ANNA SUTTA
Discourse on Offering of Food
Aditta Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

Anna Sutta
Discourse on Offering of Food

      43. (The deva said:) "Food¹ is highly desired both by man and deva alike. That being so, how can there be a living being² that would not hanker after food?

      (The Bhagava said:) "For those who make offering of food with a clear mind and with full faith in the merit therein, (the merit of) the food offering follows them³ both in this life and in the hereafter. "Therefore, removing stinginess and overcoming its uncleanness, one should give in charity. Good deeds stand one in good stead in the future world."

End of the Anna Sutta,

the third in this vagga.

     1. food: anna, in the text. The Sub-Commentary interprets it to have the extended meaning of the four bhikkhu requisites, i e., food, clothing, shelter and medicine

     2. living being in the Pali text, yakkha; interpreted by the Sub-Commentary as living being

     3. Such merit stands one in good stead. A giver of food, by his own kamma is rewarded with an abundance of food.