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{1.} Thus I have heard. On a certain day dwelt Buddha at Çravasti, at the Jetavana monastery, in the garden of Anāthapi.n.daka. And when the night was far advanced a certain radiant celestial being, illuminating the whole of Jetavana, approached the Blessed One, and saluted him and stood aside. And standing aside addressed him with this verse,--
{2.} Many gods and men, yearning after good, have held divers things to be blessings; say thou, what is the greatest blessing.
{3.} Buddha: To serve wise men and not serve fools, to give honour to whom honour is due, this is the greatest blessing.
{4.} To dwell in a pleasant land, to have done good deeds in a former existence, to have a soul filled with right desires, this is the greatest blessing.
{5.} Much knowledge and much science, the discipline of a well trained mind, and a word well spoken, this is the greatest blessing.
{6.} To succour father and mother, to cherish wife and child, to follow a peaceful calling, this is the greatest blessing.
{7.} To give alms, to live religiously, to give help to relatives, to do blameless deeds, this is the greatest blessing,
{8.} To cease and abstain from sin, to eschew strong drink, to be diligent in good deeds, this is the greatest blessing.
{9.} Reverence and lowliness, contentment and gratitude, to receive religious teaching at due seasons, this is the greatest blessing.
{10.} To be long-suffering and meek, to associate with the priests of Buddha, to hold religious discourse at due seasons, this is the greatest blessing.
{11.} Temperance and chastity, discernment of the four great truths, the prospect of Nirvāna, this is the greatest blessing.
{12.} The soul of one unshaken by the changes of this life, a soul inaccessible to sorrow, passionless, secure, this is the greatest blessing.
{13.} They that do these things are invincible on every side, on every side they walk in safety, yea, theirs is the greatest blessing.