相应部第 2 相应（Sujato 英译）第 23 阅读页 · SN2.23 · With Serī

Linked Discourses 2.23Linked Discourses 2.233. Various Sectarians3. Various Sectarians

With SerīWith SerīStanding to one side, the godling Serī addressed the Buddha in verse:Standing to one side, the godling Serī addressed the Buddha in verse:“Both gods and humans“Both gods and humans

enjoy their food.enjoy their food.So what’s the name of the spiritSo what’s the name of the spiritwho doesn’t like food?”who doesn’t like food?”

“Those who give with faith“Those who give with faithand a clear and confident heart,and a clear and confident heart,partake of foodpartake of food

in this world and the next.in this world and the next.So you should dispel stinginess,So you should dispel stinginess,overcoming that stain, and give a gift.overcoming that stain, and give a gift.

The good deeds of sentient beingsThe good deeds of sentient beingssupport them in the next world.”support them in the next world.”“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,

how well said this was by the Buddha.” He repeated the Buddha’s verses, and said:how well said this was by the Buddha.” He repeated the Buddha’s verses, and said:“Once upon a time, sir, I was a king named Serī, a giver, a donor, who praised giving.“Once upon a time, sir, I was a king named Serī, a giver, a donor, who praised giving.I gave gifts at the four gates to ascetics and brahmins, to paupers, vagrants, supplicants, and beggars.I gave gifts at the four gates to ascetics and brahmins, to paupers, vagrants, supplicants, and beggars.

Then the ladies of my harem approached me and said,Then the ladies of my harem approached me and said,‘Your Majesty gives gifts, but we don’t.‘Your Majesty gives gifts, but we don’t.Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’

And so I gave the first gate to the ladies of my harem.And so I gave the first gate to the ladies of my harem.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.Then my aristocrat vassals approached me and said,Then my aristocrat vassals approached me and said,

‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, but we don’t.‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, but we don’t.Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,

‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’And so I gave the second gate to my aristocrat vassals.And so I gave the second gate to my aristocrat vassals.

There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.Then my troops approached me and said,Then my troops approached me and said,‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, your aristocrat vassals give gifts, but we don’t.‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, your aristocrat vassals give gifts, but we don’t.

Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.

When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’And so I gave the third gate to my troops.And so I gave the third gate to my troops.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.

Then my brahmins and householders approached me and said,Then my brahmins and householders approached me and said,‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, your aristocrat vassals give gifts, your troops give gifts, but we don’t.‘Your Majesty gives gifts, the ladies of your harem give gifts, your aristocrat vassals give gifts, your troops give gifts, but we don’t.Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’Your Majesty, please support us to give gifts and make merit.’

Then it occurred to me,Then it occurred to me,‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.‘I’m a giver, a donor, who praises giving.When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’When they say, “We would give gifts”, what am I to say?’

And so I gave the fourth gate to my brahmins and householders.And so I gave the fourth gate to my brahmins and householders.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.There they gave gifts, while my own giving dwindled.Then my men approached me and said,Then my men approached me and said,

‘Now Your Majesty is not giving gifts anywhere!’‘Now Your Majesty is not giving gifts anywhere!’When they said this, I said to those men,When they said this, I said to those men,‘Well then, lads, deposit half the revenue generated in the outer districts in the royal compound. Give the other half as charity to ascetics and brahmins, to paupers, vagrants, supplicants, and beggars in those districts.’‘Well then, lads, deposit half the revenue generated in the outer districts in the royal compound. Give the other half as charity to ascetics and brahmins, to paupers, vagrants, supplicants, and beggars in those districts.’

Sir, for a long time I made so much merit and did so many skillful deeds. I never reached any limit so as to saySir, for a long time I made so much merit and did so many skillful deeds. I never reached any limit so as to say‘there’s this much merit’ or ‘there’s this much result of merit’ or ‘for so long I’ll remain in heaven’.‘there’s this much merit’ or ‘there’s this much result of merit’ or ‘for so long I’ll remain in heaven’.It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,

how well said this was by the Buddha.how well said this was by the Buddha.‘Those who give with faith‘Those who give with faithand a clear and confident heart,and a clear and confident heart,

partake of foodpartake of foodin this world and the next.in this world and the next.So you should dispel stinginess,So you should dispel stinginess,

overcoming that stain, and give a gift.overcoming that stain, and give a gift.The good deeds of sentient beingsThe good deeds of sentient beingssupport them in the next world.’”support them in the next world.’”