{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn1.33/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn1.33","id":"suttacentral_sn1.33","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn1.33/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta\u2019s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Because of stinginess and negligence a gift is not given. Wanting merit, a smart person would give.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. Some who have little are happy to provide, while some who have much don\u2019t wish to give. An offering given from little is multiplied a thousand times.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it\u2019s also good to give out of faith. Giving and warfare are similar, they say, for even a few of the good may conquer the many. If a faithful person gives even a little, it still brings them happiness in the hereafter.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it\u2019s also good to give out of faith. And it\u2019s also good to give legitimate wealth. A personage who gives legitimate wealth, earned by his efforts and initiative, has passed over Yama\u2019s Vetara\u1e47\u012b River; that mortal arrives at celestial fields.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it\u2019s also good to give out of faith. And it\u2019s also good to give legitimate wealth. And it\u2019s also good to give intelligently. The Holy One praises giving intelligently to those worthy of offerings here  <j>in the world of the living. What\u2019s given to these is very fruitful, like seeds sown in a fertile field.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cGood, good fellow, is giving! Even when one has little, giving is good. And it\u2019s also good to give out of faith. And it\u2019s also good to give legitimate wealth. And it\u2019s also good to give intelligently. And it\u2019s also good to be restrained  <j>when it comes to living creatures. One who lives without harming any living being does no bad because of others\u2019 blame. Were that the case they praise the coward, <j>not the brave; for the virtuous do no bad out of fear.\u201d Then another deity said to the Buddha, \u201cSir, who has spoken well?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also: A gift of faith is praised in many ways, but a passage of teaching is better than giving, for the virtuous, in days old and older still, even attained extinction with wisdom.\u201d","title":"Good","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":485}