24.10 The Story about Sakka’s Question

Dhp 354

Burlingame: The Summum Bonum

Compare: DN 11 BG: Cf. the last half of the Kevaḍḍha Sutta, DN 11.

The Devas led by Sakka had four questions which none of them was able to answer, they therefore went to the Buddha at Jetavana with their questions and the Buddha told them it was in order to answer these sorts of questions that he strove to attain Awakening, and he answered them with a verse.

Keywords: Devas, Doubts, Merit

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“The gift of the Dhamma surpasses other gifts,” [30.236] {4.73} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Sakka, the Lord of the Devas.

For once upon a time the Devatās assembled in the Realm of the Thirty-Three and raised four questions, as follows: “Which gift is the best of gifts? Which flavor is the best of flavors? Which delight is the best of delights? Why is the destruction of craving called the thing of all other things supreme?” Not a single Devatā was able to answer the questions; but one asked another, and he another, and so on, until each of them had asked the other. For twelve years they went the length and breadth of the ten thousand world-system, but in all this time they were unable to obtain an answer to their questions.

Finally all the Devatās of the ten thousand worlds met together and went to the Four Great Kings. The Four Great Kings said: “Friends, why this great gathering together of Devatās?” The Devatās said: “Four questions we have raised, and we are unable to answer them; so we have come to you.” – “Friends, what are the questions?” – “‘Which is the best of gifts, of flavors, and of delights? Why is the destruction of craving the thing of all other things supreme?’ These are the questions which we are unable to decide, and on account of which we have come to you.”

Said the Four Great Kings: “Friends, we do not know the answer to these questions. However, our king has but to ponder questions pondered by a thousand beings, and knows the answer instantly. He is superior to us in wisdom and merit. Come, let us go to him.” And taking with them all that great throng of Devas, the Four Great Kings went to Sakka, the Lord of the Devas.

Said Sakka, the Lord of the Devas: “Friends, why this great concourse of Devas?” They told Sakka the reason for their visit. “Friends,” said Sakka, “there is no one who can answer such questions as these except the Buddhas. These matters come within the province of the Buddhas. Where does the Teacher reside now?” – “At the Jetavana.” – “Come, let us go to him.” [30.237]

So accompanied by all that great throng of Devas, Sakka went by night, illuminating the whole Jetavana, {4.74} he approached the Teacher, saluted him, and stood on one side. The Teacher said: “Great king, why have you come with a great company of Devas?” – “Venerable Sir,” said Sakka, “these questions have been raised by this company of Devas, and there is none other that can understand them but only you; make their meaning plain to us.”

The Teacher said: “Well said, great king! For it was in order to resolve the doubts of such as you, that I fulfilled the perfections, gave away the five great gifts, and attained omniscience. As for the questions which you have asked, the gift of the Dhamma is the best of all gifts, the flavor of the Dhamma is the best of all flavors, delight in the Dhamma is the best of all delights; as for the destruction of craving, inasmuch as it is that which enables men to attain Arahatship, it is the thing of all other things supreme.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

354. Sabbadānaṁ Dhammadānaṁ jināti,
sabbaṁ rasaṁ Dhammaraso jināti,
sabbaṁ ratiṁ Dhammaratiṁ jināti,
taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti.

The gift of the Dhamma surpasses other gifts,
the taste of the Dhamma surpasses other tastes,
the love of the Dhamma surpasses other loves,
craving’s destruction overcomes all suffering. AJ: Burlingame included a translation of the word commentary to the verse here, against his normal practice. I have removed it in anticipation of providing a full translation of this part of the commentary. [30.239]

Thus with this verse did the Teacher explain the meaning, and 84,000 living beings had comprehension of the Dhamma. When Sakka had heard the Teacher’s exposition of the Dhamma, he worshipped the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, if the gift of the Dhamma is so precious, why do you not cause the merit thereof to be bestowed upon us? Henceforth, when you teach the Dhamma to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, cause the merit thereof to be bestowed upon us, venerable Sir.”

When the Teacher heard Sakka’s request, he gathered together the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and said to them: “Bhikkhus, from this day forth, whenever a festival sermon is taught, or an ordinary sermon, or an informal discourse, or even when words of thanksgiving are recited, you are to bestow the merit thereof upon all beings.”