[220] Then, sirs, the brahmin Mahāgovinda approached those six khattiyas, and having approached, he said to those six khattiyas: "Sirs, King Disampati is old, aged, elderly, far gone in years, arrived at the last stage of life. Who indeed, sirs, knows how long the living have to live? It is indeed possible that, when King Disampati has died, the king-makers will anoint Prince Reṇu in the kingship. Come, good sirs, approach Prince Reṇu, and having approached, say to Prince Reṇu thus: 'We are the dear, agreeable, and congenial companions of the honorable Reṇu; when you are happy, we are happy; when you suffer, we suffer. Sir, King Disampati is old, aged, elderly, far gone in years, arrived at the last stage of life. Who indeed, sir, knows how long the living have to live? It is indeed possible that, when King Disampati has died, the king-makers will anoint the honorable Reṇu in the kingship. If the honorable Reṇu should gain the kingship, may he share the kingship with us.'"
"Yes, sir," those six khattiyas replied to the brahmin Mahāgovinda, and they approached Prince Reṇu; having approached, they said this to Prince Reṇu: "We are the dear, agreeable, and congenial companions of the honorable Reṇu; when you are happy, we are happy; when you suffer, we suffer. Sir, King Disampati is old, aged, elderly, far gone in years, arrived at the last stage of life. Who indeed, sir, knows how long the living have to live? It is indeed possible that, when King Disampati has died, the king-makers will anoint the honorable Reṇu in the kingship. If the honorable Reṇu should gain the kingship, may he share the kingship with us."
"Who else, sirs, in my realm ought to prosper, if not you? If, sirs, I gain the kingship, I shall share the kingship with you."
Then, sirs, with the passing of days and nights, King Disampati died. When King Disampati had died, the king-makers anointed Prince Reṇu in the kingship. Anointed in the kingship, Reṇu amused himself, supplied and endowed with the five strands of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa).
Then, sirs, the brahmin Mahāgovinda approached those six khattiyas, and having approached, he said this to those six khattiyas: "Sirs, King Disampati has died. The honorable Reṇu, anointed in the kingship, amuses himself, supplied and endowed with the five strands of sensual pleasure. And who indeed, sirs, knows? Sensual pleasures are intoxicating. Come, good sirs, approach King Reṇu, and having approached, say to King Reṇu thus: 'Sir, King Disampati has died; the honorable Reṇu has been anointed in the kingship. Does the honorable one remember that word?'"
"Yes, sir," those six khattiyas replied to the brahmin Mahāgovinda, and they approached King Reṇu; having approached, they said this to King Reṇu: "Sir, King Disampati has died; the honorable Reṇu has been anointed in the kingship. Does the honorable one remember that word?"
"I remember that word, sirs."
"Who indeed, sirs, is able to divide this great earth—extending broad in the north and narrow like the front of a cart in the south—into seven equal, well-apportioned parts?"
"Who else, sir, is able, apart from the brahmin Mahāgovinda?"
Then, sirs, King Reṇu addressed a certain man: "Come, my good man, approach the brahmin Mahāgovinda, and having approached, say to the brahmin Mahāgovinda thus: 'Venerable sir, King Reṇu summons you.'"
"Yes, sire," that man replied to King Reṇu, and he approached the brahmin Mahāgovinda; having approached, he said this to the brahmin Mahāgovinda: "Venerable sir, King Reṇu summons you."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin Mahāgovinda replied to that man, and he approached King Reṇu; having approached, he exchanged greetings with King Reṇu, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. And as the brahmin Mahāgovinda sat at one side, King Reṇu said this to him: "Let the honorable Govinda come and divide this great earth—extending broad in the north and narrow like the front of a cart in the south—into seven equal, well-apportioned parts."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin Mahāgovinda replied to King Reṇu, and he divided this great earth—extending broad in the north and narrow like the front of a cart in the south—into seven equal, well-apportioned parts; he laid them all out like the fronts of carts. And there, it is said, in the middle of them lay King Reṇu's country.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.