[20] At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Now on that occasion King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta (son of the Videhan princess), desired to march against the Vajjis. He said thus: "I shall annihilate these Vajjis, so mighty and so powerful; I shall destroy the Vajjis; I shall bring the Vajjis to ruin and disaster." Then King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha: "Come, brahmin, go to the Blessed One; and having approached, in my name pay homage with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask whether he is free from affliction, free from illness, buoyant, strong, and dwelling in comfort, saying: 'Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, pays homage with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and asks whether the Blessed One is free from affliction, free from illness, buoyant, strong, and dwelling in comfort.' And say this: 'Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, desires to march against the Vajjis. He has said thus: "I shall annihilate these Vajjis, so mighty and so powerful; I shall destroy the Vajjis; I shall bring the Vajjis to ruin and disaster."' Whatever the Blessed One declares, learn it well and report it to me; for Tathāgatas do not speak what is untrue."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, replied to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, and he went to the Blessed One. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, pays homage with his head at Master Gotama's feet, and asks whether you are free from affliction, free from illness, buoyant, strong, and dwelling in comfort. Master Gotama, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta, desires to march against the Vajjis. He has said thus: 'I shall annihilate these Vajjis, so mighty and so powerful; I shall bring the Vajjis to ruin and disaster.'"
Now on that occasion the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies." "So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis assemble frequently and hold frequent assemblies, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis assemble in concord, rise in concord, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in concord?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis assemble in concord, rise in concord, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in concord." "So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall assemble in concord, rise in concord, and carry out the business of the Vajjis in concord, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, and proceed in accordance with the ancient principles of the Vajjis as they were enacted?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, and proceed in accordance with the ancient principles of the Vajjis as they were 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 in accordance with the ancient principles of the Vajjis as they were enacted, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think their words worth heeding?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think their words worth heeding." "So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and shall think their words worth heeding, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis do not abduct women and girls of good families and compel them by force to live with them?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis do not abduct women and girls of good families and compel them by force to live with them." "So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall not abduct women and girls of good families and compel them by force to live with them, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji shrines (cetiya) of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not let lapse the righteous offerings (bali) formerly given and formerly made to them?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not let lapse the righteous offerings formerly given and formerly made to them." "So long, Ānanda, as the Vajjis shall honour, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and shall not let lapse the righteous offerings formerly given and formerly made to them, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis have well arranged righteous watch, ward, and protection for the arahants, so that arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm?" "I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajjis have well arranged righteous watch, ward, and protection for the arahants, so that arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm." "So long, Ānanda, as righteous watch, ward, and protection for the arahants shall be well arranged by the Vajjis, so that arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline."
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha: "On one occasion, brahmin, I was dwelling at Vesālī, at the Sārandada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjis these seven principles of non-decline (aparihāniyā dhammā). So long, brahmin, as these seven principles of non-decline shall stand among the Vajjis, and the Vajjis shall be seen established in these seven principles of non-decline, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, brahmin, not decline."
"Master Gotama, if the Vajjis were endowed with even a single principle of non-decline, only growth would be expected for them, not decline — how much more so with all seven principles of non-decline! The Vajjis, Master Gotama, cannot be overcome by King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the Vedehiputta — that is to say, by war — except through diplomatic enticement or through sowing dissension among them. And now, Master Gotama, we must go; we are busy and have much to do." "Do now, brahmin, whatever you think it is time to do." Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having delighted in and rejoiced at the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.