[1725] [Sakavādin:] It should not be said: "What is given to the Saṅgha bears great fruit"?
[Paravādin:] Yes.
[Sakavādin:] But did not Sakka, lord of the devas, say this to the Blessed One:
"For humans who sacrifice,
for living beings seeking merit,
who make merit of the acquisitive kind (opadhika)—
where does what is given bear great fruit?"
[The Blessed One replied:]
"The four who are practising
and the four established in the fruits:
this is the Saṅgha, upright,
endowed with wisdom, virtue, and concentration (samādhi).
For humans who sacrifice,
for living beings seeking merit,
who make merit of the acquisitive kind—
what is given to the Saṅgha bears great fruit."²
"For this Saṅgha is vast, grown great;
it is immeasurable, as the ocean, the great sea.
These, the foremost, disciples of the hero among men,
are bringers of light who proclaim the Dhamma.
For those who give a gift dedicated to the Saṅgha,
theirs is well given, well offered, well sacrificed;
that offering (dakkhiṇā), directed to the Saṅgha and firmly established,
bears great fruit and is praised by the Knowers of the World.
Recollecting a sacrifice such as this,
those who go about in the world with joy arisen,
having removed the stain of stinginess together with its root,
blameless, attain the heavenly place."
Is there indeed such a discourse?
[Paravādin:] Yes.
[Sakavādin:] Well then, what is given to the Saṅgha bears great fruit.
The Discussion "It Should Not Be Said That What Is Given to the Saṅgha Bears Great Fruit" [is ended].
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The Discussion "It Should Not Be Said That What Is Given to the Buddha Bears Great Fruit"
[Siam ed. footnotes: ¹ M. U. (Majjhima Nikāya, Uparipaṇṇāsaka) 416; ² Saṃ. Sagāthā. (Saṃyutta Nikāya, Sagāthāvagga) 295.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.