Of all modes of dana, dharmma-dana is the chief. 2. Of all enjoy-
ments, that of the dharmma is the most exquisite. 3. Of all desires,
that of the dharmma is the most excellent. 4. Of all evils, the re-
petition of existence is the greatest." Budha said further, " Were
any one to give the three robes to Budha, the Pase-Budhas, or the
rahats, though the material of their fabric were as soft and smooth
as the tender bud of the plantain, the hearing or reading of one
single stanza of the bana would bring him a greater reward ; indeed
its reward would be more than sixteen times greater."

Were any one to fill the bowl of Budha with the choicest food, or

to present oil, sugar, honey, or other medicaments in the greatest

abundance, or to build thousands of wiharas splendid as those of

AnuradhapursL, or to pTeseiit an offering to Budha like that of



XVIII. THE SACRED BOOKS. 197

Anepidu, the hearing or reading of one single stanza of the bana
would be more meritorious than all. He who listens not to the
bana is unable to procure merit. Even Seriyut, whose wisdom was
vast as the rain that falls during a whole kalpa, could not attain
nirwana without hearing the bana of Budha ; it was from hearing a
stanza repeated by Assaji that he was enabled to enter the paths.
