1.
The Discourse on Sārandada
21.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Sārandada shrine.
Then several Licchavis approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To those Licchavis seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"I will teach you, Licchavis, seven conditions preventing decline.
Listen to that, pay close attention;
I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those Licchavis assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"And what, Licchavis, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform their Vajji duties in unity; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will not establish what has not been established, will not abolish what has been established, will proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and will think them worth listening to; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and will not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, righteous protection, shelter, and guard will be well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - 'How might Worthy Ones who have not come, come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come dwell comfortably in the realm'; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline." The first.