Verses on Dhamma 25.12.p6

25.12.p6

Sumanaseṭṭhinopi chatte adhivatthā devatā ‘‘aho dānaṃ paramadānaṃ, upariṭṭhe supatiṭṭhita’’nti vatvā tikkhattuṃ sādhukāramadāsi. Atha naṃ seṭṭhi ‘‘kiṃ maṃ ettakaṃ kālaṃ dānaṃ dadamānaṃ na passasī’’ti āha. Nāhaṃ tava dānaṃ ārabbha sādhukāraṃ demi, annabhārena pana upariṭṭhassa dinnapiṇḍapāte pasīditvā mayā esa sādhukāro pavattitoti. So ‘‘acchariyaṃ vata, bho, ahaṃ ettakaṃ kālaṃ dānaṃ dadanto devataṃ sādhukāraṃ dāpetuṃ nāsakkhiṃ, annabhāro maṃ nissāya jīvanto ekapiṇḍapāteneva sādhukāraṃ dāpesi, tassa dāne anucchavikaṃ katvā taṃ piṇḍapātaṃ mama santakaṃ karissāmī’’ti cintetvā taṃ pakkosāpetvā ‘‘ajja tayā kassaci kiñci dinna’’nti pucchi. ‘‘Āma, sāmi, upariṭṭhapaccekabuddhassa me ajja bhāgabhattaṃ dinna’’nti. ‘‘Handa, bho, kahāpaṇaṃ gahetvā etaṃ mayhaṃ piṇḍapātaṃ dehī’’ti? ‘‘Na demi, sāmī’’ti. So yāva sahassaṃ vaḍḍhesi, itaro sahassenāpi nādāsi. Atha naṃ ‘‘hotu, bho, yadi piṇḍapātaṃ na desi, sahassaṃ gahetvā pattiṃ me dehī’’ti āha. So ‘‘ayyena saddhiṃ mantetvā jānissāmī’’ti vegena paccekabuddhaṃ sampāpuṇitvā, ‘‘bhante sumanaseṭṭhi, sahassaṃ datvā tumhākaṃ piṇḍapāte pattiṃ yācati, kiṃ karomī’’ti pucchi.

The deity residing in Treasurer Sumana’s parasol exclaimed, “Oh, the gift, supreme gift, well bestowed on Upariṭṭha!” and thrice applauded him. Said the treasurer to him, “Have you not seen me giving gifts all along?” The deity replied, “I am not giving applause with reference to this gift of yours; it was because of the pleasure and satisfaction it afforded me to see Annabhāra give alms to Upariṭṭha that I bestowed this applause.” “Wonderful indeed!” exclaimed the treasurer. “All this time I have given alms, and yet have not succeeded in winning applause from this deity. But Annabhāra, who gains his living by working for me, has won applause from him by giving a single portion of alms. I will give him a suitable price for his gift and make this portion of alms my own.”

Accordingly the treasurer caused Annabhāra to be summoned and asked him, “Did you give alms to anybody to-day?” “Yes, master, I gave my portion of boiled rice to the Private Buddha Upariṭṭha to-day.” “Here, take this penny and give me this portion of alms.” “I will not give it, master.” The treasurer gradually increased his offer to a thousand pieces of money, but Annabhāra refused to give his portion of alms. Then said the treasurer, “Very well, sir, if you will not give me the portion of alms, take a thousand pieces of money and make over to me the merit of your gift.” Annabhāra replied, “I will consult with his reverence, and then make up my mind what to do.” So he went quickly to the Private Buddha and asked him, “Reverend Sir, the Treasurer Sumana has offered me a thousand pieces of money, asking me to make over to him the merit I acquired by giving you a portion of alms. What shall I do?”