8.
The Discourse on the Licchavi Youths
58.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for almsfood.
Having walked for almsfood in Vesālī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, having plunged into the Great Wood, he sat down for the day's abiding at the foot of a certain tree.
Now at that time many Licchavi youths, having taken strung bows, surrounded by a pack of dogs, walking up and down in the Great Wood, wandering about, saw the Blessed One seated at the foot of a certain tree; having seen him, they put down their strung bows, sent the pack of dogs off to one side, and approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and, remaining silent, with joined palms, they attended upon the Blessed One.
Now at that time Mahānāma the Licchavi, walking up and down in the Great Wood for leg exercise, saw those Licchavi youths, remaining silent, with joined palms, attending upon the Blessed One; having seen them, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Mahānāma the Licchavi uttered this inspired utterance - "The Vajjis will prosper, the Vajjis will prosper!"
"But why do you, Mahānāma, speak thus - 'The Vajjis will prosper, the Vajjis will prosper'?" "These Licchavi youths, venerable sir, are fierce, harsh, and arrogant. Whatever gifts are sent to families, whether sugar cane, or jujube fruits, or cakes, or sweets, or dumplings, they snatch them again and again and eat them; they kick the women of families and the girls of families from behind. Yet now they remain silent, with joined palms, attending upon the Blessed One."
"For any son of good family, Mahānāma, in whom five qualities are found - whether a head-anointed king of the ruling caste, or a country official living on his father's property, or a general of an army, or a village headman, or a guild headman, or whoever exercises individual authority in families, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
Which five? Here, Mahānāma, a son of good family with wealth acquired through industrious effort, gathered by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous and righteously obtained, honours his mother and father, respects, reveres, and venerates them. His mother and father, honoured, respected, revered, and venerated, have compassion for him with a good mind - 'May you live long, may you protect a long life span.' For a son of good family who has the compassion of his mother and father, Mahānāma, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, a son of good family with wealth acquired through industrious effort, gathered by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous and righteously obtained, honours his children, wife, slaves, workmen and servants, respects, reveres, and venerates them. His children, wife, slaves, workmen and servants, honoured, respected, revered, and venerated, have compassion for him with a good mind - 'May you live long, may you protect a long life span.' For a son of good family who has the compassion of his children, wife, slaves, workmen and servants, Mahānāma, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, a son of good family with wealth acquired through industrious effort, gathered by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous and righteously obtained, honours those engaged in field work, neighbouring landowners, and traders, respects, reveres, and venerates them. Those engaged in field work, neighbouring landowners, and traders, honoured, respected, revered, and venerated, have compassion for him with a good mind - 'May you live long, may you protect a long life span.' For a son of good family who has the compassion of those engaged in field work, neighbouring landowners, and traders, Mahānāma, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, a son of good family with wealth acquired through industrious effort, gathered by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous and righteously obtained, honours as far as there are deities who receive offerings, respects, reveres, and venerates them. Those deities who receive offerings, honoured, respected, revered, and venerated, have compassion for him with a good mind - 'May you live long, may you protect a long life span.' For a son of good family who is shown compassion by deities, Mahānāma, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, a son of good family with wealth acquired through industrious effort, gathered by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous and righteously obtained, honours ascetics and brahmins, respects, reveres, and venerates them. Those ascetics and brahmins, honoured, respected, revered, and venerated, have compassion for him with a good mind - 'May you live long, may you protect a long life span.' For a son of good family who is shown compassion by ascetics and brahmins, Mahānāma, only growth is to be expected, not decline.
"For whatever son of good family, Mahānāma, these five qualities are found - whether for a head-anointed king of the ruling caste, or for an official living on his father's property, or for a general of an army, or for a village headman, or for a guild headman, or for those who exercise individual authority in families, only growth is to be expected, not decline."
For the welfare of those within the household, and those who are his dependents.
For relatives who have passed on before, and for those living in the present life.
Generates joy, living in the household righteously.
They praise him right here, and after death he rejoices in heaven." The eighth.