[58] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then in the morning the Blessed One dressed, and taking bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms. Having walked for alms in Vesālī, after the meal, on returning from the alms round, he plunged into the Great Wood and sat down at the foot of a certain tree for the day's abiding. Now on that occasion a number of Licchavi youths, taking their strung bows and surrounded by a pack of dogs, were walking and wandering about in the Great Wood, when they saw the Blessed One seated at the foot of a certain tree. On seeing him, they laid down their strung bows, sent the pack of dogs off to one side, and approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat in attendance upon the Blessed One, each one silent, each one silent, with hands raised in reverential salutation. Now on that occasion Mahānāma the Licchavi, walking and wandering about in the Great Wood to stretch his legs, saw those Licchavi youths sitting in attendance upon the Blessed One, each one silent, each one silent, with hands raised in reverential salutation. On seeing this, he approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahānāma the Licchavi uttered this inspired utterance: "There will be Vajjis! There will be Vajjis!"
"But why, Mahānāma, do you say this: 'There will be Vajjis! There will be Vajjis!'?"
"These Licchavi youths, venerable sir, are fierce, rough, and insolent. Whatever presents are sent among the families — whether sugar cane, or jujube fruits, or cakes, or sweetmeats, or sesame crisps — these they plunder again and again and devour; and they kick from behind the women of the families and the girls of the families. Yet now these very ones are sitting in attendance upon the Blessed One, each one silent, each one silent, with hands raised in reverential salutation."
"Mahānāma, in whatever clansman (kulaputta) five qualities are found — whether in an anointed khattiya king, or in a country gentleman holding his father's inheritance, or in the general of an army, or in a village headman, or in the head of a guild, or in those who exercise individual lordship over the families — growth alone is to be expected, not decline. What five?
"Here, Mahānāma, with wealth obtained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, a clansman honors, respects, esteems, and venerates his mother and father. His mother and father, being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, show sympathy for him with a kindly heart, thinking: 'Live long! Maintain a long life!' For a clansman upon whom his mother and father show sympathy, Mahānāma, growth alone is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, with wealth obtained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, a clansman honors, respects, esteems, and venerates his children and wife, his slaves, workers, and servants. His children and wife, his slaves, workers, and servants, being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, show sympathy for him with a kindly heart, thinking: 'Live long! Maintain a long life!' For a clansman upon whom his children and wife, slaves, workers, and servants show sympathy, Mahānāma, growth alone is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, with wealth obtained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, a clansman honors, respects, esteems, and venerates those who work the neighboring fields and those with whom he does business. Those who work the neighboring fields and those with whom he does business, being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, show sympathy for him with a kindly heart, thinking: 'Live long! Maintain a long life!' For a clansman upon whom those who work the neighboring fields and those with whom he does business show sympathy, Mahānāma, growth alone is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, with wealth obtained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, a clansman honors, respects, esteems, and venerates the deities who receive oblations. The deities who receive oblations, being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, show sympathy for him with a kindly heart, thinking: 'Live long! Maintain a long life!' For a clansman upon whom the deities show sympathy, Mahānāma, growth alone is to be expected, not decline.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, with wealth obtained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained, a clansman honors, respects, esteems, and venerates ascetics and brahmins. Ascetics and brahmins, being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, show sympathy for him with a kindly heart, thinking: 'Live long! Maintain a long life!' For a clansman upon whom ascetics and brahmins show sympathy, Mahānāma, growth alone is to be expected, not decline.
"Mahānāma, in whatever clansman these five qualities are found — whether in an anointed khattiya king, or in a country gentleman holding his father's inheritance, or in the general of an army, or in a village headman, or in the head of a guild, or in those who exercise individual lordship over the families — growth alone is to be expected, not decline."
He does his duty to mother and father;
ever intent on the welfare of his children and wife;
for the good of those within his household
and of those who live in dependence upon him —
for the good of both — he is bountiful and virtuous:
for relatives who have passed away,
and for life here in the present world.
For ascetics, for brahmins,
and for the deities as well, the wise one,
dwelling at home by the Dhamma,
is a generator of joy.
Having done what is good,
he is worthy of honor, worthy of praise;
here in this very world they praise him,
and after death he rejoices in heaven.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.