22(2)Vassakāra
What follows is also in DN16.1.1-5,II72-76.
Thus have I heard.On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak.
Now on that occa-sion King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha wished to wage war against the Vajjis.
He said thus:
"As powerful and mighty as these Vajjis are,I will annihilate them,destroy them,bring calamity and disaster upon them."
Then King Ajātasattu addressed the chief minister of Magadha,the brahmin Vassakāra:
“Come,brahmin,go to the Blessed One
and in my name pay homage to him with your head at his feet.Inquire whether he is fit and healthy,agile and strong,and feeling at ease.Say:
'Bhante,King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha pays homage to the Blessed One with his head at your feet.He inquires whether you are fit and healthy,agile and strong,and feeling at ease.'
Then say thus:
Bhante,King Ajātasattu wishes to wage war against the Vajjis.
He says thus:
"As powerful and mightyas these Vajjis are,Iwill annihilate them,destroy them,bring calamity and disaster upon[18]them."
"'Learn well how the Blessed One answers you and report it to me,
for Tathāgatas do not speak falsely."
"Yes,sir,"the brahmin Vassakāra replied.Then he rose from
his seat and went to the Blessed One.
He exchanged greetings
with the Blessed One,
and when they had exchanged greetings and cordial talk,he sat down to one side
and said:
"Master Gotama,King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha pays homage to the Blessed One with his head at your feet.He inquires whether you are fit and healthy,agile and strong,and feeling at ease.
Master Gotama,King Ajātasattu wishes to wagewar against the Vajjis.
He says thus:
'As powerful and mightyas these Vajis are,I will annihilate them,destroy them,bring calamity and disaster upon them.'"
Now on that occasion the Venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One fanning him.
The Blessed One then addressed the Venerable Ananda:
(1)"Ananda,have you heard whether
the Vajjis are assembling often and holding frequent assemblies?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis assemble often and hold frequent assemblies,
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline.
(2)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis are assembling in harmony,adjourning their meetings in harmony,and conducting the affairs of the Vajjis in harmony?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis assemble in harmony,[19]adjourn in harmony,and conduct the affairs of the Vajjis inharmony,
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline.
(3)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis do notdecree anything that has not been decreed and do not abolish anything that has already been decreed,but undertake and follow the ancient Vajji principles as they have been decreed?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis do not decree anything thathas notbeen decreed or abolish anything that has already beendecreed but undertake and follow the ancient Vajji principlesas they have been decreed,
only growth is to be expected forthem,not decline.
(4)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis honor,respect,esteem,and venerate the Vajji elders and think theyshould be heeded?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis honor,respect,esteem,and venerate the Vajji elders and think they.should be heeded,
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline.
(5)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis do not abduct women and girls from their families and force them to live with them?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they don't."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis do not abduct women and girls from their families and force them to live with them,
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline.
(6)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis honor,respect,esteem,and venerate their traditional shrines,both those within [the city]and those outside,and do not neglect the righteous oblations as given and done to them in the past?"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
“Ananda,as long as the Vajjis [20]honor,respect,esteem,and venerate their traditional shrines,both those within.[the city]and those outside,and do not neglect the righteous oblations as given and done to them in the past,
only growth is tobe expected for them,not decline.
(7)"Have you heard,Ananda,whether
the Vajjis provide righteous protection,shelter,and guard for arahants,[with the intention]:'How can those arahants who have not yet comehere come to our realm,and how can those arahants who havealready come dwell at ease here?'"
"I have heard,Bhante,
that they do so."
"Ananda,as long as the Vajjis provide righteous protection,shelter,and guard for arahants,[with the intention]:
'How can those arahants who have not yet come here come to ourrealm,and how can those arahants who have already comedwell at ease here?'
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline."
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra,the chief minister of Magadha:
"On one occasion,brahmin,I was dwelling at Vesali at the Sārandada Shrine.
There I taught theVajjis these seven principles of non-decline.
As long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the Vajjis,and the Vajjis are seen [established]in them,
only growth is to be expected for them,not decline."
When this was said,the brahmin Vassakāra said this to the Blessed One:"If,Master Gotama,the Vajjis were to observe evenone among these principles of non-decline,only growth would be expected for them,not decline:
What can be said if they observe all seven?
King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha,Master Gotama,cannot take the Vajjis by war,except[21]through treachery or internal dissension.
And now,Master Gotama,we must be going.We are busy and have much to do."
"Youmay go,brahmin,at your own convenience."
Then the brahmin Vassakāra,the chief minister of Magadha,
having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One's words,rose from his seat and left.