[329] Then the chieftain (rājañña) Pāyāsi established a gift (dāna) for ascetics and brahmins, for paupers, wayfarers, vagrants, and beggars. But at that gift such food as this was given: broken-rice gruel with sour gruel as its accompaniment, and coarse garments with knotted fringes. Now a brahmin student (māṇava) named Uttara was the organizer of that gift. Having given the gift, he dedicated it thus: "By this gift may I be together with the chieftain Pāyāsi in this world only—not in the next."
The chieftain Pāyāsi heard: "It seems the student Uttara, having given the gift, dedicates it thus: 'By this gift may I be together with the chieftain Pāyāsi in this world only—not in the next.'" Then the chieftain Pāyāsi had the student Uttara summoned and said this: "It seems, dear Uttara, that having given the gift you dedicate it wholly thus: 'By this gift may I be together with the chieftain Pāyāsi in this world only—not in the next.'"
"So it is, sir."
"But why, dear Uttara, having given the gift, do you dedicate it thus: 'By this gift … not in the next'? Are we not, dear Uttara, seekers of merit, expecting the very fruit of the gift?"
"At your gift such food as this is given—broken-rice gruel with sour gruel as its accompaniment—which you would not wish to touch even with your foot, let alone eat; and coarse garments with knotted fringes, which you would not wish to touch even with your foot, let alone wear. Now you, sir, are dear and agreeable to us; how can we join one who is dear and agreeable with what is disagreeable?"
"Then, dear Uttara, establish as a gift the same kind of food that I eat, and establish the same kind of garments that I wear."
"So it is, sir," the student Uttara replied to the chieftain Pāyāsi, and he established as a gift the same kind of food that the chieftain Pāyāsi eats, and established the same kind of garments that the chieftain Pāyāsi wears.
Then the chieftain Pāyāsi, having given the gift without care, having given the gift not with his own hand, having given the gift without due regard, having given the gift as something cast away, with the breaking up of the body, after death, arose in companionship with the gods of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājika), in the empty Serīsaka mansion (vimāna). But the student named Uttara, who was the organizer of that gift, having given the gift with care, having given the gift with his own hand, having given the gift with due regard, having given the gift not as something cast away, with the breaking up of the body, after death, arose in a good destination, a heavenly world, in companionship with the gods of the Thirty-three (Tāvatiṃsa).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.