Ja 180 The Story about the Difficulty of (Giving) Gifts
(Duddadajātaka)
In the present two brothers get together and give alms to the Buddha, and to the Saṅgha, who then praises their good deed. The Buddha then tells a story of how rich and poor banded together to give alms to a holy man in the past.
1. Duddadaṁ dadamānānaṁ, dukkaraṁ kamma kubbataṁ,
Asanto nānukubbanti sataṁ Dhammo durannayo.
It’s hard to give offerings, it’s hard for one doing a good deed, the bad cannot imitate the good Dhamma which is hard to know.
2. Tasmā satañ-ca asataṁ nānā hoti ito gati,
Asanto nirayaṁ yanti, santo saggaparāyaṇā ti.
Therefore the good and bad go from here to different destinies, the bad will surely go to hell, the good cross over to heaven.
In this connection, it’s hard to give, for those lacking wisdom, under the influence of greed and hatred, are unable to give what is called a gift, therefore it’s hard to give, is said.
That is their offerings.
It’s hard for one doing a good deed, that deed of giving not everyone is able to do, it’s hard. That is their doings.
Bad means fools lacking wisdom.
Cannot imitate means cannot imitate that deed.
The good Dhamma means what is natural to the wise. This is said referring to giving.
Which is hard to know, because what is connected with the fruit is hard to know, that such a gift has such a result, is hard to understand.
Also hard to know, it is abstruse for those lacking in wisdom, having given a gift, they are unable to receive the result of what is known as a gift, this is also the meaning.
Go from here to different destinies, having fallen away from here, they go to the next world grasping at various rebirth linkings.
The bad will surely go to hell, those lacking in wisdom, lacking in virtue, not giving a gift, not protecting their virtue, go to hell.
The good cross over to heaven, but the wise, giving gifts, protecting their virtue, doing their feast-day duties, fulfilling the three ways of good conduct, By body, speech and mind. cross over to heaven, they experience abundant happiness and prosperity in heaven.