15.6 The Story about Pasedani Kosala

Dhp 204

Burlingame: On Moderation in Eating

Compare: SN 3.13; Dhp-a 23.4

King Pasenadi was always overeating and suffering for it so the Buddha had the king’s nephew learn and recite a verse which reminded the king to be moderate; later the king told the Buddha he was cured, and the Buddha recited a verse.

Cast: King Pasenadi Kosala, Prince Sudassana, Princess Vajirā

Keywords: Greed, Kings

“Health is the supreme gain,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to King Pasenadi Kosala. {3.264}

For at a certain period of his life King Pasenadi Kosala used to eat boiled rice cooked by the bucketful, and sauce and curry in proportion. One day after he had eaten his breakfast, unable to shake off the drowsiness occasioned by overeating, he went to see the Teacher and paced back and forth before him with a very weary look. Overcome with a desire to sleep, but not daring to lie down and stretch himself out, he sat down on one side.

Thereupon the Teacher said to him: “Did you come, great king, before you were well rested?” – “Oh no, venerable Sir; but I always suffer greatly after eating a meal.” Then said the Teacher to him: {3.265} “Great king, overeating brings just such suffering in its train.” So saying, the Teacher pronounced the following verse:

Dhp 325. When one is torpid, overeats,
sleepy and rolling on the bed,
like a great pig fed on fodder,
that fool comes to the womb again. [30.77]

After admonishing the king with this verse, the Teacher continued: “Great king, one ought to observe moderation in eating, for in moderate eating there is comfort.” And admonishing him further, the Teacher pronounced the following verse: BG: SN 3.13.

For the person who is always mindful,
knowing the measure in regard to food,
his unpleasant feelings become fewer,
slowly he ages, protecting his life.

The king was unable to memorize this verse. So the Teacher said to the king’s nephew, Prince Sudassana, who stood near: “Memorize this verse.” Sudassana asked the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, after I have memorized this verse, what shall I do with it?” The Teacher replied: “When the king eats his meal, just as he is about to take the last lump of boiled rice, you must recite this verse. The king will understand its purport and will immediately throw away that lump of rice. When it comes time to boil the rice for the king’s next meal, you must fetch just as many grains of fresh rice as there were grains of boiled rice in that lump of rice.” – “Very well, venerable Sir,” he replied.

So both evening and morning, when the king ate his meal, his nephew would recite that verse just as the king was about to take the last lump of boiled rice, and would fetch for his next meal just as many grains of fresh rice as there were grains of boiled rice in the lump of boiled rice which the king had thrown away. And every time the king heard that verse recited, {3.266} he gave away a thousand coins in alms. The king contented himself with a pint-pot of boiled rice a day, never exceeding that amount. After a time he became cheerful and lean.

One day the king went to pay his respects to the Teacher, and having worshipped the Teacher, said to him: “Venerable Sir, now I am happy. Once more I am able to follow the chase and to catch wild beasts and horses. I used to quarrel with my nephew. But recently, however, I gave my nephew my daughter, the Princess Vajirā, to wife. I have given her this village, that she may have a pool wherein to bathe. My quarrels with my nephew have ceased, and for this reason also I am happy. The other day a precious stone, the property of the royal household was lost; this has but recently returned to my hand, and for this reason also I am happy. Desiring to establish friendly relations with your disciples, I established the daughter of one of your kinsmen in our household, and for this reason also I am happy.”

The Teacher replied: “Great king, health is the greatest blessing one can ask for, contentment with whatever one has received is the [30.78] greatest wealth, confidence is the best of relatives. But there is no happiness that can be compared with Nibbāna.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

204. Ārogyaparamā lābhā, santuṭṭhi paramaṁ dhanaṁ,
vissāsā paramā ñāti, Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ.

Health is the supreme gain,
content the supreme wealth,
faith is the supreme kin,
Nibbāna supreme good.