here in a good family. kule vā idha jāyare; Gradually those astute ones Anupubbena nibbānaṁ, reach extinguishment.” adhigacchanti paṇḍitā”ti.