AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.49 The King of Kosala

Numbered Discourses 5.49 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.49

5. With King Muṇḍa – 5. Muṇḍarājavagga

AN 5.49 The King of Kosala – Kosalasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

2.1

Tena kho pana samayena mallikā devī kālaṅkatā hoti.

2.2

Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear,

Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake āroceti:

2.3

“Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has passed away.”

“mallikā devī, deva, kālaṅkatā”ti.

2.4

When this was said, King Pasenadi was miserable and sad. He sat with his shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.

Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo dukkhī dummano pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdi.

3.1

Knowing this, the Buddha said to him,

Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ dukkhiṁ dummanaṁ pattakkhandhaṁ adhomukhaṁ pajjhāyantaṁ appaṭibhānaṁ viditvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Great king, there are five things that cannot be had by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or by anyone in the world.

“pañcimāni, mahārāja, alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ.

3.3

What five?

Katamāni pañca?

3.4

That someone liable to old age should not grow old. … Sorrowing and lamenting doesn’t do even a little bit of good … ‘The karma is strong. What can I do now?’”

‘Jarādhammaṁ mā jīrī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ …pe… na socanāya paridevanāya …pe… kammaṁ daḷhaṁ kinti karomi dānī”ti.

3.5

Navamaṁ.