[68] Now at that time the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies?"
The Venerable Ānanda replied: "I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis assemble in harmony, rise in harmony, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in harmony?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis assemble in harmony, rise in harmony, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in harmony."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall assemble in harmony, rise in harmony, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in harmony, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis not enact what has not been enacted, not abolish what has been enacted, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been enacted?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been enacted."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall not enact what has not been enacted, shall not abolish what has been enacted, and shall proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been enacted, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate those who are the Vajjian elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate those who are the Vajjian elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall honor, respect, esteem, and venerate those who are the Vajjian elders among the Vajjis, and shall think them worth listening to, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis not abduct by force the women and girls of the clans and compel them to live with them?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis do not abduct by force the women and girls of the clans and compel them to live with them."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall not abduct by force the women and girls of the clans and compel them to live with them, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — do the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines (cetiya), both inner and outer, and do they not allow the righteous offerings (bali) formerly given and formerly made to those shrines to lapse?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, both inner and outer, and they do not allow the righteous offerings formerly given and formerly made to those shrines to lapse."
"So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, both inner and outer, and shall not allow the righteous offerings formerly given and formerly made to those shrines to lapse, growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline.
"How have you heard it, Ānanda — is righteous protection, shelter, and guard well provided by the Vajjis for the arahants, with the intention: 'How may arahants who have not yet come, come to the realm, and how may arahants who have come dwell at ease in the realm'?"
"I have heard thus, venerable sir: righteous protection, shelter, and guard is well provided by the Vajjis for the arahants, with the intention: 'How may arahants who have not yet come, come to the realm, and how may arahants who have come dwell at ease in the realm.'"
"So long, Ānanda, as righteous protection, shelter, and guard shall be well provided by the Vajjis for the arahants, with the intention: 'How may arahants who have not yet come, come to the realm, and how may arahants who have come dwell at ease in the realm,' growth alone, Ānanda, is to be expected for the Vajjis, not decline."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.