法苑珠林 42.47

42.47

又十誦律云。有比丘受他請食。默然入默然去。諸居士呵責云。我等不知食好不好。諸比丘白佛。佛言。從今食時應為施主唄讚祝願。不知誰作。佛言。上座作。若上座不能。次第能者應作。故僧祇律。上座應知。前人為何等施。當為應時祝願。若為亡人施福者。應如是祝願云。

Furthermore, the *Sarvāstivāda-vinaya* says: There were bhikṣus who accepted invitations from others for meals; they entered in silence and left in silence. The householders reproached them, saying: 'We do not know whether the food was good or not.' The bhikṣus reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha said: 'From now on, at mealtime, you should chant pāṭha and pronounce blessings and prayers for the donor.' They did not know who should do it. The Buddha said: 'The senior elder should do it. If the senior elder cannot, the next capable one in order should do it.' Therefore, according to the *Mahāsaṃghika-vinaya*, the senior elder should know what kind of donation the other person is making, and should pronounce timely blessings and prayers for them. If making an offering to dedicate merit for a deceased person, one should pronounce blessings and prayers thus: