[207] Then, brahmin, King Mahāvijita had the brahmin high priest summoned and said this to him: "Sir, that plague of brigands has been eradicated by me. Relying on your honor's plan, my revenue has become great; the countryside stands secure, free of thorns and free of oppression; the people, joyful and rejoicing, dancing with their children at their breasts, dwell, it seems, with their houses left open. Brahmin, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. Let your honor instruct me in what will be for my lasting welfare and happiness."
"In that case, let the honorable king address whichever khattiya vassals there are in the honorable king's realm, of both town and country: 'Good sirs, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. May the good sirs grant me their approval; it will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.' Whichever ministers and councillors there are in the honorable king's realm, of both town and country … whichever well-to-do brahmins, of both town and country … whichever wealthy householders, of both town and country — let the honorable king address them: 'Good sirs, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. May the good sirs grant me their approval; it will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.'"
"So be it, sir," brahmin, King Mahāvijita replied to the brahmin high priest, and he addressed whichever khattiya vassals there were in the king's realm, of both town and country: "Good sirs, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. May the good sirs grant me their approval; it will be for my lasting welfare and happiness."
"Let the honorable king perform the sacrifice; it is the time for sacrifice, great king."
Whichever ministers and councillors there were in the king's realm, of both town and country … whichever well-to-do brahmins, of both town and country … whichever wealthy householders, of both town and country — King Mahāvijita addressed them: "Good sirs, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. May the good sirs grant me their approval; it will be for my lasting welfare and happiness."
"Let the honorable king perform the sacrifice; it is the time for sacrifice, great king."
Thus these four consenting factions became accessories of that very sacrifice.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.