iti.75 Itivuttaka

A Rainless Cloud

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, these three people are found in the world.
What three?
One like a rainless cloud, one who rains locally, one who rains all over.
And how is a person like a rainless cloud?
It’s when some person doesn’t give to anyone at all—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, travelers, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, perfumes, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.
That’s how a person is like a rainless cloud.
And how does a person rain locally?
It’s when some person gives to some but not to others—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, travelers, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, perfumes, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.
That’s how a person rains locally.
And how does a person rain all over?
It’s when some person gives to everyone—whether ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, travelers, or beggars—such things as food, drink, clothing, vehicles; garlands, perfumes, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting.
That’s how a person rains all over.
These are the three people found in the world.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“They don’t share the food and drink
they have acquired
with ascetics or brahmins,
with paupers, vagrants, or travelers.
They’re like a rainless cloud,
they say, the meanest of men.
They don’t give to some,
to some they provide.
They rain locally,
so say the wise.
Compassionate for all beings,
that person distributes
abundant food upon request,
saying, “Give! Give!”
The rain cloud rains forth,
having thundered and roared,
drenching the earth with water,
soaking the uplands and valleys.
Even so, such a person,
having accumulated wealth
by legitimate means,
through their own hard work,
rightly satisfies with food and drink
those fallen to destitution.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.