[362] "I ask Gotama, who is attentive to the words [of supplicants] (vadaññū)," (so said Māgha the student,)
"the wearer of the ochre robe, wandering homeless:
when a householder open to those who ask (yācayoga), a lord of giving (dānapati),
in need of merit, sacrifices seeking merit,
giving food and drink to others here —
how would the offering of the one sacrificing become pure?"
"When a householder open to those who ask, a lord of giving," ("Māgha," said the Blessed One,)
"in need of merit, sacrifices seeking merit,
giving food and drink to others here,
such a one would achieve success through those worthy of offerings (dakkhiṇeyya)."
"When a householder open to those who ask, a lord of giving," (so said Māgha the student,)
"in need of merit, sacrifices seeking merit,
giving food and drink to others here —
declare to me, Blessed One, those worthy of offerings."
"Those indeed who wander unattached in the world,
owning nothing, consummate, with self restrained —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them:
let the brahmin who seeks merit sacrifice [to them].
Those who have cut all fetters (saṃyojana) and bonds,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, without longing —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them:
let the brahmin who seeks merit sacrifice [to them].
Those released from all fetters,
tamed, liberated, untroubled, without longing —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those who, having abandoned lust (rāga), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha),
their taints (āsava) destroyed, have fulfilled the holy life —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those in whom no deceit dwells, nor conceit,
their taints destroyed, the holy life fulfilled —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those free of greed, without [any sense of] 'mine', without longing,
their taints destroyed, the holy life fulfilled —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those indeed who have not fallen prey to cravings (taṇhā),
who, having crossed the flood, wander without [anything called] 'mine' —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those in whom there is no craving for anything in the world,
for this or that existence, here or beyond —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those who, having left sensual pleasures (kāmā) behind, wander homeless,
their selves well restrained, straight as a shuttle —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those free of lust, their faculties well composed,
released, as the moon from the grasp of Rāhu —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
The calmed ones, free of lust, without anger,
for whom there is no [further] destination, having given up [all] here —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those who, having abandoned birth and death without remainder,
have passed beyond all perplexity —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those who wander in the world with themselves as their island,
owning nothing, everywhere released —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
Those indeed who know this here as it really is (yathātathā):
'This is the last; there is no renewed existence' —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them.
He who, attained to knowledge (vedagū), delighting in jhāna, mindful (satīmā),
has reached full awakening (sambodhi), a refuge for many —
at the proper time one should bestow the oblation upon them:
let the brahmin who seeks merit sacrifice [to them]."
"Surely my questioning was not in vain:
the Blessed One has declared to me those worthy of offerings.
For you know this here as it really is;
indeed, so has this Dhamma been understood by you."
"When a householder open to those who ask, a lord of giving," (so said Māgha the student,)
"in need of merit, sacrifices seeking merit,
giving food and drink to others here —
declare to me, Blessed One, the accomplishment of sacrifice (yaññasampadā)."
"Sacrifice, and while sacrificing," ("Māgha," said the Blessed One,)
"make the mind (citta) serene and clear in every respect.
The sacrifice is the object (ārammaṇa) of the one who sacrifices:
standing firm therein, one abandons hatred.
He, rid of lust and having dispelled hatred,
developing a measureless mind of loving-kindness (mettā),
constantly heedful by night and by day,
pervades all quarters with the boundless state (appamaññā)."
"Who is purified? Who is freed? And who is bound?
By what self does one go to the Brahmā world (brahmaloka)?
Asked, O sage (muni), declare it to me who does not know;
for today I have seen the Blessed One with my own eyes as Brahmā —
for truly you are for us the equal of Brahmā.
How does one arise in the Brahmā world, (O radiant one)?"
"One who sacrifices the threefold accomplishment of sacrifice," ("Māgha," said the Blessed One,)
"such a one would achieve success through those worthy of offerings.
Having thus rightly sacrificed, one open to those who ask
arises in the Brahmā world — so I declare."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.