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#### Saṁyutta Nikāya
I. Sagatha Vagga
3. Kosala Saṁyutta

#### Sutta 13

#### Doṇapāka Suttaṁ

# A Gallon Measure

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Sourced from dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.

In this sutta, a king's servant learns a verse from the Buddha to recite in the king's presence and earns a monetary reward for doing so. Because the Buddha doesn't object to this arrangement, it has been argued from this incident that he would have approved of the modern practice of selling Dhamma books as merchandise.

It's a sad day when those who write Dhamma books want to put themselves in the same position as a king's lackey.

[13.1][rhyc][olen] Dwelling at Sāvatthī... Now, on that occasion King Pasenadi of Kosala ate a gallon-measure of rice. Then, having just finished his meal and breathing heavily, he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.

Then the Blessed One, sensing that King Pasenadi of Kosala had just finished his meal and was breathing heavily, recited this verse:

"For a person always mindful,
knowing moderation in the food he's obtained,
his pains grow slender;
gradually he ages, guarding his life."

Now, on that occasion the young brahman Sudassana was standing behind King Pasenadi of Kosala. So the king addressed him, "Come now, my dear Sudassana. Having learned this verse in the Blessed One's presence, recite it during the time I am taking my meal, and I will bestow on you a daily stipend of one hundred kahapaṇa."

Saying, "As you say, your majesty," the young brahman Sudassana and learning the verse in the Blessed One's presence, he recited it during the time when King Pasenadi was taking his meal:

"For a person always mindful,
knowing moderation in the food he's obtained,
his pains grow slender;
gradually he ages, guarding his life."

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala step-by-step restrained himself to at most a quart-measure of rice. At a later time, when he had become quite slim, he stroked his limbs with his hand and exclaimed, "O, how the Blessed One has shown sympathy for my benefit of both sorts: for that in the present life, and that in the life to come!"[1]

[1] The commentary to Dhammapada 325 contains a more elaborate version of this story, the main differences being that Prince Uttara is the person asked to recite the verse, and the verse he recites is considerably stronger than the one given above:

"When torpid and over-fed,
a sleepy-head lolling about
like a stout hog, fattened on fodder:
a dullard enters the womb
over and
over again."

— Dhp 325

The two differences may be related. The king might not have tolerated this stronger verse in the mouth of a mere courtier.

Of Related Interest:

AN 4:37

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