994 Pali Buddhistical Annals, [Dec. 



Hast thou heard, A'nando, that the Wajjians do not submit to have their wives 

 and damsels of respectable families forcibly taken (by their rulers) ? Lord ! I have 

 heard, &c. A'nando ! as long as the Wajjians shall not submit to have their wives 

 and damsels of respectable families forcibly taken (by their rulers), the designs of 

 the Wajjians must prosper, and cannot miscarry. 



A'nando! hast thou heard that the Wajjians, whatever the number may be of 

 the Wajjian chetiyani* belonging to the Wajjian (rulers), whether situated within 

 or without (the city), they maintain, respect, reverence and make offerings to them 

 and that they keep up without diminution the ancient offerings, the ancient obser- 

 vances, and the ancient sacrifices righteously made ? Lord ! I have heard, &c. 

 A'nando, as long as the Wajjians, &c. 



A'nando hast thou heard that to the Arahantd of the Wajjians, protection 

 security, and safety are most righteously provided, in order that the Arahantd who 

 have absented themselves from their country might return ; and in order that those 

 who have returned to their country, may conveniently dwell there. Lord ! I have 

 heard, &c. A'nando as long as the Wajjians, &c. 



Thereupon Bhagawa' thus addressed the brahman Wassakaro, the prime minis- 

 ter of Mdghada: Brahman, at the time when I was dwelling at the Sdrandado Chetiyo, 

 in Wes6U, I propounded these seven imperishable precepts unto the Wajjians resi- 

 dent there. Brahman, as long as these seven imperishable precepts shall be main- 

 tained, and the Wajjians shall be observant of these seven imperishable precepts, 

 the projects of the Wajjians must prosper, and cannot miscarry. 



Onbeing thus addressed, Wassakaro, the brahman prime minister, replied : Lord 

 G6tam6, if the projects of the Wajjians must prosper, and cannot miscarry by their 

 observance of any one of these imperishable precepts, who can define the measure 

 of their success, when they are observant of all the seven imperishable precepts. 

 Lord Gutamu, consequently it only remains for the M6gadha monarch, AjVtasat- 

 tu, the descendant of the Wedehidn line, either to propitiate by tributes, or to 

 dissolve the compact which unites (these Wajji rulers), without engaging in war. 

 Lord Gotamo, as we have important and iudispensible duties to perform, we must 

 therefore depart. Brahman, consult thy own convenience in that respect. 



Thereupon Wassakaro, the brahman prime minister of Mdgadha, greatly de- 

 lighted at the discourse of Bhagawa', and receiving his blessing, rising from his 

 seat, departedf. 



Sendpati (chief minister), he again to the Upardjd (sub-king) ; the Uparjjd to the 

 raja. 'Ihe raja, inquiring into the matter, if he be innocent, releases him, but if 

 he be guilty, he causes the Pawenipatthakdn (book of precedents or usages) to be 

 propounded. There it is written, to him by whom such a crime is committed, 

 such a punishment is awarded. The raja having measured the culprit's offence by 

 that standard, pronounces a suitable sentence. 



* The Atihakathd explains that chetiyani are not Buddhistical shrines but Yak- 

 khaithanani (edifices, belonging to the Yakkha or demon worship) ; and yet the reli- 

 gion of Buddho had been established in Wajji at this period. 



•f* The Atihakathd gives the following particulars of the proceedings adopted by 

 Aja'tasattu, on the return of Wassaka'ro to Rajdgahan, which is omitted in 

 the Suttdn. 



Wassaka'ro returned to the raja ; and the monarch inquired— AcMriyo, what says 

 Bhagawa ? He, repeating the declaration of the ascetic Gotamo, said : By no 

 other means will the Wajjians be overcome but by propitiating with tribute, or dis- 

 solving the subsisting union. The raja replied : by propitiating with tributes our 

 elephants and horses will be diminished ; we must get the better of them by breaking 



