1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Now on that occasion 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."

2Then 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 mighty as these Vajjis are, I will annihilate them, destroy them, bring calamity and disaster upon them."’ Learn well how the Blessed One answers you and report it to me, for Tathāgatas do not speak falsely."

3"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 wage war against the Vajjis. He says thus: ‘As powerful and mighty as these Vajjis are, I will annihilate them, destroy them, bring calamity and disaster upon them.’"

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4Now on that occasion the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One fanning him. The Blessed One then addressed the Venerable Ānanda:

(1) "Ānanda, have you heard whether the Vajjis are assembling often and holding frequent assemblies?"

"I have heard, Bhante, that they do so."

"Ānanda, as long as the Vajjis assemble often and hold frequent assemblies, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

5(2) "Have you heard, Ānanda, 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."

"Ānanda, as long as the Vajjis assemble in harmony, adjourn in harmony, and conduct the affairs of the Vajjis in harmony, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

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6(3) "Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjis do not decree 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."

"Ānanda, as long as the Vajjis do not decree anything that has not been decreed or abolish anything that has already been decreed but undertake and follow the ancient Vajji principles as they have been decreed, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

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7(4) "Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji elders and think they should be heeded?"

"I have heard, Bhante, that they do so."

"Ānanda, 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.

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8(5) "Have you heard, Ānanda, 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."

"Ānanda, 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.

9(6) "Have you heard, Ānanda, 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."

"Ānanda, as long as 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, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

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10(7) "Have you heard, Ānanda, whether 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 our realm, and how can those arahants who have already come dwell at ease here?’"

"I have heard, Bhante, that they do so."

"Ānanda, 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 our realm, and how can those arahants who have already come dwell at ease here?’ only growth is to be expected for them, not decline."

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11Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha: "On one occasion, brahmin, I was dwelling at Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjis 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."

12When this was said, the brahmin Vassakāra said this to the Blessed One: "If, Master Gotama, the Vajjis were to observe even one 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 through treachery or internal dissension. And now, Master Gotama, we must be going. We are busy and have much to do."

"You may 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.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Tena kho pana samayena rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto vajjī abhiyātukāmo hoti. So evamāha: "ahaṁ hime vajjī evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve ucchecchāmi, vajjī vināsessāmi, vajjī anayabyasanaṁ āpādessāmī"ti.

2Atha kho rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto vassakāraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ māgadhamahāmattaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘rājā, bhante, māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti. Evañca vadehi: ‘rājā, bhante, māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto vajjī abhiyātukāmo. So evamāha – ahaṁ hime vajjī evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve ucchecchāmi, vajjī vināsessāmi, vajjī anayabyasanaṁ āpādessāmī’ti. Yathā te bhagavā byākaroti, taṁ sādhukaṁ uggahetvā mama āroceyyāsi. Na hi tathāgatā vitathaṁ bhaṇantī"ti.

3"Evaṁ, bho"ti kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo māgadhamahāmatto rañño māgadhassa ajātasattussa vedehiputtassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo māgadhamahāmatto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"rājā, bho gotama, māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati. Rājā, bho gotama, māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto vajjī abhiyātukāmo. So evamāha: ‘Ahaṁ hime vajjī evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve ucchecchāmi, vajjī vināsessāmi, vajjī anayabyasanaṁ āpādessāmī’"ti.

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4Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ānando bhagavato piṭṭhito ṭhito hoti bhagavantaṁ bījayamāno. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

"kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā sannipātabahulā’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā sannipātabahulā’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā bhavissanti sannipātabahulā; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (1)

5Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī samaggā sannipatanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahanti, samaggā vajjikaraṇīyāni karontī’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī samaggā sannipatanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahanti, samaggā vajjikaraṇīyāni karontī’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī samaggā sannipatissanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahissanti, samaggā vajjikaraṇīyāni karissanti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (2)

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6Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī apaññattaṁ na paññāpenti, paññattaṁ na samucchindanti, yathāpaññatte porāṇe vajjidhamme samādāya vattantī’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī apaññattaṁ na paññāpenti, paññattaṁ na samucchindanti, yathāpaññatte porāṇe vajjidhamme samādāya vattantī’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī apaññattaṁ na paññāpessanti, paññattaṁ na samucchindissanti, yathāpaññatte porāṇe vajjidhamme samādāya vattissanti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (3)

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7Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī ye te vajjīnaṁ vajjimahallakā te sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, tesañca sotabbaṁ maññantī’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī ye te vajjīnaṁ vajjimahallakā te sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, tesañca sotabbaṁ maññantī’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī ye te vajjīnaṁ vajjimahallakā te sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca sotabbaṁ maññissanti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (4)

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8Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī yā tā kulitthiyo kulakumāriyo tā na okassa pasayha vāsentī’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī yā tā kulitthiyo kulakumāriyo tā na okassa pasayha vāsentī’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī yā tā kulitthiyo kulakumāriyo tā na okassa pasayha vāsessanti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (5)

9Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjī yāni tāni vajjīnaṁ vajjicetiyāni abbhantarāni ceva bāhirāni ca tāni sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, tesañca dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ dhammikaṁ baliṁ no parihāpentī’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjī yāni tāni vajjīnaṁ vajjicetiyāni abbhantarāni ceva bāhirāni ca tāni sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, tesañca dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ dhammikaṁ baliṁ no parihāpentī’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjī yāni tāni vajjīnaṁ vajjicetiyāni abbhantarāni ceva bāhirāni ca tāni sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ dhammikaṁ baliṁ no parihāpessanti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni. (6)

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10Kinti te, ānanda, sutaṁ: ‘vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā – kinti anāgatā ca arahanto vijitaṁ āgaccheyyuṁ, āgatā ca arahanto vijite phāsuṁ vihareyyun’"ti?

"Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā bhavissati – kinti anāgatā ca arahanto vijitaṁ āgaccheyyuṁ, āgatā ca arahanto vijite phāsuṁ vihareyyun’"ti.

"Yāvakīvañca, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā bhavissati: ‘Kinti anāgatā ca arahanto vijitaṁ āgaccheyyuṁ, āgatā ca arahanto vijite phāsuṁ vihareyyun’ti; vuddhiyeva, ānanda, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī"ti. (7)

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11Atha kho bhagavā vassakāraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ māgadhamahāmattaṁ āmantesi: "ekamidāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, samayaṁ vesāliyaṁ viharāmi sārandade cetiye. Tatrāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vajjīnaṁ ime satta aparihāniye dhamme desesiṁ. Yāvakīvañca, brāhmaṇa, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā vajjīsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu vajjī sandississanti; vuddhiyeva, brāhmaṇa, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī"ti.

12"Ekamekenapi, bho gotama, aparihāniyena dhammena samannāgatānaṁ vajjīnaṁ vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni; ko pana vādo sattahi aparihāniyehi dhammehi. Akaraṇīyā ca, bho gotama, vajjī raññā māgadhena ajātasattunā vedehiputtena yadidaṁ yuddhassa, aññatra upalāpanāya, aññatra mithubhedā. Handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bho gotama, gacchāma, bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā"ti.

"Yassadāni tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, kālaṁ maññasī"ti.

Atha kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo māgadhamahāmatto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.

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Dutiyaṁ.