Evaṃ me sutaṃ—​   ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anātha­piṇḍi­kassa ārāme. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkan­ta­vaṇṇā kevalakappaṃ jetavanaṃ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: 

“Ādittasmiṃ agārasmiṃ,
yaṃ nīharati bhājanaṃ;
Taṃ tassa hoti atthāya,
no ca yaṃ tattha ḍayhati.

Evaṃ ādittako loko,
jarāya maraṇena ca;
Nīharetheva dānena,
dinnaṃ hoti sunīhataṃ.

Dinnaṃ sukhaphalaṃ hoti,
nādinnaṃ hoti taṃ tathā;
Corā haranti rājāno,
aggi ḍahati nassati.

Atha antena jahati,
Sarīraṃ sapariggahaṃ;
Etadaññāya medhāvī,
Bhuñjetha ca dadetha ca;
Datvā ca bhutvā ca yathānubhāvaṃ,
Anindito saggamupeti ṭhānan”ti.