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The Chapter on the Seven Vajjī Principles The Discourse at Sārandada Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Vesālī, at the Sārandada Shrine. Then many Licchavīs approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Blessed One said to those Licchavīs: "Licchavīs, I will teach you seven conditions of non-decline. Listen to them, attend carefully; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those Licchavīs replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "And what, Licchavīs, are the seven conditions of non-decline? As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs hold frequent assemblies, and are fond of assemblies; their growth is to be expected, not their decline. As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajjī duties in unity; their growth is to be expected, not their decline. As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, and abide by the ancient Vajjī principles as enacted; their growth is to be expected, not their decline. As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs honor, respect, revere, and venerate their Vajjī elders, and deem them worthy of listening to; their growth is to be expected, not their decline. As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs do not abduct and detain by force the women and girls of good families; their growth is to be expected, not their decline. As long, Licchavīs, as the Vajjīs honor, respect, revere, and venerate their Vajjī shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect their previously given, previously done offerings; they will not neglect the offerings to the deities; growth alone, Licchavis, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. ‘‘As long, Licchavis, as the Vajjians maintain a well-arranged righteous protection and guard for the Arahants— ‘how may Arahants who have not yet come arrive in the realm, and how may Arahants who have arrived dwell comfortably in the realm?’— growth alone, Licchavis, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. ‘‘As long, Licchavis, as these seven conditions of non-decline abide among the Vajjians, and as long as the Vajjians are seen to be in these seven conditions of non-decline— growth alone, Licchavis, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline.’’ First. 2. The Vassakāra Sutta 22. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Vulture Peak Mountain. At that time, King Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhā, the king of Magadha, desired to attack the Vajjians. He said this: ‘‘I will utterly destroy these Vajjians, so mighty and powerful! I will bring ruin upon the Vajjians, I will bring them to destruction and calamity!’’ Then King Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhā, the king of Magadha, addressed Vassakāra the Brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha: ‘‘Come, Brahmin, go to the Blessed One; having approached him, bow down at his feet with your head in my name, and ask about his health, his freedom from illness, his lightness of body, his strength, and his comfortable dwelling, saying: ‘Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhā, the king of Magadha, bows down at the Blessed One’s feet with his head, and asks about his health, his freedom from illness, his lightness of body, his strength, and his comfortable dwelling.’ And say this: ‘Venerable sir, King Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhā, the king of Magadha, desires to attack the Vajjians. He says this: ‘I will utterly destroy these Vajjians, so mighty and powerful! I will bring ruin upon the Vajjians, I will bring them to destruction and calamity!’’ I will go. Whatever the Blessed One declares to you, having learned that well, you should report it to me. For Tathāgatas do not speak falsely. "Yes, sir," Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, having assented to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and memorable conversation, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, said to the Blessed One: "King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, sir Gotama, bows his head at the feet of sir Gotama, and asks about your freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable living. King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, sir Gotama, wishes to attack the Vajjians. He says this: 'I will utterly destroy these Vajjians, who are so mighty, so powerful. I will bring the Vajjians to ruin, I will bring the Vajjians to destruction.'" Now at that time, Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: "What have you heard, Ānanda: 'Do the Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, are they frequent in assembly'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir: 'The Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, they are frequent in assembly.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, are frequent in assembly, growth is to be expected for the Vajjians, Ānanda, not decline. "What have you heard, Ānanda: 'Do the Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajjian duties in unity'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir: 'The Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajjian duties in unity.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajjian duties in unity, ...they will respect; growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ananda – 'The Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, they do not abolish what has been enacted, they live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian laws as enacted'?" "I have heard this, Venerable Sir – 'The Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, they do not abolish what has been enacted, they live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian laws as enacted'." "As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, they do not abolish what has been enacted, they live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian laws as enacted; growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ananda – 'The Vajjians respect, revere, honor, and venerate those elders of the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to'?" "I have heard this, Venerable Sir – 'The Vajjians respect, revere, honor, and venerate those elders of the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to'." "As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians respect, revere, honor, and venerate those elders of the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to; growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ananda – 'The Vajjians do not forcibly detain noble women and noble girls'?" "I have heard this, Venerable Sir – 'The Vajjians do not forcibly detain noble women and noble girls'." "As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians do not forcibly detain noble women and noble girls; growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ananda – 'The Vajjians respect, revere, honor, and venerate those Vajjian shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect the righteous offerings given and made to them in the past'?" "I have heard... I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajji honor, respect, revere, and worship those Vajji shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect the righteous offerings, formerly given and formerly made, to them. As long as, Ananda, the Vajji honor, respect, revere, and worship those Vajji shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect the righteous offerings, formerly given and formerly made, to them; so long may the Vajji expect prosperity, not decline. What have you heard, Ananda, that the Vajji have well-established righteous protection, guard, and watch for the Arahants, so that Arahants who have not come may come to their realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell there in comfort? I have heard, venerable sir, that the Vajji will have well-established righteous protection, guard, and watch for the Arahants, so that Arahants who have not come may come to their realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell there in comfort. As long as, Ananda, the Vajji will have well-established righteous protection, guard, and watch for the Arahants, so that Arahants who have not come may come to their realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell there in comfort; so long may the Vajji expect prosperity, not decline. Then the Blessed One addressed Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha: Once, brahmin, I was dwelling in Vesali, at the Sārandada Shrine. There, brahmin, I taught the Vajji these seven conditions of non-decline. As long as, brahmin, these seven conditions of non-decline remain among the Vajji, and the Vajji are seen to abide in these seven conditions of non-decline; so long may the Vajji expect prosperity, not decline. Even with one of these conditions of non-decline, good Gotama, For the Vajjis who have come, growth is to be expected, not decline; what then of the seven conditions of non-decline! The Vajjis, O Gotama, are not to be attacked by King Ajātasattu, son of Videhī, of Magadha, by means of war, except by means of appeasement, except by means of sowing discord. Now then, O Gotama, we go, we have much to do, we have many duties.’’ ‘‘Now, brahmin, you may go when you think it is time.’’ Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having rejoiced in and approved of the Blessed One’s words, rose from his seat and departed. Second. 3. The First Discourse on Seven 23. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, on Vulture Peak mountain. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: