3:5 Māgha

Thus have a heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Then the brahmin student Māgha approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side [87] and said to the Blessed One:

“Master Gotama, I am a donor, a lord of giving, bountiful, devoted to charity. I seek wealth righteously, and having done so, from my wealth righteously gained, righteously acquired, I give to one person, I give to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten people; I give to twenty, thirty, forty, fifty people; I give to a hundred people and even more. When I give thus, Master Gotama, when I sacrifice thus, do I generate much merit?”

“Surely, student, when you give thus, when you sacrifice thus, you generate much merit. Student, one who is a donor, a lord of giving, bountiful, devoted to charity, who seeks wealth righteously, and having done so, from his wealth righteously gained, righteously acquired, gives to one person . . . gives to a hundred people and even more, generates much merit.”

Then the brahmin student Māgha addressed the Blessed One in verse:

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(Said the brahmin student Māgha)

487“I ask Master Gotama, the bountiful one,
wearing an ochre robe, wandering homeless:
when a householder devoted to charity, a lord of giving,
wanting merit, sacrifices intent on merit, [88]
by giving food and drink to others here,
in sacrificing, howReading kathaṃ with Be as against Ce and Ee kattha, “where?” All three editions of Pj II read kathaṃ in the construal. is his offering purified?” (1)

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(Māgha,” said the Blessed One)

488“When a householder devoted to charity, a lord of giving,
wanting merit, sacrifices intent on merit,
giving food and drink to others here:
such a one succeeds through those worthy of offerings.” (2)

(Said the brahmin student Māgha)

,

489“When a householder, a lord of giving, devoted to charity,
wanting merit, sacrifices intent on merit,
giving food and drink to others here:
describe, Blessed One, those worthy of offerings.” (3)

[The Blessed One:]

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490“Those who wander unattached in the world,
owning nothing, consummate, self-controlled:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (4)

491“Those who have cut off all fetters and bondage,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, desireless:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (5)

492“Those who are released from all fetters,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, desireless:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (6)

493“Those who have abandoned lust, hatred, and delusion,
whose influxes are destroyed, who have lived the spiritual life:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (7)

494“Those in whom there is no hypocrisy and conceit, [89]
who are devoid of greed, with no sense of ‘mine,’ desireless:Be reads pādas ab yesu na māyā vasati na māno, khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā, followed by the refrain. Be then adds another verse in which pādas ab read ye vītalobhā amamā nirāsā, khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā, followed by the refrain. In Ce and Ee, which I follow, the additional verse is absent. Rather, in verse 494 the first line of the additional verse in Be becomes pāda b, and there is no line khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā.
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (8)

495“Those who have not fallen prey to cravings,
who, having crossed the flood, wander with no sense of ‘mine’:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (9)

496“Those who have no craving for anything in the world,
for any state of existence here or beyond:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (10)

497“Those homeless ones who have abandoned sensual pleasures,
who are well self-controlled, straight as a shuttle:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (11)

498“Those devoid of lust, with well-concentrated faculties,
freed like the moon from the grip of Rāhu:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (12)

499“Those who are at peace, devoid of lust, not irritated,
for whom there are no destinations, having abandoned them here:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (13)

500“Those who have entirely cast off birth and death,
who have overcome all perplexity:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (14)

501“Those who wander in the world as islands in themselves,
owning nothing, in every way released:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (15)

502“Those here who know this just as it is:
‘This is the last life, there is no renewed existence’:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely oblation to them. (16) [90]

503“A Veda-master, delighting in jhāna, mindful,
attained to enlightenment, the refuge of many:
a brahmin who would sacrifice intent on merit
should make a timely offering to him.”In this verse the subject changes from the plural ye of the preceding verses (with its attributes also in the plural) to the singular yo vedagū, and the recipient of the offering changes, correspondingly, from plural tesu to singular tamhi. (17)

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(Said the brahmin student Māgha)

504“Surely my questions were not asked in vain;
the Blessed One has described for me those worthy of offerings.
You know this matter just as it is;
for this Dhamma has been thus understood by you. (18)

505“When a householder devoted to charity,
a lord of giving, wanting merit, sacrifices intent on merit,
giving food and drink to others here, declare to me,
Blessed One, the excellence of the sacrifice.” (19)

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[The Blessed One:]

506“Undertake sacrifice, and when sacrificing, “make the mind placid in every way.
For one sacrificing, the sacrifice is the basis:
established upon this, one discards faults. (20)

507“One devoid of lust, having removed hatred,
developing a measureless mind of loving-kindness,
constantly heedful day and night,
pervades all directions measurelessly.” (21)

[Māgha:]

508“Who is purified, freed, and bound?
By what means does one go to the brahma world?Ken’attanā gacchati brahmalokaṃ. I render this line in accordance with the gloss of Pj II: ken’attanā ti kena kāraṇena. Text has ken’attanā gacchati brahmalokaṃ, which Pj II glosses ken’attanā ti kena kāraṇena. The reflexive use of instrumental attanā is common in Pāli, but apart from verses 477, 756, and 1119 there is almost no explicit discussion in Sn of the opposition between views of attā and the Buddha’s teaching of anattā. I therefore think it unlikely that the brahmin asked his question with the view of an attā, a substantial self, as the underlying premise. The Buddha’s reply does not challenge such an assumption, and Pj II evidently takes attanā in a simple reflexive sense. I have translated the line in compliance with the comment that takes attanā as equivalent to kāraṇena, “cause, means.” Jayawickrama treats attanā as the reflexive pronoun in his rendering of the line: “With (the aid of what) does one go to the world of Brahma oneself?” Norman, however, translates it as if the speaker had assumed a metaphysical entity: “With what self does one go to the Brahma-world?”
Since I do not know, O muni, please tell me when asked.
The Blessed One is Brahmā made manifest, seen by me today, [91]
for in truth you are like Brahmā to us.
How is one reborn in the brahma world, O luminous one?” (22)

