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# AN 5:37 · A Meal (Bhojana Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-5-37/
- Published: 2026-06-01T03:21:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:34:38.000Z
- Description: Aṅguttara Nikāya · AN 5:37. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Aṅguttara Nikāya, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:33

*The verse from this discourse is often chanted by monks as a blessing at meals or other offerings.*

\* \* \*

“In giving a meal, the donor gives five things to the recipient. Which five? He/she gives life, beauty, happiness, strength, & quick-wittedness. Having given life, he/she has a share in long life, either human or divine. Having given beauty, he/she has a share in beauty, either human or divine. Having given happiness, he/she has a share in happiness, either human or divine. Having given strength, he/she has a share in strength, either human or divine. Having given quick-wittedness, he/she has a share in quick-wittedness, either human or divine. In giving a meal, the donor gives these five things to the recipient.”

The enlightened person giving life, strength,

beauty, quick-wittedness—

the intelligent person, a giver of happiness—

attains happiness himself.

Having given life, strength, beauty,

happiness, & quick-wittedness,

he has long life & status

wherever he arises.

See also: [AN 5:31](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-5-31/); [AN 5:34](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-5-34/); [Iti 26](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/iti-26/)

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*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN5%5F37.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*