60. Grounds for Making Merit

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, puññakiriyavatthūni.

Katamāni tīṇi?

Dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu—

imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi puññakiriyavatthūnī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Puññameva so sikkheyya,

āyataggaṁ sukhudrayaṁ;

Dānañca samacariyañca,

mettacittañca bhāvaye.

Ete dhamme bhāvayitvā,

tayo sukhasamuddaye;

Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,

paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, there are these three grounds for making merit. What three? The ground for making merit consisting in giving, the ground for making merit consisting in virtue, and the ground for making merit consisting in mind-development. These are the three.”

One should train in deeds of merit
That yield long-lasting happiness:
Generosity, a balanced life,
Developing a loving mind.
By cultivating these three things,
Deeds yielding happiness,
The wise person is reborn in bliss
In an untroubled happy world.