His hands he joined, his head he bent And spoke in answer reverent To the most high and radiant sage Who issued from his hermitage: "Well have I passed the night: thy feast Gave joy to every man and beast; And I, great lord, and every peer Were satisfied with sumptuous cheer, Thy banquet has delighted all From highest chief to meanest thrall, And rich attire and drink and meat Banished the thought of toil and heat. And now, O Hermit good and great, A boon of thee I supplicate. To Rama's side my steps I bend: Do thou with friendly eye commend. O tell me how to guide my feet To virtuous Rama's lone retreat: Great Hermit, I entreat thee, say How far from here and which the way."Ramayana 2.472 · Ramayana · 2
Ramayana 2.472
Ramayana · translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
Themes in this passage
ContentmentDharmaThe DivineFriendshipJoyWealthWork
Contentment in other traditions
The same theme, as Taoism, Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.Tao Te Ching 46.2 · Tao Te Ching
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:Proverbs 30:15 · Bible · Proverbs
(How) that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them?Quran 26:207 · Quran
Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.Odyssey 16.46 · Odyssey · 16
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