Health is The Greatest Gift (Dhp. 204)

Health is the greatest gift,

Contentment is the greatest wealth,

A trusted friend is the best relative,

Nibbana is the greatest bliss.

The Story of King Pasenadi of Kosala

One day, King Pasenadi of Kosala went to the Jetavana monastery after having his full morning meal. It was said that the king had eaten one quarter basket (about half a bushel) of rice with meat curry on that day; so while listening to the Buddha's discourse he felt very sleepy and was nodding most of the time.

Seeing him nodding, the Buddha advised him to take a little less rice everyday and to decrease the amount on a sliding scale to the minimum of one-sixteenth part of the original amount he was taking. The king did as he was told and found that by eating less he became thin, but he felt very much lighter and enjoyed much better health. When he told the Buddha about this, the Buddha said to him, “O king! Health is a great boon; contentment is a great wealth; a close and trusted friend is the best relative; Nibbana is the greatest bliss.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Health is the greatest gift,

Contentment is the greatest wealth,

A trusted friend is the best relative,

Nibbana is the greatest bliss.

Ārogyaparamā lābhā,

Santuṭṭhiparamaṃ dhanaṃ.

Vissāsaparamā ñāti,

Nibbānaṃ paramaṃ sukhaṃ. (Dhp. 204)