1838.] Fdli Buddhistkal Annals. 993 



The brahman Wassakaro, the prime minister of Mdgadha, who had thus seated 

 himself aside, addressed Bhagawa 1 as follows : Lord, Gotamo, the Mdgadha 

 raja Aja'tasattu of Wedehi descent, bows down reverentially at the feet of the 

 Lord Gotamo, and inquires whether, free from ailment and disquietude, he is in 

 the enjoyment of his energies and health. The Mdgadha raja, Aja'tasattu of 

 Wedthian descent, in his desire to subjugate the Wajji rulers, has thus vowed : I will 

 annihilate these great and powerful Wajjians : I will destroy these Wajjians. On this 

 occasion, the venerable A'nando was standing behind Bhagawa', fanning him. 



Then Bhagawa' thus inquired of the revered Anando'. Hast thou heard, 

 A'nando, that the Wajjians are frequently holding meetings, and that they are 

 assembling in great numbers ? Yes, Lord, I have heard that the Wajjians are 

 frequently holding meetings, and that they are constantly assembling in great 

 numbers. A'nando, as long as these frequent risings, and constant assemblings 

 are kept up among the Wajjians, their schemes will be advanced. They will not 

 be checked. 



Hast thou heard A'nando, that the Wajjians are meeting in concert, and rising 

 in concert, and that they are in conceit making the requisite preparation ? Lord! 

 I have heard, &c* A'nando as long as the Wajjians are rising in concert, are hold- 

 ing meetings in concert, and are making their requisite preparations in concert, 

 so long will the objects they have in view be advanced. They will not be checked. 



A'nando hast thou heard that the Wajjians are refraining from adopting that 

 which had no (previous) existence ; that they are abstaining from abolishing that 

 which had been (formerly) established ; and that they are adhering to the Wujjian 

 institutions which were anciently constituted, upholding them ? Lord! I have heard, 

 &c. A'nando as long as the Wajjians shall abstain from adopting that which did 

 not previously exist ; from abolishing that which had been established, and shal* 

 adhere to whatever Wajjian institutions may have been anciently constituted, 

 upholding them, the schemes of the Wajjians, A'nando, must advance, and cannot 

 retrograde. 



Hast thou heard A'nando that whatever number there may be among the 

 Wajjiansf of Wajjian elders, these Wajjians support, respect, reverence and obey 

 them, conforming to what they hear from them ? Lord! I have heard, &c. A'nando, 

 as long as these Wajjians shall support, respect, reverence, obey and conform to 

 what they hear from the elders among the Wajjians, the projects of the Wajjians 

 must advance, and cannot be disappointed. 



* Every answer is an affirmative repetition of the question, 

 •f* On this point, the Atthahathd contains this note. 



In aforetime, the Wajjian rulers, on a person being brought and presented to 

 them, thus charged " this is a malefactor" without at once deciding " he is a 

 malefactor, dispose of him accordingly.'' They surrender him to the Winichchhiya- 

 mah&malld (chief judicial officers). Having examined him, if they conceive 

 " this man is not a culprit," they release him. If they decide, " this is a male- 

 factor" without awarding any penalty, they transfer him to the Wuhdrikct (learned 

 in the customs or laws). They also having investigated the matter, discharge him, 

 if he be innocent ; but if he be guilty, there are certain officers called Suttadharj,* 

 (maintainers of the suttan) to whom they transfer him. They also inquire into the 

 matter and discharge him, if he be innocent; but if guilty, they transfer him to the 

 Atthakulakdf. They also having observed the same procedure, transfer him to the 



* Vide Journal of 1837. f->r a definition of the word Suttan. 



t Literally " the eight castes or tribes." I can obtain no satisfactory explanation of the nature 

 of th e office held by these functionaries. It is inferred to be, a judicial institution composed of 

 Judges from all the eight castes. 



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