- Numbered Discourses 7.21 Aį¹ guttara NikÄya 7.21
- 3. The Vajji Seven 3. Vajjisattakavagga
At SÄrandada SÄrandadasutta
So I have heard. Evaį¹ me sutaį¹āAt one time the Buddha was staying near VesÄlÄ«, at the SÄrandada Shrine. ekaį¹ samayaį¹ bhagavÄ vesÄliyaį¹ viharati sÄrandade cetiye. Then several Licchavis went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and the Buddha said to these Licchavis: Atha kho sambahulÄ licchavÄ« yena bhagavÄ tenupasaį¹ kamiį¹su; upasaį¹ kamitvÄ bhagavantaį¹ abhivÄdetvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«diį¹su. Ekamantaį¹ nisinne kho te licchavÄ« bhagavÄ etadavoca:
āLicchavis, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline. āsatta vo, licchavÄ«, aparihÄniye dhamme desessÄmi. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.ā Taį¹ suį¹Ätha, sÄdhukaį¹ manasi karotha, bhÄsissÄmÄ«āti.
āYes, sir,ā they replied. āEvaį¹, bhanteāti kho te licchavÄ« bhagavato paccassosuį¹. The Buddha said this: BhagavÄ etadavoca:
āAnd what are the seven principles that prevent decline? āKatame ca, licchavÄ«, satta aparihÄniyÄ dhammÄ? As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« abhiį¹haį¹ sannipÄtÄ bhavissanti sannipÄtabahulÄ; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« samaggÄ sannipatissanti, samaggÄ vuį¹į¹hahissanti, samaggÄ vajjikaraį¹Ä«yÄni karissanti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis donāt make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but undertake and follow the ancient Vajjian traditions as they have been decreed, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« apaƱƱattaį¹ na paƱƱÄpessanti, paƱƱattaį¹ na samucchindissanti, yathÄpaƱƱatte porÄį¹e vajjidhamme samÄdÄya vattissanti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« ye te vajjÄ«naį¹ vajjimahallakÄ te sakkarissanti garuį¹ karissanti mÄnessanti pÅ«jessanti, tesaƱca sotabbaį¹ maƱƱissanti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis donāt forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« yÄ tÄ kulitthiyo kulakumÄriyo tÄ na okassa pasayha vÄsessanti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ« yÄni tÄni vajjÄ«naį¹ vajjicetiyÄni abbhantarÄni ceva bÄhirÄni ca tÄni sakkarissanti garuį¹ karissanti mÄnessanti pÅ«jessanti, tesaƱca dinnapubbaį¹ katapubbaį¹ dhammikaį¹ baliį¹ no parihÄpessanti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ arahantesu dhammikÄ rakkhÄvaraį¹agutti susaį¹vihitÄ bhavissati: more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort, ākinti anÄgatÄ ca arahanto vijitaį¹ Ägaccheyyuį¹, ÄgatÄ ca arahanto vijite phÄsuį¹ vihareyyunāti; they can expect growth, not decline. vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄni.
As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them, YÄvakÄ«vaƱca, licchavÄ«, ime satta aparihÄniyÄ dhammÄ vajjÄ«su į¹hassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihÄniyesu dhammesu vajjÄ« sandississanti; they can expect growth, not decline.ā vuddhiyeva, licchavÄ«, vajjÄ«naį¹ pÄį¹ikaį¹ khÄ, no parihÄnÄ«āti.
Paį¹hamaį¹.