[134] **They hope, they extol, they yearn, they offer** — **They hope**: they hope for the gaining of forms, they hope for the gaining of sounds, they hope for the gaining of odours, they hope for the gaining of tastes, they hope for the gaining of tangibles; they hope for the gaining of sons, they hope for the gaining of a wife, they hope for the gaining of wealth, they hope for the gaining of fame, they hope for the gaining of sovereignty; they hope for the gaining of individual existence in a family of affluent khattiyas, in a family of affluent brahmins, in a family of affluent householders, among the devas of the realm of the Four Great Kings … among the devas of Brahmā's retinue — they hope for, they welcome, they aspire to, they long for the gaining of individual existence there. Hence, "they hope."
**They extol**: they extol the sacrifice, or they extol its fruit, or they extol the one worthy of offerings (dakkhiṇeyya). How do they extol the sacrifice? "A dear thing was given, an agreeable thing was given, an excellent thing was given, an allowable thing was given, it was given with discrimination, a blameless thing was given, it was given repeatedly; while giving, the mind (citta) was gladdened" — thus they extol, proclaim, describe with praise, and commend. Thus they extol the sacrifice. How do they extol its fruit? "On account of this there will be the gaining of forms, there will be the gaining of sounds, there will be the gaining of odours, there will be the gaining of tastes, there will be the gaining of tangibles; there will be the gaining of individual existence in a family of affluent khattiyas, in a family of affluent brahmins … among the devas of Brahmā's retinue" — thus they extol, proclaim, describe with praise, and commend. Thus they extol its fruit. How do they extol the one worthy of offerings? "Those worthy of offerings are accomplished in birth, accomplished in clan; they are reciters, bearers of the hymns, who have gone to the far shore of the three Vedas together with the vocabularies and the rituals, together with the phonology, with the histories as the fifth; skilled in the words, grammarians, fully versed in cosmology and in the marks of a Great Man; they are devoid of lust (rāga), or are practising for the removal of lust; devoid of hatred, or are practising for the removal of hatred; devoid of delusion, or are practising for the removal of delusion; accomplished in faith, accomplished in virtue, accomplished in concentration (samādhi), accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation" — thus they extol, proclaim, describe with praise, and commend. Thus they extol the one worthy of offerings. Hence, "they hope, they extol."
**They yearn**: they yearn for the gaining of forms, they yearn for the gaining of sounds, they yearn for the gaining of odours, they yearn for the gaining of tastes, they yearn for the gaining of tangibles; they yearn for the gaining of individual existence in a family of affluent khattiyas … they yearn for the gaining of individual existence among the devas of Brahmā's retinue. Hence, "they hope, they extol, they yearn."
**They offer**: they offer, they give, they sacrifice, they relinquish robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick; food, drink, clothing, vehicles, garlands, scents, unguents, beds, dwellings, and lamps. Hence, "they hope, they extol, they yearn, they offer."
**"Puṇṇaka," said the Blessed One**: the Blessed One addresses that brahmin by name. **"Blessed One" (Bhagavā)**: this is a term of reverence … that is, "Blessed One." Hence, "'Puṇṇaka,' said the Blessed One."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.