6.
The Discourse on Five Hundred Chariots
185.
He was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time Prince Ajātasattu went to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred pots of boiled rice were brought as a food offering.
Then several monks approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Venerable sir, Prince Ajātasattu goes to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred pots of boiled rice are brought as a food offering."
"Do not, monks, envy Devadatta's material gain, honour and fame.
As long as, monks, Prince Ajātasattu will go to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred pots of boiled rice will be brought as a food offering, only deterioration is to be expected for Devadatta in wholesome mental states, monks, not growth."
"Just as, monks, if they were to break bile into the nose of a fierce dog, thus indeed, monks, that dog would become exceedingly more fierce; so too, monks, as long as Prince Ajātasattu will go to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred pots of boiled rice will be brought as a food offering, only deterioration is to be expected for Devadatta in wholesome mental states, monks, not growth. Thus severe, monks, is material gain, honour and fame, etc. thus indeed, monks, should you train." The sixth.