FOOD CONSUMPTION IN THE SAUNDARANANDA-MAHAKAVYA

Abstract

The Saundarananda-Mahākāvya is one of Aśvaghoṣa's most notable works in Sanskrit literature. It describes the love story between the Venerable Nanda and the Sundari. There are 18 chapters in this Mahākāvya, each chapter contains many interesting and useful topics that are worth studying and considering. The researcher is particularly interested in analyzing the dietary practices as taught by the Buddha in Chapter 14 of this work, namely the discipline and practice of eating the right amount of food, as well as comparing it with modern medical studies. This article is a documentary research, based on the study of the Saundarananda-Mahākāvya, the Tripiṭaka and other related articles and theses. The results of study were found that Aśvaghoṣa composed the advice on carefulness in food consumption, with the Buddha teaching the Venerable Nanda in the story. In this regard, it is believed that it was influenced by the Doṇapāka Sutta in the Tripitaka, which is a Sutta in which the Buddha taught King Pasenadi of Kosala about the matter of moderation in food. Aśvaghoṣa composed this useful teaching in beautiful and attractive Sanskrit verse. In the story, the Buddha taught that eating food is to satisfy hunger, to prevent disease, and to sustain the body. Excessive consumption causes drowsiness, discomfort, fatigue, disease, and even death. Insufficient consumption causes the body to lack nutrients and energy for work. Nowadays, most human illnesses are caused by food intake, such as obesity, acid reflux, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. Therefore, we should eat food with prudence.