[125] Bhikkhus, there are these eight rebirths on account of giving (dānūpapatti). What eight?
Here, bhikkhus, someone gives a gift (dāna) to an ascetic or a brahmin — food, drink, clothing, a vehicle, garlands, scents and unguents, bedding, lodging, and lamps. Whatever he gives, he expects something in return. He sees affluent khattiyas, affluent brahmins, or affluent householders furnished and endowed with the five cords of sensual pleasure, amusing themselves with them, and it occurs to him: "Oh, that with the breakup of the body, after death, I might be reborn in companionship with affluent khattiyas, affluent brahmins, or affluent householders!" He exerts that mind (citta), he resolves that mind, he develops that mind. That mind of his, being set on what is inferior and undeveloped toward anything higher, [leads to rebirth there]:¹ with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with affluent khattiyas, affluent brahmins, or affluent householders. And that, I say, is for one who is virtuous, not for one who is unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the heart's aspiration (cetopaṇidhi) of the virtuous one succeeds because of its purity.
Again, bhikkhus, someone gives a gift to an ascetic or a brahmin — food, drink, clothing, a vehicle, garlands, scents and unguents, bedding, lodging, and lamps. Whatever he gives, he expects something in return. He has heard: "The devas of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā) are long-lived, beautiful, and abound in happiness," and it occurs to him: "Oh, that with the breakup of the body, after death, I might be reborn in companionship with the devas of the Four Great Kings!" He exerts that mind, he resolves that mind, he develops that mind. That mind of his, being set on what is inferior and undeveloped toward anything higher, [leads to rebirth there]: with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the devas of the Four Great Kings. And that, I say, is for one who is virtuous, not for one who is unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the heart's aspiration of the virtuous one succeeds because of its purity.
Again, bhikkhus, someone gives a gift to an ascetic or a brahmin — food, drink, clothing, a vehicle, garlands, scents and unguents, bedding, lodging, and lamps. Whatever he gives, he expects something in return. He has heard: "The Tāvatiṃsa devas … the Yāma devas, the Tusita devas, the Nimmānaratī devas, the Paranimmitavasavattī devas are long-lived, beautiful, and abound in happiness," and it occurs to him: "Oh, that with the breakup of the body, after death, I might be reborn in companionship with the Paranimmitavasavattī devas!" He exerts that mind, he resolves that mind, he develops that mind. That mind of his, being set on what is inferior and undeveloped toward anything higher, [leads to rebirth there]: with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Paranimmitavasavattī devas. And that, I say, is for one who is virtuous, not for one who is unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the heart's aspiration of the virtuous one succeeds because of its purity.
Again, bhikkhus, someone gives a gift to an ascetic or a brahmin — food, drink, clothing, a vehicle, garlands, scents and unguents, bedding, lodging, and lamps. Whatever he gives, he expects something in return. He has heard: "The devas of Brahmā's retinue (Brahmakāyikā) are long-lived, beautiful, and abound in happiness," and it occurs to him: "Oh, that with the breakup of the body, after death, I might be reborn in companionship with the devas of Brahmā's retinue!" He exerts that mind, he resolves that mind, he develops that mind. That mind of his, being set on what is inferior and undeveloped toward anything higher, [leads to rebirth there]: with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the devas of Brahmā's retinue. And that, I say, is for one who is virtuous, not for one who is unvirtuous; for one devoid of lust, not for one with lust. Bhikkhus, the heart's aspiration of the virtuous one succeeds because of his freedom from lust.
These, bhikkhus, are the eight rebirths on account of giving.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.