Sārandadasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.21

Numbered Discourses 7.21

3. Vajjisattakavagga

3. The Vajji Seven

Sārandadasutta

At Sārandada

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati sārandade cetiye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Sārandada Shrine.

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

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

“satta vo, licchavī, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi.

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

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

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

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Katame ca, licchavī, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?

“And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā bhavissanti sannipātabahulā;

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

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

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

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

As long as the Vajjis don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been decreed,

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

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

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

As long as the Vajjis don’t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them,

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

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,

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā bhavissati:

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

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

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

vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

they can expect growth, not decline.

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

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

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

they can expect growth, not decline.”

Paṭhamaṁ.