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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Pañhamabhàõavàraü]
[The First Chapter for Recitation]

[1: Ràjà Ajàtasattu] ⁰¹
[King Ajàtasattu]

Evaü me sutaü:
Thus I heard:

Ekaü samayaü Bhagavà Ràjagahe viharati Gijjhakåñe pabbate.
At one time the Gracious One was living near Ràjagaha on the Vultures' Peak Mountain. ⁰²

Tena kho pana samayena Ràjà Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto,
Now at that time the Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, ⁰³ the son of Lady Wisdom,

Vajjã abhiyàtukàmo hoti.
had a desire to attack the Vajjians. ⁰⁴

So evam-àha: ßAhaü hime Vajjã evaümahiddhike evaümahànubhàve ucchecchàmi,
He said this: ßI will annihilate these Vajjians, who are so successful, so powerful,

vinàsessàmi Vajjã, anayabyasanaü àpàdessàmi Vajjãû ti.
I will destroy the Vajjians, I will bring about the downfall and destruction of the Vajjiansû.

Atha kho Ràjà Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto,
Then the Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, ⁰⁵

Vassakàraü bràhmaõaü Magadhamahàmattaü àmantesi:
addressed the Magadhan chief minister the brahmin Vassakàra, (saying): ⁰⁶

ßEhi tvaü bràhmaõa yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkama,
ßGo, brahmin, and approach the Gracious One,

upasaïkamitvà mama vacanena Bhagavato pàde sirasà vandàhi,
and after approaching worship the Gracious One's feet in my name,

appàbàdhaü appàtaïkaü lahuññhànaü balaü phàsuvihàraü puccha:
and ask whether he is free from sickness, free from illness, in good health, and living comfortably, (and say):

`Ràjà Bhante Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto Bhagavato pàde sirasà vandati,
`The Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, reverend Sir, worships with his head at the Gracious One's feet,

appàbàdhaü appàtaïkaü lahuññhànaü balaü phàsuvihàraü pucchatã.' ti
and asks whether you are free from sickness, free from illness, in good health, and living comfortably.'

Evaÿ-ca vadehi:
And say this:

`Ràjà Bhante Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto Vajjã abhiyàtukàmo.
`The Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, reverend Sir, desires to attack the Vajjians.

So evam-àha: ßAhaü hime Vajjã evaümahiddhike evaümahànubhàve ucchecchàmi,
He says this: ßI will annihilate these Vajjians, who are so successful, so powerful,

vinàsessàmi Vajjã, anayabyasanaü àpàdessàmã Vajjãû ti.
I will destroy the Vajjians, I will bring about the downfall and destruction of the Vajjians.û

Yathà ca te Bhagavà byàkaroti, taü sàdhukaü uggahetvà, mama àroceyyàsi,
And just what the Gracious One says to you, after learning it well, you must inform me,

na hi Tathàgatà vitathaü bhaõantã.û ti
for the Realised Ones do not speak falsely.û

ßEvaü bhoû ti kho Vassakàro bràhmaõo Magadhamahàmatto,
ßVery well, dear Sir,û and the Magadhan chief minister the brahmin Vassakàra,

Raÿÿo Màgadhassa Ajàtasattussa Vedehiputtassa pañissutvà,
after replying to the Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom,

bhaddàni bhaddàni yànàni yojàpetvà, ⁰⁷
and having (many) great and august vehicles prepared,

bhaddaü bhaddaü yànaü abhiruhitvà,
and mounting (those) great and august vehicles,

bhaddehi bhaddehi yànehi Ràjagahamhà niyyàsi,
departed with those great and august vehicles from Ràjagaha,

yena Gijjhakåño Pabbato tena pàyàsi yàvatikà yànassa bhåmi yànena gantvà,
and after approaching by vehicle to the Vultures' Peak Mountain as far as the ground for vehicles (would allow),

yànà paccorohitvà pattiko va yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkami,
and descending from the vehicles, he approached the Gracious One by foot,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavatà saddhiü sammodi,
and after approaching, he exchanged greetings with the Gracious One,

sammodanãyaü kathaü sàràõãyaü vãtisàretvà, ekam-antaü nisãdi.
and after exchanging courteous talk and greetings, he sat down on one side.

Ekam-antaü nisinno kho Vassakàro bràhmaõo Magadhamahàmatto
While sitting on one side, the Magadhan chief minister the brahmin Vassakàra

Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
said this to the Gracious One:

ßRàjà bho Gotama Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto
ßThe Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, dear Gotama,

bhoto Gotamassa pàde sirasà vandati,
worships with his head at dear Gotama's feet,

appàbàdhaü appàtaïkaü lahuññhànaü balaü phàsuvihàraü pucchati.
and asks whether you are free from sickness, free from illness, in good health, and living comfortably. ⁰⁸

Ràjà bho Gotama Màgadho Ajàtasattu Vedehiputto Vajjã abhiyàtukàmo.
The Magadhan King Ajàtasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, dear Gotama, desires to attack the Vajjians.

So evam-àha: `Ahaü hime Vajjã evaümahiddhike evaümahànubhàve ucchecchàmi,
He says this: `I will annihilate these Vajjians, who are so successful, so powerful,

vinàsessàmi Vajjã, anayabyasanaü àpàdessàmã Vajjã.'û ti
I will destroy the Vajjians, I will bring about the downfall and destruction of the Vajjians'û.