24.12 The Story about Aṅkura

Dhp 356-359

Burlingame: The Greater and the Lesser Gift

Compare: Dhp-a 14.2f

Aṅkura was a good Brahmin who set up many fire places and worshipped the gods for ten thousand years, yet his position in the heavens was less than Indaka who gave just one spoonful of rice to Elder Anuruddha; the Buddha explained with some verses that one should give with discrimination, as gifts given to those who are free of defilements yield great fruit.

Keywords: Offerings, Devatās

“Fields are ruined by grassy weeds,” [30.242] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Yellowstone Rock, Paṇḍukambala Silā, with reference to Aṅkura. The story is related in detail in the commentary on the verse: “Those wise ones intent on meditation,” AJ: Dhp 181 above, Dhp-a 14.2f. for it is said there with reference to Indaka: It seems that on a certain occasion, when the Elder Anuruddha entered the village to receive alms, he gave him a spoonful of his own food. This was Indaka’s work of merit. Although Aṅkura had for ten thousand years made a row of fire-places twelve leagues long, and had given abundant alms, Indaka’s deed received the greater reward. Therefore Indaka spoke as he did.

Thereupon the Teacher said: “Aṅkura, one should use discrimination in giving alms. In that way alms, like seed sown on good soil, yield abundant fruit.” But you did not do so. {4.81} Hence your alms did not become fruitful. To make the matter clearer he said:

Giving gifts discerningly to
those worthy of gifts here in the
world is praised by the Happy One,
in what is given is great fruit,
like seeds that are sewn in good soil.

Having thus spoken, he expounded the Dhamma further by pronouncing the following verses:

356. Tiṇadosāni khettāni, rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā,
tasmā hi vītarāgesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds,
people are ruined by passion,
therefore there is great fruit for that
given to those without passion.

357. Tiṇadosāni khettāni, dosadosā ayaṁ pajā,
tasmā hi vītadosesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds,
people are ruined by hatred,
therefore there is great fruit for that
given to those without hatred.

358. Tiṇadosāni khettāni, mohadosā ayaṁ pajā,
tasmā hi vītamohesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds,
people are ruined by delusion,
therefore there is great fruit for that
given to those without delusion.

359. Tiṇadosāni khettāni, icchādosā ayaṁ pajā,
tasmā hi vigaticchesu dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds,
people are ruined by desire,
therefore there is great fruit for that
given to those without desire.

At the end of the teaching Aṅkura and Indaka were established in the fruition of Stream-entry, and those who had assembled also had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.