3. It is the social system on which depends political and military strength.
1. The Blessed One was once dwelling in Rajagraha, on the hill called the Vultures' Peak.
2. Now at that time, Ajatasatru, the son of the queen consort of Videha origin, the king of Magadha, was desirous of attacking the Vajjins, and he said to himself, " I will root out these Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin ! "
3. So he spoke to the Brahmin Vasakara, the Prime Minister of Magadha, and said :
4. " Come now, 0 Brahmin, do you go to the Blessed One, and bow down in adoration at his feet on my behalf and enquire on my behalf whether he is free from illness and suffering and in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and vigorous health.
5. " Then tell him that Ajatasatru,' son of Videhi, the King of Magadha, is eager to attack the Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin !
6. " And bear carefully in mind whatever the Blessed One may predict and repeat it to me. For the Buddha speaks nothing untrue."
7. Then the Brahmin Vasakara hearkened to the words of the king, saying, " Be it as you say." And ordering a number of magnificent carriages to be ready he went to the Vultures' Peak.
8. On arriving there he exchanged with the Blessed One the greetings and compliments and then delivered to him the message even as the king had commanded.
9. Now at that time the venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One. And the Blessed One said to him: " Have you heard, Ananda, that theVajjins hold full and frequent public assemblies? 10. " Lord, so I have heard," replied he.
11. "So long, Ananda," rejoined the Blessed One, "as the Vajjins hold these full and frequent public assemblies; so long may they be expected not to decline, but to prosper.
12. "So long, Ananda, as the Vajjins meet together in concord, and rise in concord, and carry out their undertakings in concord.
13. "So long as they enact nothing not already established, abrogate nothing that has been already enacted and act in accordance with the ancient institutions of the Vajjins as established in former days.
14. "So long as they honour and esteem and revere and support the Vajjin Elders, and make it a point of duty to hearken to their words. 15. " So long as no women or girls belonging to their clans are detained among them by force or abduction.
16. " So long as the Vajjins respect and follow religion.
17. "So long, Ananda, the Vajjins may be expected not to decline but to prosper and no one can destroy them."
18. In short, the Blessed Lord declared that so long as the Vajjins believe in democracy and practise democracy there is no danger to their State.
19. Then the Blessed One addressed Vasakara and said:
20. " When I was once staying, 0 Brahmin, at Vaishali I taught the Vajjins these conditions of welfare.
21. "We may expect then," answered the Brahmin, "the welfare and not the decline of the Vajjins, so long as they observe these conditions. So, Gotama, the Vajjins cannot be overcome by the king of Magadha."
22. So Vasakara heard the words of the Blessed One, rose from his seat and went back to Rajagraha to inform the king of what the Lord had said.
1. The Blessed One was once dwelling in Rajagraha, on the hill called the Vultures' Peak.
2. Now at that time, Ajatasatru, the son of the queen consort of Videha origin, the king of Magadha, was desirous of attacking the Vajjins, and he said to himself, " I will root out these Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin ! "
3. So he spoke to the Brahmin Vasakara, the Prime Minister of Magadha, and said :
4. " Come now, 0 Brahmin, do you go to the Blessed One, and bow down in adoration at his feet on my behalf and enquire on my behalf whether he is free from illness and suffering and in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and vigorous health.
5. " Then tell him that Ajatasatru,' son of Videhi, the King of Magadha, is eager to attack the Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin !
6. " And bear carefully in mind whatever the Blessed One may predict and repeat it to me. For the Buddha speaks nothing untrue."
7. Then the Brahmin Vasakara hearkened to the words of the king, saying, " Be it as you say." And ordering a number of magnificent carriages to be ready he went to the Vultures' Peak.
8. On arriving there he exchanged with the Blessed One the greetings and compliments and then delivered to him the message even as the king had commanded.
9. Now at that time the venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One. And the Blessed One said to him: " Have you heard, Ananda, that theVajjins hold full and frequent public assemblies? 10. " Lord, so I have heard," replied he.
11. "So long, Ananda," rejoined the Blessed One, "as the Vajjins hold these full and frequent public assemblies; so long may they be expected not to decline, but to prosper.
12. "So long, Ananda, as the Vajjins meet together in concord, and rise in concord, and carry out their undertakings in concord.
13. "So long as they enact nothing not already established, abrogate nothing that has been already enacted and act in accordance with the ancient institutions of the Vajjins as established in former days.
14. "So long as they honour and esteem and revere and support the Vajjin Elders, and make it a point of duty to hearken to their words. 15. " So long as no women or girls belonging to their clans are detained among them by force or abduction.
16. " So long as the Vajjins respect and follow religion.
17. "So long, Ananda, the Vajjins may be expected not to decline but to prosper and no one can destroy them."
18. In short, the Blessed Lord declared that so long as the Vajjins believe in democracy and practise democracy there is no danger to their State.
19. Then the Blessed One addressed Vasakara and said:
20. " When I was once staying, 0 Brahmin, at Vaishali I taught the Vajjins these conditions of welfare.
21. "We may expect then," answered the Brahmin, "the welfare and not the decline of the Vajjins, so long as they observe these conditions. So, Gotama, the Vajjins cannot be overcome by the king of Magadha."
22. So Vasakara heard the words of the Blessed One, rose from his seat and went back to Rajagraha to inform the king of what the Lord had said.
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