2.
The Discourse on Vassakāra
22.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain.
Now at that time King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha wished to march against the Vajjis.
He speaks thus:
"I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them."
Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha addressed Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha - "Come, brahmin, go to where the Blessed One is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort - 'King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, venerable sir, pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort.' And say this: 'King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, venerable sir, wishes to march against the Vajjis. He speaks thus: "I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them."' As the Blessed One answers you, having learnt that well, report it to me. For Truth-finders do not speak falsely."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having assented to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One - "King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, Master Gotama, pays respect with his head at Master Gotama's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort. King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, Master Gotama, wishes to march against the Vajjis. He speaks thus: 'I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them.'"
Now at that time the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajji duties in unity'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajji duties in unity.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis do not establish what has not been established, do not abolish what has been established, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis do not establish what has not been established, do not abolish what has been established, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis do not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis do not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'Righteous protection, shelter, and guard is well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - so that Worthy Ones who have not come might come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come might dwell comfortably in the realm'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'Righteous protection, shelter, and guard will be well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - so that Worthy Ones who have not come might come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come might dwell comfortably in the realm.'" "As long as, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, not decline."
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha - "On one occasion, brahmin, I was dwelling at Vesālī in the Sārandada shrine. There, brahmin, I taught the Vajjis these seven conditions preventing decline. As long as, brahmin, 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, brahmin, not decline."
"Even with one condition preventing decline, Master Gotama, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis who are endowed with it, not decline; what then to say of seven conditions preventing decline! The Vajjis cannot be overcome, Master Gotama, by King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, that is to say, by war, except by persuasion or except by breaking their alliance. Well then, Master Gotama, we will now go. We have much to do, we have many duties." "Now do as you think fit, brahmin." Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat and departed. The second.