Dighanikaya 2.158_2

2.158_2

Pañcamattāni hatthinikāsatānīti pañca kareṇusatāni. Kappāpetvāti ārohaṇasajjāni kāretvā. Ārohaṇīyanti ārohaṇayoggaṃ, opaguyhanti attho. Kiṃ panesa raññā vuttaṃ akāsi avuttanti? Avuttaṃ. Kasmā? Paṇḍitatāya. Evaṃ kirassa ahosi – rājā imāya velāya gacchāmīti vadati, rājāno ca nāma bahupaccatthikā. Sace antarāmagge koci antarāyo hoti, mampi garahissanti – ‘‘jīvako rājā me kathaṃ gaṇhātīti akālepi rājānaṃ gahetvā nikkhamatī’’ti. Bhagavantampi garahissanti ‘‘samaṇo gotamo, ‘mayhaṃ kathā vattatī’ti kālaṃ asallakkhetvāva dhammaṃ kathetī’’ti. Tasmā yathā neva mayhaṃ, na bhagavato, garahā uppajjati; rañño ca rakkhā susaṃvihitā hoti, tathā karissāmī’’ti.

"About five hundred she-elephants" means five hundred female elephants. "Having had prepared" means having had them readied for mounting. "Mount" means suitable for mounting; the meaning is an elephant for personal use. Now, did he do what was spoken by the king or what was unspoken? What was unspoken. Why? Because of his wisdom. For, it is said, he thought: 'The king says, "I will go at this hour," and kings indeed have many enemies. If any danger should occur on the road, they will blame me too: "Thinking, 'The king accepts my advice,' Jīvaka takes the king and departs even at an improper time!" They will also blame the Blessed One: "The ascetic Gotama, thinking, 'Conversation with me is taking place,' preaches the Dhamma without even considering the time!" Therefore, I will act in such a way that no blame arises either for me or for the Blessed One, and the king's protection is well arranged.'