Dighanikaya 3.254

3.254

Evaṃ me sutaṃ…pe… kosalesūti ambaṭṭhasuttaṃ. Tatrāyaṃ apubbapadavaṇṇanā. Kosalesūti kosalā nāma jānapadino rājakumārā. Tesaṃ nivāso ekopi janapado rūḷhīsaddena kosalāti vuccati, tasmiṃ kosalesu janapade. Porāṇā panāhu – yasmā pubbe mahāpanādaṃ rājakumāraṃ nānānāṭakādīni disvā sitamattampi akarontaṃ sutvā rājā āha – ‘‘yo mama puttaṃ hasāpeti, sabbālaṅkārena naṃ alaṅkaromī’’ti. Tato naṅgalānipi chaḍḍetvā mahājanakāye sannipatite manussā sātirekāni sattavassāni nānākīḷāyo dassetvāpi taṃ hasāpetuṃ nāsakkhiṃsu, tato sakko devarājā nāṭakaṃ pesesi, so dibbanāṭakaṃ dassetvā hasāpesi. Atha te manussā attano attano vasanokāsābhimukhā pakkamiṃsu. Te paṭipathe mittasuhajjādayo disvā paṭisanthāraṃ karontā – ‘‘kacci bho kusalaṃ, kacci bho kusala’’nti āhaṃsu. Tasmā taṃ ‘‘kusala’’nti vacanaṃ upādāya so padeso kosalāti vuccatīti.

'Thus have I heard… among the Kosalans' is the Ambaṭṭha Sutta. In that passage, here is the explanation of unfamiliar words. 'Among the Kosalans' (kosalesu): Kosalans are princes of that realm. Their dwelling place, even a single country, is called 'Kosala' by conventional usage; 'among the Kosalans' means in that realm. The ancients, however, said: In the past, having heard that prince Mahāpanāda, even on seeing various theatrical performances and the like, did not produce even a smile, the king said: 'Whoever makes my son laugh, I shall adorn him with every ornament.' Then, abandoning their plows and gathering in a great multitude, though people displayed various entertainments for more than seven years, they were unable to make him laugh. Then Sakka, king of devas, sent a troupe of performers; having displayed a celestial performance, he made him laugh. Then those people departed toward their respective dwelling places. Seeing friends, companions, and others along the road, making polite greetings, they said: 'Sir, is all well (kacci bho kusalaṃ)? Sir, is all well?' Therefore, taking up that word 'kusala', that region is called 'Kosala'.