The Buddha shares the three grounds for making merit through cultivation of 1) giving, 2) ethical conduct, and 3) a mind of loving-kindness.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, puññakiriyavatthūni. Katamāni tīṇi? Dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu— imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi puññakiriyavatthūnī”ti.
“Bhikkhus, there are these three grounds for making merit. What are the three? The ground for making merit through |giving::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]|, the ground for making merit through |ethical conduct::virtue, moral integrity [sīla]|, and the ground for making merit through |cultivation::development, meditation [bhāvanā]|. These, bhikkhus, are the three bases for meritorious action.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Puññameva so sikkheyya,
āyataggaṁ sukhudrayaṁ;
Dānañca samacariyañca,
mettacittañca bhāvaye.
“One should train only in merit,
which brings long-lasting happiness;
Cultivate giving, ethical conduct,
and cultivate a |mind of loving-kindness::mind of benevolence, friendly heart [mettacitta]|.
Ete dhamme bhāvayitvā,
tayo sukhasamuddaye;
Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,
paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.
Having cultivated these qualities,
the three causes of happiness;
The wise one re-arises,
in a non-afflictive and pleasant world.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, there are these three grounds for making merit. What are the three? The ground for making merit through |giving::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]|, the ground for making merit through |ethical conduct::virtue, moral integrity [sīla]|, and the ground for making merit through |cultivation::development, meditation [bhāvanā]|. These, bhikkhus, are the three bases for meritorious action.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“One should train only in merit,
which brings long-lasting happiness;
Cultivate giving, ethical conduct,
and cultivate a |mind of loving-kindness::mind of benevolence, friendly heart [mettacitta]|.
Having cultivated these qualities,
the three causes of happiness;
The wise one re-arises,
in a non-afflictive and pleasant world.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, puññakiriyavatthūni. Katamāni tīṇi? Dānamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, sīlamayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu, bhāvanāmayaṁ puññakiriyavatthu— imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi puññakiriyavatthūnī”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Puññameva so sikkheyya,
āyataggaṁ sukhudrayaṁ;
Dānañca samacariyañca,
mettacittañca bhāvaye.
Ete dhamme bhāvayitvā,
tayo sukhasamuddaye;
Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,
paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.