Vinaya Texts, Part II: The Mahâvagga V–X, Kullavagga I–III — SBE Vol. 17 (1882)

‘In former times, O Bhikkhus, there lived at

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Benares a king of K4si, Brahmadatta by name, wealthy, rich in treasures, rich in revenues, rich in troops and vehicles, the lord over a great realm, with full treasuries and storehouses. And there was also a king of Kosala, Dightti by name, not wealthy, poor in treasures, poor in revenues, poor in troops and vehicles, the lord over a small realm, with empty treasuries and storehouses.

‘And king Brahmadatta, O Bhikkhus, of K4si, having set the four hosts of his army in array, went out to war with king Dighiti of Kosala.

‘And king Dighiti of Kosala heard, O Bhikkhus : “King Brahmadatta of K4si, having set the four hosts of his army in array, has gone out to war with me.” Then king Dighiti of Kosala thought, O Bhikkhus: “King Brahmadatta of Kasi is wealthy, rich in treasures, &c.; and I am not wealthy, poor in treasures, &c. I am not able to stand against even one attack of king Brahmadatta of Kasi. What if I were to flee from the town beforehand.”

‘And king Dighiti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, took his queen-consort with him and fled from the town beforehand.

‘Then king Brahmadatta of K4si, O Bhikkhus, conquered the troops and vehicles, the realm, the treasuries and storehouses of king Dighiti of Kosala, and took possession of them.

‘And king Dtghiti of Kosala,O Bhikkhus, together with his consort, went forth to Benares. Wandering from place to place he came to Benares, and there at Benares, O Bhikkhus, king Dightti of Kosala dwelt, together with his consort, at a certain place near the town, in a potter’s dwelling, in disguise, in the guise of a wandering ascetic.

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4. ‘And ere long, O Bhikkhus, the queen-consort of king Dighiti of Kosala became pregnant. And there came upon her the longing of pregnant women; and she desired, at sunrise, to see an army, with its four hosts set in array, clad in armour, standing on auspicious ground, and to drink the water in which the swords were washed.

‘And the queen-consort, O Bhikkhus, of king Dtghiti of Kosala said to king Dighiti of Kosala: “I am pregnant, Lord, and the longing of pregnancy has come upon me; and I desire, at sunrise, &c.”

‘(The king replied): “Whence shall come, O queen, to people in distress like us, an army with four hosts set in array, clad in armour, standing on auspicious ground, and the water in which the swords are washed ?”

‘(The queen said): “If I do not obtain it, Lord,
I shall die.”

5. ‘Now at that time, O Bhikkhus, the Brahmaza who was domestic chaplain to king Brahmadatta of Kasi, was a friend of king Dightti of Kosala. And king Dtghtti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, went to the place where that Brahmama, the domestic chaplain to king Brahmadatta of K4si, was; having approached him he said to that Brahmaza, the domestic chaplain to king Brahmadatta of Kasi: “Your ladyfriend, my beloved, is pregnant, and the longing of pregnant women has come upon her; and she desires (&c., as above).”

‘(The Brahmaza replied): “Well, O king, let us see the queen also.”

‘Then, O Bhikkhus, the queen-consort of king Dighiti of Kosala went to the place where that Brahmaza, the domestic chaplain to king Brahp. 296madatta of K4si, was. And, O Bhikkhus, that Braéhmaza, the domestic chaplain to king Brahmadatta of K4si, saw the queen-consort of king Dighiti of Kosala coming from afar. On seeing her he rose from his seat, adjusted his upper robe so as to cover one shoulder, raised his joined hands to the queen-consort of king Dighiti of Kosala, and three times uttered this exclamation: “Verily a Kosala king dwells in thy womb! Verily a Kosala king dwells in thy womb!” (And further he said) : “Do not despond, O queen, you will obtain the sight at sunrise of an army with its four hosts set in array, clad in armour, standing on auspicious ground, and you will obtain the drinking of the water in which the swords are washed.”

