[44] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed, took his bowl and robe, and approached the residence of Ugga the householder of Vesālī; having approached, he sat down on the seat that had been prepared. Then Ugga the householder of Vesālī approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Ugga the householder of Vesālī said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my sāla-flower confection is agreeable to me; may the Blessed One accept it from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted it out of compassion.
"Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my excellent, well-prepared pork is agreeable to me; may the Blessed One accept it from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted it out of compassion.
"Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my nāliya greens prepared in oil are agreeable to me; may the Blessed One accept them from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted them out of compassion.
"Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my boiled rice of sāli grain, cleaned of black grains, accompanied by many soups and many curries, is agreeable to me; may the Blessed One accept it from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted it out of compassion.
"Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my cloths from Kāsi are agreeable to me; may the Blessed One accept them from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted them out of compassion.
"Venerable sir, in the Blessed One's own presence I heard this, in his own presence I learned it: 'The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable.' Venerable sir, my couch (pallaṅka) — spread with a long-fleeced woollen cover, spread with a white woollen cover, spread with a flower-embroidered woollen cover, with a choice spread of kadalī-deer hide, with a canopy above and red bolsters at both ends — is agreeable to me. Yet, venerable sir, we know that this is not allowable for the Blessed One. But this sandalwood plank of mine is worth more than a hundred thousand; may the Blessed One accept it from me out of compassion." The Blessed One accepted it out of compassion. Then the Blessed One expressed his appreciation to Ugga the householder of Vesālī with these verses of appreciation:
"The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable —
one who gives willingly to the upright
clothing, bedding, food and drink,
and requisites of many kinds;
knowing the Arahants to be like a field,
what is given up and relinquished is not clung to:
that true person, having given what is hard to give,
a giver of the agreeable, gains the agreeable."
Then the Blessed One, having expressed his appreciation to Ugga the householder of Vesālī with these verses of appreciation, rose from his seat and departed. Then, at a later time, Ugga the householder of Vesālī passed away, and when he had passed away, Ugga the householder of Vesālī was reborn among a certain group of mind-made (manomaya) beings. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then, when the night was far advanced, Ugga the young deva (devaputta), of surpassing beauty, illuminating the whole of Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. As he stood to one side, the Blessed One said this to Ugga the young deva: "I hope, Ugga, it is as you intended?" "Indeed, Blessed One, it is as I intended." Then the Blessed One addressed Ugga the young deva with these verses:
"The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable;
the giver of the foremost gains the foremost in return;
the giver of the excellent becomes a gainer of the excellent;
the giver of the best attains the best state.
The person who gives the foremost, gives the excellent,
and gives the best —
wherever he is reborn,
he is long-lived and of great fame."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.