English
" Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma approached the Blessed One, and having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. To the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma, seated to one side, the Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened with a Dhamma talk. Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma, instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, said to the Blessed One, "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept our invitation to the rest-house, together with the community of monks." The Blessed One accepted by his silence. Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma, knowing the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and went to the rest-house. Having approached, they spread the rest-house completely with coverings, arranged seats, set up a water pot, lit an oil lamp, and then approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma said to the Blessed One, "The rest-house, venerable sir, is completely spread with coverings. Seats are arranged. A water pot is set up. An oil lamp is lit. Now, venerable sir, may the Blessed One do as he sees fit." Then the Blessed One, having put on his lower robe and taken his bowl and outer robe, together with The Blessed One approached the guest house; Having approached, washed his feet, entered the guest house, and sat down facing east, leaning against the central pillar. And the Sangha of bhikkhus also, having washed their feet, entered the guest house, and sat down facing east, leaning against the western wall, with the Blessed One in front of them. And the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma also, having washed their feet, entered the guest house, and sat down facing west, leaning against the eastern wall, with the Blessed One in front of them. Then the Blessed One addressed the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma: Householders, there are dangers for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. What are these five? Here, householders, the immoral person, whose virtue is corrupted, due to heedlessness, incurs great loss of wealth. This is the first danger for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. Furthermore, householders, for the immoral person, whose virtue is corrupted, a bad reputation spreads. This is the second danger for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. Furthermore, householders, the immoral person, whose virtue is corrupted, whatever assembly he approaches, whether an assembly of khattiyas, or an assembly of brahmins, or an assembly of householders, or an assembly of recluses, he approaches without confidence, confused. This is the third danger for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. Furthermore, householders, the immoral person, whose virtue is corrupted, dies bewildered. This is the fourth danger for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. Furthermore, householders, the immoral person, whose virtue is corrupted, with the breaking up of the body, after death, reappears in a state of deprivation, a bad destination, a downfall, hell. This is the fifth danger for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. These, householders, are the five dangers for the immoral, for one whose virtue is corrupted. These five, householders, are the benefits for the virtuous, for one whose virtue is complete. What are these five? Here, householders, the virtuous person, whose virtue is complete, without he gains a great mass of wealth through diligence. This is the first benefit for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. Again, householders, for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue, a good reputation arises. This is the second benefit for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. Again, householders, one who is virtuous, one who is endowed with virtue, whatever assembly he approaches, whether an assembly of khattiyas, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of recluses, he approaches with confidence, unperplexed. This is the third benefit for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. Again, householders, one who is virtuous, one who is endowed with virtue, dies unconfused. This is the fourth benefit for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. Again, householders, one who is virtuous, one who is endowed with virtue, with the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn in a good destination, in the heavenly world. This is the fifth benefit for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. These, householders, are the five benefits for one who is virtuous, for one endowed with virtue. Then the Blessed One, having instructed, incited, inspired, and gladdened the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma with a Dhamma talk for much of the night, dismissed them, saying: "The night, householders, is far spent. Do now as you think fit." "Yes, Venerable Sir," the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma replied to the Blessed One. They rose from their seats, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and departed. Then the Blessed One, soon after the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma had departed, entered an empty dwelling. The Pāṭaligāma episode is concluded. 174. The Episode of Sunidha and Vassakāra 286. Now at that time, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were building a city at Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjians. The Blessed One, having risen in the last watch of the night, saw with his divine eye, purified and surpassing human sight, many deities occupying sites in Pāṭaligāma. In whatever place a powerful deity occupied a site, They are, of the powerful, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever place middle devas take up residence, of the middle, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever place low devas take up residence, of the low, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. Then indeed, the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: "Who now, Ānanda, are building a city in Pāṭaligāma?" "Sunidha and Vassakāra, Venerable Sir, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city in Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjians." Just as, Ānanda, after consulting with the Tāvatiṃsa devas, even so, Ānanda, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city in Pāṭaligāma to ward off the Vajjians. Here, Ānanda, rising in the early morning of the night, I saw with the divine eye, purified and surpassing human, many devas taking up residence in Pāṭaligāma. In whatever place powerful devas take up residence, of the powerful, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever place middle devas take up residence, of the middle, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever place low devas take up residence, of the low, there the minds of kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. As far as, Ānanda, the noble domain extends, as far as trade routes go, this Pāṭaliputta will be the foremost city, a center of commerce. For Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, there will be three dangers: from fire, or from water, or from internal dissension. Then indeed, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, approached the Blessed One, and having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. having exchanged amiable, memorable talk, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, said to the Blessed One: “May Master Gotama consent to our meal today, together with the Sangha of monks.” The Blessed One consented by his silence. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, knowing the Blessed One’s consent, departed. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, having prepared excellent hard and soft food, announced the time to the Blessed One: “It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to the dwelling of Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha; having gone, he sat down on the prepared seat together with the Sangha of monks. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, having personally served and satisfied the Sangha of monks, with the Buddha at its head, with excellent hard and soft food, sat down to one side, when the Blessed One had eaten and removed his hand from the bowl. To Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, seated to one side, the Blessed One gave thanks with these verses: In whatever place a wise person makes their dwelling, there they should feed the virtuous, the restrained celibates. To the deities who are there, they should offer a dedication; those, honored, honor them, respected, respect them. Then they show compassion to him, like a mother to her own child; a person pitied by deities always sees good fortune. Then the Blessed One, having given thanks to Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, with these verses, rose from his seat and departed. Now at that time, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, followed closely behind the Blessed One, thinking: “Whatever gate the ascetic Gotama exits through today, that will be called Gotama’s Gate; whatever ford he crosses the river Gaṅgā by, will cross, that will be called Gotama's ford. Then the Blessed One exited by whichever gate, that was called Gotama's Gate. Then the Blessed One approached the river Ganges. Now at that time, the river Ganges was full, level with its banks, a crow's drink. Some people were looking for a boat, others were looking for a raft, others were building a bridge, desiring to go from this shore to the other.