{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an7.22/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an7.22","id":"suttacentral_an7.22","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an7.22/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha, on the Vulture\u2019s Peak Mountain. Now at that time King Aj\u0101tasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wanted to invade the Vajjis. He said: \u201cI shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!\u201d And then King Aj\u0101tasattu addressed Vassak\u0101ra the brahmin, a chief minister of Magadha, \u201cPlease, brahmin, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: \u2018Sir, King Aj\u0101tasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wants to invade the Vajjis. He said: \u201cI shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!\u201d\u2019 Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me. For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d Vassak\u0101ra replied. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: \u201cWorthy Gotama, King Aj\u0101tasattu bows with his head to your feet. He asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. King Aj\u0101tasattu wants to invade the Vajjis. He said: \u2018I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!\u2019\u201d Now at that time Venerable \u0100nanda was standing behind the Buddha fanning him. Then the Buddha said to him: \u201c\u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don\u2019t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been decreed?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis don\u2019t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don\u2019t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis don\u2019t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that 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?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs 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, they can expect growth, not decline. \u0100nanda, have you heard that the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort?\u201d \u201cI have heard that, sir.\u201d \u201cAs long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort, they can expect growth, not decline.\u201d Then the Buddha said to Vassak\u0101ra: \u201cBrahmin, this one time I was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b at the S\u0101randada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjis these principles that prevent decline. As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.\u201d When the Buddha had spoken, Vassak\u0101ra said to him: \u201cWorthy Gotama, if the Vajjis follow even a single one of these principles they can expect growth, not decline. How much more so all seven! King Aj\u0101tasattu cannot defeat the Vajjis in war, unless by bribery or by sowing dissension. Well, now, worthy Gotama, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.\u201d \u201cPlease, brahmin, go at your convenience.\u201d Then Vassak\u0101ra the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, rose from his seat and left.","title":"With Vassak\u0101ra","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":822}