The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya IV.20
Rajja Sutta
Rulership
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was
staying among the Kosalans in a wilderness hut in a Himalayan
district. Then, as he was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose
in his awareness: "Is it possible to exercise rulership without
killing or causing others to kill, without confiscating or causing others
to confiscate, without sorrowing or causing others sorrow --
righteously?"
Then Mara, the Evil One, knowing
with his awareness the train of thought in the Blessed One's awareness,
went to him and on arrival said to him: "Exercise rulership, Blessed
One! Exercise rulership, O One Well-gone! -- without killing or causing
others to kill, without confiscating or causing others to confiscate,
without sorrowing or causing others sorrow -- righteously!"
"But what do you see in me, Evil One, that you say
to me, 'Exercise rulership, Blessed One! Exercise rulership, O One
Well-gone! -- without killing or causing others to kill, without
confiscating or causing others to confiscate, without sorrowing or causing
others sorrow -- righteously!'?"
"Lord, the Blessed One has developed the four
bases of power, pursued them, given them a means of transport, given them
a grounding, steadied them, consolidated them, and undertaken them well.
If he wanted to, he could resolve on the Himalayas, king of mountains, as
gold, and it would become a mountain of gold."
[The Buddha:]
The entirety
of a mountain of gold,
of solid bullion:
even twice that
wouldn't suffice
for one person.
Knowing this,
live evenly,
in tune with the contemplative life.
When you see stress,
and from where it comes,
how can you incline
to sensual pleasures?
Knowing acquisition
to be a bond in the world,
train for
its subduing.
Then Mara the Evil One -- sad & dejected at
realizing, "The Blessed One knows me; the One Well-gone knows
me" -- vanished right there.
---o0o---
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