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[The Blessed One:]

509“One who performs a sacrifice with the threefold excellence, such a one should accomplish it with those worthy of offerings.
Having sacrificed thus, one rightly devoted to charity
is reborn in the brahma world, I say.” (23)

When this was said, the brahmin student Māgha said to the Blessed One: “Excellent, Master Gotama! . . . [as at I,7] . . . Let Master Gotama consider me a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.”

Māghasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ​. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho māgho māṇavo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"Ahañhi, bho gotama, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo; dhammena bhoge pariyesāmi; dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammādhigatehi ekassapi dadāmi dvinnampi tiṇṇampi catunnampi pañcannampi channampi sattannampi aṭṭhannampi navannampi dasannampi dadāmi, vīsāyapi tiṁsāyapi cattālīsāyapi paññāsāyapi dadāmi, satassapi dadāmi, bhiyyopi dadāmi. Kaccāhaṁ, bho gotama, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavāmī"ti?

"Taggha tvaṁ, māṇava, evaṁ dadanto evaṁ yajanto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavasi. Yo kho, māṇava, dāyako dānapati vadaññū yācayogo; dhammena bhoge pariyesati; dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā dhammaladdhehi bhogehi dhammādhigatehi ekassapi dadāti … pe … satassapi dadāti, bhiyyopi dadāti, bahuṁ so puññaṁ pasavatī"ti.

Atha kho māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi –

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(iti māgho māṇavo):

487"Pucchāmahaṁ gotamaṁ vadaññuṁ,
Kāsāyavāsiṁ agahaṁ carantaṁ;
Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Kathaṁ hutaṁ yajamānassa sujjhe".

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(māghāti bhagavā)

488 "Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi".

(iti māgho māṇavo):

489 "Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Akkhāhi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye".

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490 "Ye ve asattā vicaranti loke,
Akiñcanā kevalino yatattā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

491 Ye sabbasaṁyojanabandhanacchidā,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

492 Ye sabbasaṁyojanavippamuttā,
Dantā vimuttā anīghā nirāsā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

493 Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

494 Yesu na māyā vasati na māno,
Khīṇāsavā vūsitabrahmacariyā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

495 Ye ve na taṇhāsu upātipannā,
Vitareyya oghaṁ amamā caranti;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

496 Yesaṁ taṇhā natthi kuhiñci loke,
Bhavābhavāya idha vā huraṁ vā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

497 Ye kāme hitvā agahā caranti,
Susaññatattā tasaraṁva ujjuṁ;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

498 Ye vītarāgā susamāhitindriyā,
Candova rāhuggahaṇā pamuttā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

499 Samitāvino vītarāgā akopā,
Yesaṁ gatī natthidha vippahāya;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

500 Jahitvā jātimaraṇaṁ asesaṁ,
Kathaṅkathiṁ sabbamupātivattā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

501 Ye attadīpā vicaranti loke,
Akiñcanā sabbadhi vippamuttā;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

502 Ye hettha jānanti yathā tathā idaṁ,
Ayamantimā natthi punabbhavoti;
Kālena tesu habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha.

503 Yo vedagū jhānarato satīmā,
Sambodhipatto saraṇaṁ bahūnaṁ;
Kālena tamhi habyaṁ pavecche,
Yo brāhmaṇo puññapekkho yajetha".

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(iti māgho māṇavo):

504 "Addhā amoghā mama pucchanā ahu,
Akkhāsi me bhagavā dakkhiṇeyye;
Tvañhettha jānāsi yathā tathā idaṁ,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo.

505 Yo yācayogo dānapati gahaṭṭho,
Puññatthiko yajati puññapekkho;
Dadaṁ paresaṁ idha annapānaṁ,
Akkhāhi me bhagavā yaññasampadaṁ".

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506 "Yajassu yajamāno māghāti bhagavā,
Sabbattha ca vippasādehi cittaṁ;
Ārammaṇaṁ yajamānassa yañño,
Ettha patiṭṭhāya jahāti dosaṁ.

507 So vītarāgo pavineyya dosaṁ,
Mettaṁ cittaṁ bhāvayamappamāṇaṁ;
Rattindivaṁ satatamappamatto,
Sabbā disā pharati appamaññaṁ".

508 "Ko sujjhati muccati bajjhatī ca,
Kenattanā gacchati brahmalokaṁ;
Ajānato me muni brūhi puṭṭho,
Bhagavā hi me sakkhi brahmajjadiṭṭho;
Tuvañhi no brahmasamosi saccaṁ,
Kathaṁ upapajjati brahmalokaṁ jutima".

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(māghāti bhagavā):

509"Yo yajati tividhaṁ yaññasampadaṁ,
Ārādhaye dakkhiṇeyyebhi tādi;
Evaṁ yajitvā sammā yācayogo,
Upapajjati brahmalokanti brūmī"ti.

Evaṁ vutte, māgho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

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Māghasuttaṁ pañcamaṁ.