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Numbered Discourses · AN 7.21

  • Numbered Discourses 7.21Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.21
  • 3. The Vajji Seven3. Vajjisattakavagga

At SārandadaSārandadasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Sārandada Shrine.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati sārandade cetiye. Then several Licchavis went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and the Buddha said to these Licchavis:Atha kho sambahulā licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te licchavī bhagavā etadavoca:

“Licchavis, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline.“satta vo, licchavī, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te licchavī bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?“Katame ca, licchavī, satta aparihāniyā dhammā? As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī abhiṇhaṁ sannipātā bhavissanti sannipātabahulā; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī samaggā sannipatissanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahissanti, samaggā vajjikaraṇīyāni karissanti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis don’t make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been decreed,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī apaññattaṁ na paññāpessanti, paññattaṁ na samucchindissanti, yathāpaññatte porāṇe vajjidhamme samādāya vattissanti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī ye te vajjīnaṁ vajjimahallakā te sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca sotabbaṁ maññissanti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis don’t forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī yā tā kulitthiyo kulakumāriyo tā na okassa pasayha vāsessanti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjī yāni tāni vajjīnaṁ vajjicetiyāni abbhantarāni ceva bāhirāni ca tāni sakkarissanti garuṁ karissanti mānessanti pūjessanti, tesañca dinnapubbaṁ katapubbaṁ dhammikaṁ baliṁ no parihāpessanti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so thatYāvakīvañca, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ arahantesu dhammikā rakkhāvaraṇagutti susaṁvihitā bhavissati: more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort,‘kinti anāgatā ca arahanto vijitaṁ āgaccheyyuṁ, āgatā ca arahanto vijite phāsuṁ vihareyyun’ti; they can expect growth, not decline.vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them,Yāvakīvañca, licchavī, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā vajjīsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu vajjī sandississanti; they can expect growth, not decline.”vuddhiyeva, licchavī, vajjīnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 7.22 With Vassakāra 0.72near 0.1Then the Buddha said to Vassakāra: “Brahmin, this one time I was staying near Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjis these principles that prevent decline. As long as these seven principles that preven…
  2. DN 16 The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment 0.72near 7.2Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort?” “I have heard…
  3. AN 7.23 Non-Decline for Mendicants (1st) 0.69near 0.1Numbered Discourses 7.23 3. The Vajji Seven Non-Decline for Mendicants (1st) So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “…
  4. AN 7.24 Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd) 0.66near 0.1Numbered Discourses 7.24 3. The Vajji Seven Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd) “Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well … And what are the seven principles that p…
  5. AN 7.29 Non-decline for a Lay Follower 0.64near 0.1Numbered Discourses 7.29 3. The Vajji Seven Non-decline for a Lay Follower “These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower. What seven? They miss out on seeing the mendicants. They neglect listening to the true…