The Four Purities (visuddhiyo) of Giving (dakkhiṇā) : Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 142)

1. The Four Purities of Giving

Catasso kho imā, ānanda, dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo. Katamā catasso? Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.

Ānanda, there are these four purities of offerings. What four?

1. An offering (dakkhiṇā) purified by the giver, not by the receiver.
2. An offering (dakkhiṇā) purified by the receiver, not by the giver.
3. An offering (dakkhiṇā) purified neither by the giver nor by the receiver.
4. An offering (dakkhiṇā) purified both by the giver and by the receiver.”

2. Purified by the Giver Only 

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato? Idhānanda, dāyako hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—evaṃ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

And how, Ānanda, is an offering purified by the giver and not by the receiver? Here, the giver is virtuous and of good character, while the receivers are immoral and of evil conduct. In this way, the offering is purified by the giver, not by the receiver.

• Merit becomes pure because of the donor’s virtue.

3. Purified by the Receiver Only 

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato? Idhānanda, dāyako hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—evaṃ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.

And how, Ānanda, is an offering purified by the receiver and not by the giver? Here, the giver is immoral and of evil conduct, while the receivers are virtuous and of good character. In this way, the offering is purified by the receiver, not by the giver.

• Merit becomes pure because of the receiver’s virtue. 

4. Purified by Neither 

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato? Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—evaṃ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

“And how, Ānanda, is an offering purified neither by the giver nor by the receiver? Here, both the giver and the receivers are immoral and of evil conduct. In this way, the offering is purified neither by the giver nor by the receiver.”

• Lack of virtue on both sides weakens the merit.

5. Purified by Both 

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca? Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—evaṃ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca. Imā kho, ānanda, catasso dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo.

And how, Ānanda, is an offering purified both by the giver and by the receiver? Here, both the giver and the receivers are virtuous and of good character. In this way, the offering is purified both by the giver and by the receiver. These, Ānanda, are the four purities of offerings.

• The highest purity arises when both donor and recipient are virtuous.

6. Gift Purified by the Giver (First Purification of dakkhiṇā)

Yo sīlavā dussīlesu dadāti dānaṃ, dhammena laddhaṃ supasannacitto; abhisaddahaṃ kammaphalaṃ ulāraṃ, sā dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati.

A virtuous person gives a gift to immoral people, giving what was righteously earned with a pure-hearted mind, having trust in the great fruit of kamma. That offering is purified by the giver.

• Pure intention and righteous livelihood make giving wholesome.

7. Gift Purified by the Receiver (Second Purification of dakkhiṇā)

Yo dussīlo sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṃ, adhammena laddhaṃ appasannacitto; anabhisaddahaṃ kammaphalaṃ ulāraṃ, sā dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati.

An immoral person gives a gift to virtuous people, giving what was wrongly obtained with an impure mind, lacking trust in the great fruit of kamma. That offering is purified by the receiver.

• The virtue of the receiver elevates the offering.

8. Gift Without Great Fruit (No Purification of dakkhiṇā)

Yo dussīlo dussīlesu dadāti dānaṃ, adhammena laddhaṃ appasannacitto; anabhisaddahaṃ kammaphalaṃ ulāraṃ, na taṃ dānaṃ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

An immoral person gives a gift to immoral people, giving what was wrongly obtained with an impure mind, lacking trust in the great fruit of kamma. I do not say that such a gift bears abundant fruit.

• Wrong conduct and wrong intention reduce the fruit of giving.

9. Gift of Great Fruit (Third Purification of dakkhiṇā)

Yo sīlavā sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṃ, dhammena laddhaṃ supasannacitto; abhisaddahaṃ kammaphalaṃ ulāraṃ, taṃ ve dānaṃ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

A virtuous person gives a gift to virtuous people, giving what was righteously earned with a pure-hearted mind, having trust in the great fruit of kamma. I say that such a gift bears abundant fruit.

• Virtuous giver + virtuous receiver = great merit.

10. Highest Material Offering (Fourth Purification of dakkhiṇā)

Yo vītarāgo vītarāgesu dadāti dānaṃ, dhammena laddhaṃ supasannacitto; abhisaddahaṃ kammaphalaṃ ulāraṃ, taṃ ve dānaṃ āmisadānānamaggan’ti.

One free from (obsessive) sensual pleasure gives to those free from sensual pleasures, giving what was righteously earned with a pure-hearted mind, having trust in the great fruit of kamma. That indeed is the highest among material offerings.

• The noblest giving happens between spiritually liberated individuals.