[285] Once in the past, venerable sir, I was a king named Serī, a giver (dāyaka), a lord of giving (dānapati), one who spoke in praise of giving (dāna). At my four gates gifts were given to ascetics, brahmins, paupers, wayfarers, mendicants, and beggars. Then, venerable sir, the ladies of the harem (itthāgāra) approached me and said this: "Gifts are given by Your Majesty, but no gifts are given by us. It would be good if we too, relying on Your Majesty, might give gifts and make merit (puñña)." Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: "I am a giver, a lord of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say, 'We shall give gifts,' what am I to say?" So, venerable sir, I gave the first gate to the ladies of the harem. There the gifts of the ladies of the harem were given, and my own giving receded. Then, venerable sir, the vassal khattiyas (khattiyā anuyuttā) approached me and said to me: "Gifts are given by Your Majesty, gifts are given by the ladies of the harem, but no gifts are given by us. It would be good if we too, relying on Your Majesty, might give gifts and make merit." Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: "I am a giver, a lord of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say, 'We shall give gifts,' what am I to say?" So, venerable sir, I gave the second gate to the vassal khattiyas. There the gifts of the vassal khattiyas were given, and my own giving receded. Then, venerable sir, the army (balakāya) approached me and said this: "Gifts are given by Your Majesty, gifts are given by the ladies of the harem, gifts are given by the vassal khattiyas, but no gifts are given by us. It would be good if we too, relying on Your Majesty, might give gifts and make merit." Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: "I am a giver, a lord of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say, 'We shall give gifts,' what am I to say?" So, venerable sir, I gave the third gate to the army. There the gifts of the army were given, and my own giving receded. Then, venerable sir, the brahmins and householders approached me and said this: "Gifts are given by Your Majesty, gifts are given by the ladies of the harem, gifts are given by the vassal khattiyas, gifts are given by the army, but no gifts are given by us. It would be good if we too, relying on Your Majesty, might give gifts and make merit." Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: "I am a giver, a lord of giving, one who speaks in praise of giving. When they say, 'We shall give gifts,' what am I to say?" So, venerable sir, I gave the fourth gate to the brahmins and householders. There the gifts of the brahmins and householders were given, and my own giving receded. Then, venerable sir, my men approached me and said this: "Now no gift at all is being given by Your Majesty." When this was said, venerable sir, I said to those men: "Well then, my men, of whatever revenue arises in the outlying districts, remit half of it to the inner palace (antepura), and right there give half as gifts to ascetics, brahmins, paupers, wayfarers, mendicants, and beggars." So, venerable sir, I do not find the limit of the merit thus made for so long a time, of the wholesome deeds thus done for so long a time, so as to say: "Just so much is merit," or "Just so much is the result of merit (puññavipāka)," or "For just so long must one abide in concord (samagge)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.