16. What is the fruit of the Pāramī?

To the question, “What is the fruit of the Pāramī?” the answer in brief is:

The fruit of the Pāramī is the Buddha’s innumerable attributes headed by Arahattamagga ñāṇa and Omniscience, which is Supreme Enlightenment; that is to say, the attainment of Buddhahood is the fruit of the Pāramī.

To elaborate: It is the acquisition of the physical body (rūpa-kāya) adorned with many attributes such as the thirty-two characteristics of a Great Man, eighty minor marks (which will be given in detail in the Chronicle of Gotama Buddha), the aura emanating from his body extending up to eighty cubits even in the total darkness of four conditions,¹ the acquisitions of the Dhamma body (Dhamma kāya) which is founded on the physical body and which glorious with innumerable attributes such as the ten powers² (dasbala ñāṇa), the fourfold valorous wisdom³ (cātuvesārajja ñāṇa); the sixfold unique wisdom,⁴ (cha asādhāraṇa ñāṇa); and eighteen unique qualities of a Buddha (āveṇika dhamma).⁵

¹ Four conditions: at midnight, on new moon, amidst a thick forest and under an overcast sky without lightning.
² Ten powers, dasabala ñāṇa: perfection comprehension in the ten spheres of knowledge, See Vol 1, Part 1, fn 1, p.22.
³ The fourfold valorous wisdom, cātuvesārajja ñāṇa: see Vol 1, Part 1, fn 1, p.78.
⁴ The sixfold unique wisdom, cha asādhāraṇa ñāṇa: see Vol 1, Part 1, fn 2, p.78.
⁵ (i) Having no hindrance with regard to knowledge of the past; (ii) having no hindrance with regard to knowledge of the present; (iii) having no hindrance with regard to knowledge of the future; (iv) being preceded by wisdom in all physical actions; (v) being preceded by wisdom in all verbal actions; (vi) being preceded by wisdom in all mental actions; (vii) having no falling off in intention; (viii) having no falling off in energy; (ix) having no falling off in concentration; (x) having no falling off in wisdom; (xi) having no falling off in teaching the Dhamma; (xii) having no falling off in emancipation; (xiii) not indulging in joking and laughter; (xiv) not making blunders; (xv) having nothing which cannot be gauged by wisdom; (xvi) having nothing which needs to be attended in a hurry; (xvii) being never negligent; and (xviii) not undertaking anything without due reflection.

Furthermore, according to the following verse which is quoted by Commentators:

Buddhopi buddhassa bhaṇeyya vaṇṇaṃ
kappaṃ pi ce aññaṃ abhasamāno
khīyetha kappo cira dīghaṃ antare
vaṇṇo na khīyetha tathāgatassa.

“So numerous are the attributes of a Buddha that even another Buddha, devoting all the time to nothing else, but dwelling on the virtues of that Buddha for the while of his life, cannot finish describing them.” All such attributes of a Buddha are the fruit of his Pāramī.

At this point, in order to arouse devotional faith and appreciation of the innumerable, inestimable attributes of the Buddha, and to let the reader of this treatise develop merit, which is conducive to wisdom, I shall conclude this Chapter on Miscellany by reproducing the three verses with their meanings, recited in honour of Anomadassi Buddha by Suruci the Hermit, later to become Venerable Sāriputta.

1. Sakkā samudde udakaṃ
   pametum āḷhakena vā
   na tveva tava sabbaññu
   ñāṇaṃ sakkā pametave.

It may be possible to gauge the immense volume of water in the great ocean using some form of liquid measure, but O Omniscient Buddha, no one, whether a man or a deva, is able to fathom the depth of wisdom possessed by the Most Exalted One.

2. Dhāretuṃ pathaviṃ sakka
   ṭhapetvā tulmaṇḍale
   na tveva tava sabbaññu
   ñāṇaṃ sakkā dharetave.

It may be possible to measure the total mass of the great earth by means of a weighing machine; but, O Omniscient Buddha, no one, whether a man or a deva, is able to fathom the depth of wisdom possessed by the Most Exalted One.

3. Ākāso minituṃ sakkā
   rajjuyā aṅgulena vā,
   na tveva tava sabbaññu,
   ñāṇaṃ sakkā pametave.

It may be possible to measure the vast extent of space by means of tape measure or a hand measure; but, O Omniscient Buddha, no one, whether a man or a deva, is able to fathom the depth of wisdom possessed by the Most Exalted One.

Here ends the Chapter on Miscellany dealing with various meanings and facts concerning the Pāramī.