The wise dedicated to meditation, who delight in the peace of renunciation — even the gods envy them, those perfectly awakened and mindful Buddhas.

Ye jhānapasutā dhīrā — the wise dedicated to meditation: jhāna-pasuta is dedicated to jhāna, absorbed in deep meditation. Dhīra are the firm, the constant.

Nekkhammūpasame ratā — who delight in the peace of renunciation: nekkhamma is renunciation, leaving the sensory world. Upasama is the peace that comes from that renunciation. Ratā is delighting — not sacrifice but joy.

Devāpi tesaṃ pihayanti — even the gods envy them: as in verse 94, the gods (deva) — beings of pleasure and power — envy the awakened human. In Buddhist cosmology, gods have pleasure but not wisdom; the Buddha has both.

Sambuddhānaṃ satīmataṃ — those perfectly awakened and mindful Buddhas: sambuddha is completely awakened; satīmant is endowed with mindfulness. The fullness of awakening and mindfulness is what awakens admiration even from celestial beings.