THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
778
the following answers in verse:
Saddh'Êdha vittaÑ purissasa seÔÔham
Dhammo suciÓÓo sukhaÑ Èvahati.
Saccam have sÈdutaram rasÈnam,
PaÒÒÈjÊvim jÊvitaÑ Èhu seÔÔham.
(O friend ogre by the peculiar name of ΀avaka!) In this world the most
praiseworthy property of every man and woman is faith (
saddhÈ
), mundane
as well as supramundane.
The ten wholesome acts or the three good works of charity, morality and
meditation, which practised day and night continuously, can convey the
threefold bliss (
sukha
) of devas, humans and NibbÈna.
Of all enjoyable tastes, the truth (
sacca
) significant of NibbÈna, which is the
reality in its ultimate sense (
paramattha-sacca
) or the truthful speech of oral
auspiciousness (
vaci-mangata
) achieved by refraining from falsehood (
virati
-
sacca
) indeed is by far the best for all beings.
Men of virtue, such as Buddhas and others, declare that the life of a being
who lives, following the right course of conduct continuously, is the most
praiseworthy.
[(1) Herein the meaning, at moderate length should be taken thus: Just as various
mundane properties, such as gold, silver, etc., though their usefulness bring about
both physical happiness (
kÈyika-sukha
) and mental happiness (
cetasika-sukha
), just
as they prevent one from thirst, hunger and other forms of suffering, just as they
effect the cessation of poverty, just as they form the cause for gaining pearls,
rubies, etc., just as they attract admiration (the state of one's being admired) from
others, even so, the two kinds of faith (
saddhÈ
), mundane and supra-mundane,
bring about both secular happiness and spiritual happiness; even so, faith being the
leading virtue of those who take the right course of conduct, prevents one from
suffering in
saÑsÈra
, such as rebirth, old age, and so on; even so, it effects the
cessation of poverty of virtues; even so it forms the cause for winning the
Dhamma-Jewel such as the seven Constituents of Wisdom (
Bojjha~ga
) which are
Sati-sambojjhanga
and others.
Saddho sÊlena sampanno, yaso bhogasamappito,
Yam yaÑ padesaÑ bhajati, tattha tatth'eva p|jito.
(He who possesses faith (
saddhÈ
), and morality (
sÊla
), who also has retinue and
wealth is honoured wherever he goes. As the Buddha preaches thus (in the story of
Cittagahapati, 21 Pakinnaka-vagga of the Dhammapada), a faithful individual is
honoured (or praised) by all human and divine beings. Therefore, the two kinds of
faiths, mundane and supramundane, are said by the Buddha to be one's property.
(This property of faith is the cause of the threefold unique happiness of devas,
humans and NibbÈna. Moreover, it is the cause of gaining such secular treasures as
gold, silver and the like. This is true: Only he who is faithful and performs alms-
giving can acquire secular treasures. The property of one without faith is just
fruitless. Therefore, the property of faith is said to be the most praiseworthy
possession.)
(2) When the ten wholesome works (alternately, the three acts of charity (
dÈna
),
morality (
sÊla
) and meditation (
bhÈvanÈ
) are performed day after day, they bring
human happiness to the performer, as they did to Sona, Ratthapala and other sons
of wealthy persons; they bring divine happiness to the performer, as they did to
Sakka, King of Devas, and others; they bring the bliss of NibbÈna to him as they
did bring to Prince MahÈpaduma and others.
(3) Something to be licked and enjoyed is called taste. Various tastes, such as the