(３７)有人曾问：
“哪种善行功德大？哪种善行功德小？”

37) People have asked,

37) “What sort of merit has little effect and what sort great effect?”

　　佛陀教导：“不净施的功德，不及行慈(metta)功德的十六的十六次方分之一。”(泰本巴利藏第２５册，２４４页)。

THE BUDDHA TAUGHT, “The value of merit-making which is based on greed has not the sixteenth sixteenth part of the value of cultivating friendliness (mettā).”

　　“不净施”指的是为得名闻，为上天堂，为来生貌美财富，或为获得五欲享乐而布施，这种贪染的布施不外是执着罢了！有执着的布施虽然仍称为布施，但它的功德不及行慈功德的十六的十六次方分之一。

Merit-making based on greed includes merit-making for publicity, merit-making in exchange for paradise or heaven, merit-making in order to be reborn beautiful or rich, and merit- making to gain sensual pleasure. Such merit-making is based on greed. It is solely grasping and clinging. Merit-making that consists of grasping and clinging is still merit-making, but it cannot have the sixteenth sixteenth part of the value of practising metta. Friendliness is not based on self-interest; it is practised for the sake of other people. There is universal love for all other people. Merit born of mettā is great merit; merit based on greed does not amount to the sixteenth sixteenth part of that of metta.

　　“行慈”不是基于自利，而是为了利他，普遍关爱所有的人。由慈悲心而生的功德才是大功德，而不净施的功德不及行慈功德的十六的十六次方分之一。
　　当想要显示两者在数量上有极大差别时，巴利语常用这种表达方式：第十六份被分十六次。假设我们有一单位的东西，先把它分成十六等份，再取其中一份分成十六等份，然后又取其中一份再分成十六等份，再取一份再分……如此总共分十六次，冰能得十六的十六次方分之一，不净施的功德不及行慈功德的十六的十六次方分之一。

In the Pali language, when it was desired to indicate a great quantitative difference between things, this sort of expression was commonly used, “the sixteenth part taken sixteen times”. Suppose we have one unit of something. Divide it up into sixteen parts and take one of these. Again, divide that part into six-teen parts and take one of them. Then divide that part yet again into sixteen parts. Again take one and divide it. Carry on like this a total of sixteen times to get the sixteeth sixteenth part.

Merit which is based on greed is described as not worth the sixteenth sixteenth part of the merit based on friendliness (mettā).