[87] Standing to one side, a certain deity (devatā) recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
"Through stinginess (macchera) and heedlessness (pamāda),
a gift (dāna) is thus not given;
by one desiring merit (puñña),
by one who understands, a gift ought to be given."
[Edition footnote ¹ (Siam Raṭṭha apparatus): the Burmese edition (ม.) here reads: "idamavoca bhagavā; attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā tatthev' antaradhāyiṃsū" ti — "The Blessed One said this. Elated, those deities paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on their right, and vanished right there."]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.