[244] Now at that time, bhikkhus, the barber of Dīghīti, King of Kosala, was residing with Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi. The barber of Dīghīti, King of Kosala, saw Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen, residing in Bārāṇasī in a certain outlying quarter, in a potter's dwelling, in disguise, dressed as a wanderer (paribbājaka). Seeing them, he approached Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and having approached, he said to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi: "Your Majesty, Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen, is residing in Bārāṇasī in a certain outlying quarter, in a potter's dwelling, in disguise, dressed as a wanderer."
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, commanded his men: "Well then, good men, bring Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen." "Yes, Your Majesty," those men assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and they brought Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen.
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, commanded his men: "Well then, good men, bind Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen, with stout rope, their arms pinioned tightly behind their backs; shave their heads bare with a razor; parade them from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads to the beat of a harsh-sounding drum; lead them out through the southern gate; and to the south of the city cut them into four pieces and cast the pieces in the four directions." "Yes, Your Majesty," those men assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and they bound Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen, with stout rope, their arms pinioned tightly behind their backs, shaved their heads bare with a razor, and paraded them from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads to the beat of a harsh-sounding drum.
Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to Prince Dīghāvu: "It is long since I have seen my mother and father. Suppose I were to see my mother and father." Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu entered Bārāṇasī and saw his mother and father, bound with stout rope, their arms pinioned tightly behind their backs, their heads shaved bare with a razor, being paraded from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads to the beat of a harsh-sounding drum. Seeing them, he approached his mother and father.
Bhikkhus, Dīghīti, King of Kosala, saw Prince Dīghāvu coming from afar; seeing him, he said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds (vera) are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased."
When this was said, bhikkhus, those men said to Dīghīti, King of Kosala: "This Dīghīti, King of Kosala, is mad; he is babbling. Who is Dīghāvu to him? To whom does he say this: 'Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased'?" "I am not mad, good men, nor am I babbling. But he who is wise will understand."
A second time, bhikkhus … A third time, bhikkhus, Dīghīti, King of Kosala, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased." A third time, bhikkhus, those men said to Dīghīti, King of Kosala: "This Dīghīti, King of Kosala, is mad; he is babbling. Who is Dīghāvu to him? To whom does he say this: 'Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased'?" "I am not mad, good men, nor am I babbling. But he who is wise will understand."
Then, bhikkhus, those men, having paraded Dīghīti, King of Kosala, together with his queen, from street to street and from crossroads to crossroads, led them out through the southern gate, and to the south of the city cut them into four pieces, cast the pieces in the four directions, stationed a company of guards, and departed. Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu entered Bārāṇasī, brought out liquor, and made the guards drink it. When they had fallen down drunk, he gathered wood, placed the bodies of his mother and father upon the pyre, set fire to it, and with joined palms circumambulated the pyre three times, keeping it to his right.
Now at that time, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, was on the upper storey of his fine palace. Bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, saw Prince Dīghāvu with joined palms circumambulating the pyre three times, and seeing him it occurred to him: "Without doubt that man is a relative or blood-kinsman of Dīghīti, King of Kosala. Alas, this is ill for me — and surely no one will tell me anything!"
Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu went to the forest, and having wept and wailed his fill and wiped away his tears, he entered Bārāṇasī, went to the elephant stable adjoining the royal residence, and said to the elephant trainer: "Teacher, I wish to learn the craft." "Then learn it, young man."
Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu, rising in the last watch of the night, sang with a sweet voice in the elephant stable and played the lute. Bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, rising in the last watch of the night, heard the singing with a sweet voice and the playing of the lute in the elephant stable; having heard it, he asked his men: "Who, good men, rising in the last watch of the night, sang with a sweet voice in the elephant stable and played the lute?" "Your Majesty, a young man, a pupil of such-and-such an elephant trainer, rising in the last watch of the night, sang with a sweet voice in the elephant stable and played the lute." "Then, good men, bring that young man." "Yes, Your Majesty," those men assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and they brought Prince Dīghāvu.
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Was it you, young man, who, rising in the last watch of the night, sang with a sweet voice in the elephant stable and played the lute?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Then, young man, sing and play the lute." "Yes, Your Majesty," bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi; and, wishing to please, he sang with a sweet voice and played the lute. Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "You, young man, shall attend upon me." "Yes, Your Majesty," bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi.
Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu became one who rose before Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and retired after him, compliant to every bidding, agreeable in conduct, pleasant in speech. And before long, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, placed Prince Dīghāvu in an intimate position of trust.
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Well then, young man, harness the chariot; we shall go hunting." "Yes, Your Majesty," bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and having harnessed the chariot, he said to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi: "Your chariot is harnessed, Your Majesty; now is the time for whatever you think fit." Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, mounted the chariot, and Prince Dīghāvu drove the chariot. He drove the chariot in such a way that the army went one way and the chariot another. Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, having gone far, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Well then, young man, unharness the chariot; I am tired; I shall lie down." "Yes, Your Majesty," bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi; having unharnessed the chariot, he sat down cross-legged on the ground. Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, lay down with his head on Prince Dīghāvu's lap; and being tired, he fell asleep in but a moment.
Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to Prince Dīghāvu: "This Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, has done us much harm. By him our troops and vehicles, our country, our treasury and storehouses were seized; and by him my mother and father were slain. Now is the time for me to repay the hatred!" And he drew his sword from its sheath. Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to Prince Dīghāvu: "My father said to me at the time of his death: 'Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased.' It would not be proper for me to transgress my father's word." And he returned the sword to its sheath. A second time, bhikkhus … A third time, bhikkhus, it occurred to Prince Dīghāvu: "This Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, has done us much harm. By him our troops and vehicles, our country, our treasury and storehouses were seized; and by him my mother and father were slain. Now is the time for me to repay the hatred!" And he drew his sword from its sheath. A third time, bhikkhus, it occurred to Prince Dīghāvu: "My father said to me at the time of his death: 'Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased.' It would not be proper for me to transgress my father's word." And once again he returned the sword to its sheath.
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, frightened, agitated, apprehensive, and alarmed, suddenly got up. Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu said to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi: "Why, Your Majesty, have you suddenly got up, frightened, agitated, apprehensive, and alarmed?" "Here, young man, Prince Dīghāvu, son of Dīghīti, King of Kosala, attacked me with a sword in a dream; that is why I suddenly got up, frightened, agitated, apprehensive, and alarmed."
Then, bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu, taking hold of the head of Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, with his left hand and drawing his sword with his right hand, said to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi: "I, Your Majesty, am that very Prince Dīghāvu, son of Dīghīti, King of Kosala. You have done us much harm. By you our troops and vehicles, our country, our treasury and storehouses were seized; and by you my mother and father were slain. Now is the time for me to repay the hatred!" Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, falling with his head at Prince Dīghāvu's feet, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Grant me my life, dear Dīghāvu! Grant me my life, dear Dīghāvu!" "How could I presume to grant Your Majesty life? It is Your Majesty who should grant me my life." "Then, dear Dīghāvu, you grant me my life, and I shall grant you your life."
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and Prince Dīghāvu granted each other their lives, clasped hands, and made an oath to do each other no harm. Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "Well then, dear Dīghāvu, harness the chariot; we shall go." "Yes, Your Majesty," bhikkhus, Prince Dīghāvu assented to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, and having harnessed the chariot, he said to Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi: "Your chariot is harnessed, Your Majesty; now is the time for whatever you think fit." Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, mounted the chariot, and Prince Dīghāvu drove the chariot; and he drove the chariot in such a way that before long they rejoined the army.
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, having entered Bārāṇasī, had his ministers and counselors assembled and said: "If, good sirs, you were to see Prince Dīghāvu, son of Dīghīti, King of Kosala, what would you do to him?" Some ministers said: "Your Majesty, we would cut off his hands; Your Majesty, we would cut off his feet; Your Majesty, we would cut off his hands and feet; Your Majesty, we would cut off his ears; Your Majesty, we would cut off his nose; Your Majesty, we would cut off his ears and nose; Your Majesty, we would cut off his head." "This, good sirs, is that very Prince Dīghāvu, son of Dīghīti, King of Kosala. Nothing may be done to him; for by him my life was granted, and by me his life was granted."
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, said to Prince Dīghāvu: "As to what your father said to you at the time of his death: 'Do not, dear Dīghāvu, look long; do not look short. For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased' — with reference to what did your father say that?"
"As to what my father said to me at the time of his death, Your Majesty — 'not long' — meaning: 'Do not bear hatred long'; it was with reference to this, Your Majesty, that my father said at the time of his death, 'not long.' As to what my father said to me at the time of his death, Your Majesty — 'not short' — meaning: 'Do not be quick to break with friends'; it was with reference to this, Your Majesty, that my father said at the time of his death, 'not short.' As to what my father said to me at the time of his death, Your Majesty — 'For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased' — my mother and father were slain by Your Majesty. If I were to deprive Your Majesty of life, those who desire Your Majesty's welfare would deprive me of life, and those who desire my welfare would deprive them of life; thus that hatred would not be settled by hatred. But now my life has been granted by Your Majesty, and Your Majesty's life has been granted by me; thus that hatred has been settled by non-hatred. It was with reference to this, Your Majesty, that my father said to me at the time of his death: 'For, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred, dear Dīghāvu, hatreds are appeased.'"
Then, bhikkhus, Brahmadatta, King of Kāsi, [exclaimed]: "It is wonderful indeed, sirs! It is marvellous indeed, sirs! How wise is this Prince Dīghāvu, in that he understands in full the meaning of what his father spoke in brief!" And he restored to him his father's troops and vehicles, country, treasury, and storehouses, and gave him his daughter.
Bhikkhus, if such was the patience and gentleness of those kings, who wielded the rod and wielded the sword, then here indeed it would shine forth in you, that you, who have gone forth in a Dhamma and Discipline so well proclaimed, should be patient and gentle.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.