23.4 The Story about Pasenadi Kosala

Dhp 325

Burlingame: On Moderation in Eating

Compare: Dhp-a 15.6; SN 3.2.3

King Pasenadi, at one time in his life, always overate and suffered the consequences of torpidity and drowsiness; he went to the Buddha who taught him with a verse; he also taught another verse for his attendant to recite which would remind the king not to eat so much.

Keywords: Greed, Kings

“When one is torpid,” [30.206] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to King Pasenadi Kosala.

For at a certain period of his life the king used to eat boiled rice cooked by the bucketful, and sauce and curry in proportion. One day after he had finished his breakfast, unable to shake off the drowsy feeling occasioned by overeating, he went to see the Teacher and paced back and forth before him with a very weary look. {4.16} Overcome by drowsiness, unable to lie down and stretch himself out, he sat down on one side.

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

325. Middhī yadā hoti mahagghaso ca,
niddāyitā samparivattasāyī,
mahāvarāho va nivāpapuṭṭho,
punappunaṁ gabbham-upeti mando.

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. {4.17}

At the end of the teaching the Teacher, desiring to help the king, said: AJ: see 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 Teacher taught this verse to the young Brahmin Uttara and said to him: “Whenever the king sits down to eat, you must recite this verse to him, and by this means you must cause him to diminish his food.” In these words the Teacher told him just what means to employ. The prince did as he was directed. After a time the king was content with a pint-pot of rice at most, and became lean and cheerful. He established intimate relations with the Teacher and for seven days gave the Gifts beyond Compare. When the Teacher pronounced the words of thanksgiving, many people reached a great distinction.