8.
The Discourse on the King
178.
"What do you think, monks, have you seen or heard -
'This person, having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings.'
Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from killing living beings, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish?"
"No, Venerable Sir."
"Good, monks!
I too, monks, have neither seen nor heard this -
'This person, having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings.'
Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from killing living beings, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish.
But they declare his evil deed in this way -
'This person deprived a woman or a man of life.'
Kings, having seized him, because of killing living beings, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish.
Have you seen or heard of such a thing?"
"Both seen, venerable sir, and heard, and it will be heard of."
"What do you think, monks, have you seen or heard - 'This person, having abandoned taking what is not given, abstains from taking what is not given.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from taking what is not given, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish?" "No indeed, venerable sir." "Good, monks! I too, monks, have neither seen nor heard this - 'This person, having abandoned taking what is not given, abstains from taking what is not given.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from taking what is not given, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish. But they declare his evil deed in this way - 'This person took from a village or from a forest what was not given, reckoned a theft.' Kings, having seized him, because of taking what is not given, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish. Have you seen or heard of such a thing?" "Both seen, venerable sir, and heard, and it will be heard of."
"What do you think, monks, have you seen or heard - 'This person, having abandoned sexual misconduct, abstains from sexual misconduct.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from sexual misconduct, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Good, monks! I too, monks, have neither seen nor heard this - 'This person, having abandoned sexual misconduct, abstains from sexual misconduct.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from sexual misconduct, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish. But they declare his evil deed in this way - 'This person committed adultery with others' wives and others' daughters.' Kings, having seized him, because of sexual misconduct, kill him or bind him or banish him or do with him as they wish. Have you seen or heard of such a thing?" "Both seen, venerable sir, and heard, and it will be heard of."
"What do you think, monks, have you seen or heard - 'This person, having abandoned lying, abstains from lying.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from lying, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Good, monks! I too, monks, have neither seen nor heard this - 'This person, having abandoned lying, abstains from lying.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from lying, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish. But they declare his evil deed in this way - 'This person ruined the welfare of a householder or a householder's son by lying.' Kings, having seized him, because of lying, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish. Have you seen or heard of such a thing?" "Both seen, venerable sir, and heard, and it will be heard of."
"What do you think, monks, have you seen or heard - 'This person, having abandoned spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Good, monks! I too, monks, have neither seen nor heard this - 'This person, having abandoned spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence.' Kings, having seized him, because of abstention from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish. But they declare his evil deed in this way - 'This person, devoted to spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, deprived a woman or a man of life; this person, devoted to spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, took from a village or from a forest what was not given, reckoned a theft; this person, devoted to spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, committed adultery with others' wives and others' daughters; this person, devoted to spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, ruined the welfare of a householder or a householder's son by lying.' Kings, having seized him, because of spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, kill him or imprison him or banish him or do with him as they wish. Have you seen or heard of such a thing?" "Both seen, venerable sir, and heard, and it will be heard of." The eighth.