Mucalindavaggo

2-2: Rājasuttaṁ (12)
The Discourse about the Kings

Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I heard:

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ,
Then at that time, amongst many monks,

pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ,
after returning from the alms-round after the meal,

upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ, The genitive as used in the last four words gives a semi-absolute sense in this construction; see Syntax § 203.
assembling together, and sitting in the attendance hall,

ayam-antarākathā udapādi:
this conversation arose:

“Ko nu kho āvuso imesaṁ dvinnaṁ rājūnaṁ
“Now, venerable friends, which of these two kings has

mahaddhanataro vā mahābhogataro vā,
the greater wealth, the greater riches,

mahākosataro vā mahāvijitataro vā,
the greater treasury, the greater realm,

mahāvāhanataro vā mahabbalataro vā, The Commentary allows for two interpretations here, either as great army or as great strength: mahantaṁ senābalañ-ceva thāmabalañ-ca, etassā ti mahabbalo.
the greater vehicles, the greater strength,

mahiddhikataro vā mahānubhāvataro vā -
the greater power, the greater majesty -

Rājā vā Māgadho Seniyo Bimbisāro, Rājā vā Pasenadi Kosalo?” ti.
the Magadhan King Seniya Bimbisāra, or the Kosalan King Pasenadi?”

Ayañ-carahi tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ antarākathā hoti vippakatā.
Now this conversation amongst those monks was left unfinished.

Atha kho Bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito,
Then the Fortunate One, having risen from seclusion in the evening time,

yenupaṭṭhānasālā tenupasaṅkami,
went to the assembly hall,

upasaṅkamitvā, paññatte āsane nisīdi.
and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Nisajja kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
Having sat down the Fortunate One addressed the monks, (saying):

“Kāyanuttha bhikkhave etarahi kathāya sannisinnā sannipatitā,
“What is the talk about, monks, amongst those who have assembled together and are sitting here at present,

kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā?” ti.
and what is the conversation that you left unfinished?”

“Idha bhante amhākaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ,
“Here, reverend Sir, after returning from the alms-round after the meal,

upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ,
assembling together, and sitting in the attendance hall,

ayam-antarākathā udapādi:
this conversation arose:

“Ko nu kho āvuso imesaṁ dvinnaṁ rājūnaṁ
“Now, venerable friends, which of these two kings has

mahaddhanataro vā mahābhogataro vā,
the greater wealth, the greater riches,

mahākosataro vā mahāvijitataro vā,
the greater treasury, the greater realm,

mahāvāhanataro vā mahabbalataro vā,
the greater vehicles, the greater strength,

mahiddhikataro vā mahānubhāvataro vā -
the greater power, the greater majesty -

Rājā vā Māgadho Seniyo Bimbisāro, Rājā vā Pasenadi Kosalo?” ti.
the Magadhan King Seniya Bimbisāra, or the Kosalan King Pasenadi?”

Ayaṁ kho no bhante antarākathā vippakatā,
This is the conversation, reverend Sir, that we left unfinished,

atha kho Bhagavā anuppatto” ti.
then the Fortunate One arrived.”

“Nakhvetaṁ bhikkhave tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ
“This is certainly not suitable, monks, for you

kulaputtānaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitānaṁ,
sons of good family who through faith have gone forth from the home to homelessness,

yaṁ tumhe evarūpiṁ kathaṁ katheyyātha.
that you should talk such talk.

Sannipatitānaṁ vo bhikkhave dvayaṁ karaṇīyaṁ:
When you have assembled together, monks, there are two things that you ought to do:

Dhammī vā kathā, ariyo vā tuṇhībhāvo” ti.
talk about the Dhamma, or maintain noble silence.”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

last updated: May 2007