[308] 37. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now on that occasion the laywoman Veḷukaṇḍakī, Nandamātā, was establishing an offering (dakkhiṇā) endowed with six factors in the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna. The Blessed One, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, saw the laywoman Veḷukaṇḍakī, Nandamātā, establishing an offering endowed with six factors in the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna; and having seen her, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, this laywoman Veḷukaṇḍakī, Nandamātā, is establishing an offering endowed with six factors in the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna.
"And how, bhikkhus, is an offering endowed with six factors? Here, bhikkhus, the donor (dāyaka) has three factors and the recipients (paṭiggāhaka) have three factors. What are the three factors of the donor? Here, bhikkhus, before giving the donor is glad; while giving he makes his mind (citta) serene with confidence; having given he is satisfied. These are the three factors of the donor. What are the three factors of the recipients? Here, bhikkhus, the recipients are devoid of lust (rāga) or are practising for the removal of lust; they are devoid of hatred or are practising for the removal of hatred; they are devoid of delusion or are practising for the removal of delusion. These are the three factors of the recipients. Thus there are three factors of the donor and three factors of the recipients. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that an offering is endowed with six factors.
"Of an offering thus endowed with six factors, bhikkhus, it is not easy to take the measure of the merit thus: 'Just so much is the stream of merit, the stream of the wholesome — a nutriment of happiness, heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — which leads to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness.' Rather, it is simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.
"Just as, bhikkhus, in the great ocean it is not easy to take the measure of the water thus: 'There are so many āḷhakas of water, or so many hundreds of āḷhakas of water, or so many thousands of āḷhakas of water, or so many hundreds of thousands of āḷhakas of water,' but rather it is simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water — even so, bhikkhus, of an offering thus endowed with six factors it is not easy to take the measure of the merit thus: 'Just so much is the stream of merit, the stream of the wholesome — a nutriment of happiness, heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven — which leads to what is wished for, desired, and agreeable, to welfare and to happiness.' Rather, it is simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit."
Before giving, one is glad;
while giving, one makes the mind serene;
having given, one is satisfied:
this is the success of the sacrifice.
Devoid of lust, devoid of hatred,
devoid of delusion, without taints (āsava) —
the accomplished field for the sacrifice
are the restrained ones who live the holy life.
Having oneself attended upon them
and given with one's own hands,
that sacrifice, because of oneself and because of others,
is of great fruit.
Having thus sacrificed, the intelligent one,
a person of faith, with a mind released,
the wise one is reborn
in a happy world free of affliction.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.