Pabbatūpamasuttaṃ [SN 3.25, PTS 1.101–1.102]

5.

The Discourse on the Simile of the Mountain

136. At Sāvatthī. To King Pasenadi of Kosala seated to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Well now, from where are you coming, great king, in the middle of the day?" "Those royal duties, venerable sir, that there are for head-anointed kings of the ruling caste, intoxicated with the intoxication of sovereignty, obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures, who have attained stability in the country, dwelling having conquered a great expanse of earth - in those I am now engaged."

"What do you think, great king, suppose here a man were to come to you from the eastern direction, trustworthy and reliable. Having approached you, he would say thus - 'May you know, great king, I am coming from the eastern direction. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, crushing all living beings as it comes. Whatever is to be done by you, great king, do that.' Then a second man might come from the western direction, etc. Then a third man might come from the northern direction, etc. Then a fourth man might come from the southern direction, trustworthy and reliable. Having approached you, he would say thus - 'May you know, great king, I am coming from the southern direction. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, crushing all living beings as it comes. Whatever is to be done by you, great king, do that.' When such a great peril has arisen for you, great king, such a terrible destruction of human beings, human existence being so hard to obtain, what should be done?"

"When such a great peril has arisen for me, venerable sir, such a terrible destruction of human beings, human existence being so hard to obtain, what should be done other than righteous conduct, other than peaceful conduct, other than doing what is wholesome, other than doing what is meritorious?"

"I inform you, great king, I announce to you, great king, ageing and death are rolling over you, great king. When ageing and death are rolling over you, great king, what should be done?" "When ageing and death are rolling over me, venerable sir, what should be done other than righteous conduct, peaceful conduct, doing what is wholesome, doing what is meritorious? Those elephant battles, venerable sir, that there are for head-anointed kings of the ruling caste, intoxicated with the intoxication of sovereignty, obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures, who have attained stability in the country, dwelling having conquered a great expanse of earth; for those elephant battles too, venerable sir, there is no scope, there is no domain when ageing and death are rolling over. Those too, venerable sir, for head-anointed kings of the ruling caste, etc. dwelling, there are horse battles, etc. there are chariot battles, etc. there are infantry battles; for those infantry battles too, venerable sir, there is no scope, there is no domain when ageing and death are rolling over. There are indeed, venerable sir, in this royal family, counsellors and chief ministers who are able to divide approaching enemies by stratagems. For those battles of stratagems too, venerable sir, there is no scope, there is no domain when ageing and death are rolling over. There is indeed, venerable sir, in this royal family, abundant gold and silver, both stored in the ground and in the sky, by which we are able to entice approaching enemies with wealth. For those battles of wealth too, venerable sir, there is no scope, there is no domain when ageing and death are rolling over. When ageing and death are rolling over me, venerable sir, what should be done other than righteous conduct, peaceful conduct, doing what is wholesome, doing what is meritorious?"

"So it is, great king, so it is, great king! When ageing and death are overpowering, what is to be done other than righteous conduct, righteous living, wholesome action, and meritorious action?" This the Blessed One said, etc. the Teacher -