“Bhante, in the presence of the Blessed One I heard and learned this:
‘The giver of what is agreeable gains what is agreeable.’ Bhante, my
couch spread with rugs, blankets, and covers, with an excellent
covering of antelope hide, with a canopy above and red bolsters at
both ends, is agreeable. Although I know this is not allowable for the
Blessed One, this sandalwood plank of mine is worth over a thousand.
Let the Blessed One accept it from me, out of compassion.” The Blessed
One accepted, out of compassion.
Then the Blessed One expressed his appreciation to the householder
Ugga of Vesālī thus:
“The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable,
when he gives willingly to the upright ones
clothing, bedding, food, and drink,
and various kinds of requisites.
“Having known the arahants to be like a field
for what is relinquished and offered, not held back,
the good person gives what is hard to give:
the giver of agreeable things gains what is agreeable.”
Then, after expressing his appreciation to the householder Ugga of
Vesālī, the Blessed One rose from his seat and left. Then, some time
later, the householder Ugga of Vesālī passed away. After his death,
the householder Ugga of Vesālī was reborn among a certain group of
mind-made deities. On that occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at
Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then, when the night
had advanced, the young deva Ugga, of stunning beauty, illuminating
the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to
him, and stood to one side. The Blessed One then said to him: “I hope,
Ugga, that it is as you would have wished.”
“Surely, Bhante, it is as I had wished.”
Then the Blessed One addressed the young deva Ugga with verses:
“The giver of the agreeable gains the agreeable;
the giver of the foremost again gains the foremost;
the giver of the excellent gains the excellent;
the giver of the best reaches the best state.
“The person who gives the best,
the giver of the foremost,
the giver of the excellent,
is long-lived and famous
wherever he is reborn.”