AN 7 The Book of the Sevens – Sattakanipāta > AN 7.21 At Sārandada

Numbered Discourses 7.21 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.21

3. The Vajji Seven – 3. Vajjisattakavagga

AN 7.21 At Sārandada – Sārandadasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Sārandada Tree-shrine.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati sārandade cetiye.

1.3

Then several Licchavis went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and the Buddha said to these Licchavis:

Atha kho sambahulā licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te licchavī bhagavā etadavoca:

1.4

“Licchavis, I will teach you these seven dhamma that prevent decline.

“satta vo, licchavī, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi.

1.5

Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

1.6

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te licchavī bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.7

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“And what are the seven dhamma that prevent decline?

“Katame ca, licchavī, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?

2.2

As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā bhavissanti sannipātabahulā;

2.3

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

3.1

As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī samaggā sannipatissanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahissanti, samaggā vajjikaraṇīyāni karissanti;

3.2

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

4.1

As long as the Vajjis don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but undertake and follow the traditional Vajjian dhamma as they have been decreed,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī apaññattaṁ na paññāpessanti, paññattaṁ na samucchindissanti, yathāpaññatte porāṇe vajjidhamme samādāya vattissanti;

4.2

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

5.1

As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī ye te vajjīnaṁ vajjimahallakā te sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca sotabbaṁ maññissanti;

5.2

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

6.1

As long as the Vajjis don’t rape or abduct women or girls from their families and force them to live with them,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī yā tā kulitthiyo kulakumāriyo tā na okassa pasayha vāsessanti;

6.2

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

7.1

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,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī yāni tāni vajjīnaṁ vajjicetiyāni abbhantarāni ceva bāhirāni ca tāni sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ dhammikaṁ baliṁ no parihāpessanti;

7.2

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

8.1

As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā bhavissati:

8.2

more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort,

‘kinti anāgatā ca arahanto vijitaṁ āgaccheyyuṁ, āgatā ca arahanto vijite phāsuṁ vihareyyun’ti;

8.3

they can expect growth, not decline.

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

9.1

As long as these seven dhamma that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them,

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā vajjīsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu vajjī sandississanti;

9.2

they can expect growth, not decline.”

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī”ti.

9.3

Paṭhamaṁ.