[126] Bhikkhus, there are these three bases of meritorious action (puññakiriyāvatthu). What three? The basis of meritorious action consisting in giving (dānamaya),¹ the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct (sīlamaya), and the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development (bhāvanāmaya).
Here, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a limited degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a limited degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in an unfortunate condition among human beings.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a moderate degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a moderate degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in a fortunate condition among human beings.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the devas of the Cātummahārājikā realm. There, bhikkhus, the Four Great Kings, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpass the devas of the Cātummahārājikā realm in ten respects: in divine life span, in divine beauty, in divine happiness, in divine fame, in divine sovereignty, in divine forms, in divine sounds, in divine odours, in divine tastes, and in divine tangibles.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Tāvatiṃsa devas. There, bhikkhus, Sakka, lord of devas, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpasses the Tāvatiṃsa devas in ten respects: in divine life span … in divine tangibles.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Yāma devas. There, bhikkhus, the young deva Suyāma, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpasses the Yāma devas in ten respects: in divine life span … in divine tangibles.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Tusita devas. There, bhikkhus, the young deva Santusita, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpasses the Tusita devas in ten respects: in divine life span … in divine tangibles.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Nimmānaratī devas. There, bhikkhus, the young deva Sunimmita, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpasses the Nimmānaratī devas in ten respects: in divine life span … in divine tangibles.
Here again, bhikkhus, someone has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to a superior degree; he has practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to a superior degree; and he does not attain to the basis of meritorious action consisting in mental development. With the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in companionship with the Paranimmitavasavattī devas. There, bhikkhus, the young deva Paranimmitavasavattī, having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in giving to an outstanding degree and having practised the basis of meritorious action consisting in virtuous conduct to an outstanding degree, surpasses the Paranimmitavasavattī devas in ten respects: in divine life span, in divine beauty, in divine happiness, in divine fame, in divine sovereignty, in divine forms, in divine sounds, in divine odours, in divine tastes, and in divine tangibles.
These, bhikkhus, are the three bases of meritorious action.
¹ Variant note in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: the Sinhalese and European (PTS) editions read *puññakiriyāvatthuṃ*; so too below.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.