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THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE.
CHE
The hour of food has come, O Gotama, and all is ready.'
And the Blessed One robed himself early, took his bowl with him, and repaired with the brethren to the dwelling-place of Sunidha, and Vassakâra, and sat down on the seat prepared for him. And with their own hands they set the sweet rice and the cakes before the brethren with the Buddha at their head, and waited on them till they had had enough. And when the Blessed One had finished eating his meal, the ministers brought a low seat, and sat down respectfully at his side.
31. And when they were thus seated the Blessed One gave thanks in these verses :Wheresoe'er the prudent man shall take up his
abode Let him support there good and upright men of
self-control. Let him give gifts to all such deities as may
be there. Revered, they will revere him : honoured, they
honour him again; Are gracious to him as a mother to her own, her
only son. And the man who has the grace of the gods, good
fortune he beholds 1.'
1 This passage gives Buddhaghosa a good deal of difficulty, as it apparently inculcates offerings to the gods, which is contrary not only to both the letter and spirit of Buddhism, but also to the practice of Buddhists. He explains away the gifts to the deities by saying they are gifts of merit only (patti)—the giver giving the four necessaries to Bhikkhus, and then expressing a wish that the Devatas should share in his puñña. I am inclined to think, on the authority of the Deva-dhamma Gâtaka (No. 9 in Buddhist
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| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1881 |
| Total Pages | 2540 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 45 MB |