6. ‘And, O Bhikkhus, that Brahmaza, the domestic chaplain to king Brahmadatta of K4si, went to the place where king Brahmadatta of K4si was. Having approached him, he said to king Brahmadatta of Kasi: “Lord, the signs that appear are such, that to-morrow at sunrise an army with four hosts, set in array, clad in armour, must station itself on auspicious ground, and the swords must be washed.”

‘Then, O Bhikkhus, king Brahmadatta of KaAsi gave order to his attendants: “Do, my friends, what the Brahmaza, my domestic chaplain, tells you.”

‘Thus, O Bhikkhus, the queen-consort of king Dighiti of Kosala obtained the sight at sunrise, &c., and the drinking of the water in which the swords were washed.

‘And, O Bhikkhus, the queen-consort of king Dightti of Kosala, when the child in her womb had reached maturity, gave birth toa boy. They calledp. 297 him Digh4vu (“ Longeval”). And ere long, O Bhikkhus, young Dighavu came to the years of discretion.

7. ‘And king Dightti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, thought: “This king Brahmadatta of K4si has done much harm to us. By him we have been robbed of our troops and vehicles, our realm, our treasuries and storehouses. Should he find us out here, he will have us all three killed. What if I were to cause young Dighdvu to dwell outside the town.”

‘Then king Dighiti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, caused young Dighdvu to dwell outside the town. And young Dighavu, O Bhikkhus, dwelling outside the town, ere long learnt all arts.

What if I were to cause young Dighdvu to dwell outside the town.”

‘Then king Dighiti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, caused young Dighdvu to dwell outside the town. And young Dighavu, O Bhikkhus, dwelling outside the town, ere long learnt all arts.

8. ‘At that time, O Bhikkhus, the barber of king Dighiti of Kosala dwelt at the court of king Brahmadatta of K4si. Now, O Bhikkhus, this barber of king Dightti of Kosala saw king Dighiti of Kosala dwelling, together with his consort, at Benares, at a certain place near the town, in a potter's dwelling, in disguise, in the guise of a wandering ascetic. When he had seen him, he went to the place where king Brahmadatta of Kasi was, and having approached him, he said to king Brahmadatta of K4si: “King Ditghiti of Kosala, Your Majesty, dwells, together with his consort, at Benares, at a certain place near the town, in a potter's dwelling, in disguise, in the guise of a wandering ascetic.”

g. ‘Then, O Bhikkhus, king Brahmadatta of K4si gave order to his attendants: “ Well, my friends, bring king Dighiti of Kosala and his consort before me.”

‘And those people, O Bhikkhus, accepted this order of king Brahmadatta of KAsi (by saying),

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“Yes, Your Majesty,” and brought king Dightti of
Kosala and his consort before him.

‘Then, O Bhikkhus, king Brahmadatta of K4si gave order to his attendants: “Well, my friends, bind king Dighiti of Kosala and his consort firmly with strong ropes, tie their arms to their backs, have them close shaven, lead them around with loud beatings of drums from road to road and from cross-way to cross-way, then lead them out of the town by the southern gate, hew them in four pieces to the south of the town, and throw the pieces away to the four quarters.”

‘And those people, O Bhikkhus, accepted this order of king Brahmadatta of K4si (by saying), “Yes, Your Majesty,” bound king Dighiti of Kosala and his consort firmly with strong ropes, tied their arms to their backs, had them close shaven, and led them around with loud beatings of drums from road to road and from cross-way to cross-way.

to. ‘ Now, O Bhikkhus, young DighAvu thought : “For a long time I have not seen my father and mother. What if I were to go and see my father and mother.” And young Dighdvu, O Bhikkhus, entered Benares, and saw his father and mother, bound firmly with strong ropes, their arms tied to their backs, close shaven, and being led around with loud beating of drums from road to road and from cross-way to cross-way. When he saw that, he went up to his father and mother.

‘And king Dightti of Kosala, O Bhikkhus, saw young Dighavu coming from afar; seeing young Dighavu he said to him: “ Do not look long, my dear Digh4vu, and do not look short!. For not by

} This enigmatic phrase will be found explained below, § 19.

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hatred, my dear Digh4vu, is hatred appeased; by not-hatred, my dear Dighdvu, hatred is appeased.”