9.6 The Story about the Rich Man Biḷālapādaka

A wise man heard the Buddha teach on the merit of giving and encouraging giving, invited the Buddha and the Saṅgha for alms, and then requested others to help in the deed; the foolish merchant Biḷālapāda thought the man shouldn’t offer more than he can himself fulfil, and gave but little, but later feared he would be exposed for his stinginess; the wise man however praised all who gave, the fool repented and the Buddha gave a teaching in verse. Keywords: Offerings, Rich Men, Misers, Merit