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Linked Discourses 3.13 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.13

2. Childless – 2. Dutiyavagga

SN 3.13 A Bucket of Rice – Doṇapākasutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala used to eat rice by the bucket.

Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo doṇapākakuraṁ bhuñjati.

Then after eating King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, huffing and puffing. He bowed and sat down to one side.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhuttāvī mahassāsī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, knowing that King Pasenadi was huffing and puffing after eating, on that occasion the Buddha recited this verse:

Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhuttāviṁ mahassāsiṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“When a man is always mindful,

“Manujassa sadā satīmato,

knowing moderation in eating,

Mattaṁ jānato laddhabhojane;

his discomfort fades,

Tanukassa bhavanti vedanā,

and he ages slowly, taking care of his life.”

Saṇikaṁ jīrati āyupālayan”ti.

Now at that time the brahmin student Sudassana was standing behind the king.

Tena kho pana samayena sudassano māṇavo rañño pasenadissa kosalassa piṭṭhito ṭhito hoti.

Then King Pasenadi addressed him,

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo sudassanaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi:

“Please, dear Sudassana, memorize this verse in the Buddha’s presence and recite it to me whenever I am presented with a meal.

“ehi tvaṁ, tāta sudassana, bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā mama bhattābhihāre bhattābhihāre bhāsa.

I’ll set up a regular daily allowance of a hundred dollars for you.”

Ahañca te devasikaṁ kahāpaṇasataṁ kahāpaṇasataṁ niccaṁ bhikkhaṁ pavattayissāmī”ti.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Sudassana. He memorized that verse in the Buddha’s presence, and then whenever the king was presented with a meal he would repeat it:

“Evaṁ, devā”ti kho sudassano māṇavo rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa bhattābhihāre sudaṁ bhāsati:

“When a man is always mindful,

“Manujassa sadā satīmato,

knowing moderation in eating,

Mattaṁ jānato laddhabhojane;

his discomfort fades,

Tanukassa bhavanti vedanā,

and he ages slowly, taking care of his life.”

Saṇikaṁ jīrati āyupālayan”ti.

Then the king gradually got used to having no more than a pint of rice.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo anupubbena nāḷikodanaparamatāya saṇṭhāsi.

After some time King Pasenadi’s body slimmed right down. Stroking his limbs with his hands, at that time he expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aparena samayena susallikhitagatto pāṇinā gattāni anumajjanto tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“In both ways the Buddha has compassion for me:

“ubhayena vata maṁ so bhagavā atthena anukampi—

in the good of the present life and the good of the next.”

diṭṭhadhammikena ceva atthena samparāyikena cā”ti.