Dhamma excels all gifts

By Premasara Epasinghe

The Buddha, while residing at the Jethavana monastery, uttered the following in answer to the four questions raised by Sakka, the king of all devas.

Sabbadanam Dhammadanam Jinati
Sabbarasam Dhammaraso Jinati
Sabbamratim Dhammarati Jinati
Tanhakkayo Sabbadukkam Jinati

Dhammapapa – Chapter 24 – Craving – 354 (24.21)
The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts,
The flavour of Dhamma excels all other flavours,
The pleasure in Dhamma excels all other pleasures,

Extinction of craving conquers all pains.

The philosophy of this stanza shows clearly that the gift of Dhamma conquers all other gifts. All material gifts to the Noble Triple Gem - Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha - were made possible, due to the gift of Dhamma. The gift of Dhamma persuaded the donors to make other material donations. The great philosophers achieved their high spiritual aims, because of the gift of Dhamma, they received.

Four questions

Once at a meeting held at Tavatimsa heaven, presided over by the King of Devas - Sakka, the following four questions were asked, but, the Devas failed to receive the correct answers:

Out of all gifts, which is the best?
Of all tastes, which is the best?
Which is the best delight?
Why is eradication of craving is said to be excellent?

The assembly of gods, unanimously decided to seek the assistance of the Buddha as the devas could not find the answers to the above questions:

Gift of Dhamma

Eventually, Sakka, king of gods, with the retinue of deities, after paying homage to the Buddha, asked the four questions. The meeting of the Buddha and the assembly of gods took place at Jethavanarama.

The Buddha said, “Sakka, Dhamma is the noblest of all gifts, the best of all tastes and the best of all delights. Eradicating craving leads to the attainment of arahatship. Therefore, achievement of arahatship, the deathless state or the bliss of Nibbana is the greatest conquest of all.

After listening to the Buddha Sakka raised the pertinent question.

“Venerable Sir, if the gift of Dhamma excels all gifts, why are we not invited to share the merit, whenever gifts of the Dhamma are offered? Most Venerable Sir, kindly from now give us a share in the merit of good deeds.” After this discussion, the Buddha instructed all Bhikkhus to share the merit of all their good deeds with their fellow beings, and with all deities as well.

Even today, after a delivery of a Buddhist sermon or at the end of a pirith ceremony or any other important religious occasion, the Bhikkhus recite the following for the deities to share whatever merit the bhikkhu, bhikkhunis, upasika and upasaka offer.

Akasattacha Bhummatta,
Deva Naga Mahiddhika,
Punnantan Anumedhitva,
Tiran Rakkanthuloka Sasanam.