Deep Commentary

This story occurred at Jetavana Monastery regarding the supreme offering. King Pasenadi once invited the Buddha and the Sangha for a meal. To outdo the offerings of his subjects, the King staged elaborate displays of devotion, eventually organizing a massive, multi-million value offering. Among his ministers, Kāla was resentful of the expense, while Junha was full of joy. Observing Kāla's stinginess, the Buddha refrained from praising the royal offering, knowing that such praise would cause Kāla such intense jealousy and anger that he might perish. Instead, the Buddha delivered a simple verse on the dangers of greed and the merit of rejoicing in others' virtues. The story emphasizes that the quality of an offering lies in the purity of the heart, not the quantity of material wealth, and that a miserly heart leads to future suffering, while a heart of sympathetic joy (mudita) leads to happiness.