Dighanikaya 5.339

5.339

Tena hi bhavaṃ rājāti brāhmaṇo kira cintesi – ‘‘ayaṃ rājā mahādānaṃ dātuṃ ativiya ussāhajāto. Sace pana attano anuyantā khattiyādayo anāmantetvā dassati. Nāssa te attamanā bhavissanti; yathā dānaṃ te attamanā honti, tathā karissāmī’’ti. Tasmā ‘‘tena hi bhava’’ntiādimāha. Tattha negamāti nigamavāsino. Jānapadāti janapadavāsino. Āmantayatanti āmantetu jānāpetu. Yaṃ mama assāti yaṃ tumhākaṃ anujānanaṃ mama bhaveyya. Amaccāti piyasahāyakā. Pārisajjāti sesā āṇattikārakā. Yajataṃ bhavaṃ rājāti yajatu bhavaṃ, te kira – ayaṃ rājā ‘‘ahaṃ issaro’’ti pasayha dānaṃ adatvā amhe āmantesi, ahonena suṭṭhu kata’’nti attamanā evamāhaṃsu. Anāmantite panassa yaññaṭṭhānaṃ dassanāyapi na gaccheyyuṃ. Yaññakālo mahārājāti deyyadhammasmiñhi asati mahallakakāle ca evarūpaṃ dānaṃ dātuṃ na sakkā, tvaṃ pana mahādhano ceva taruṇo ca, etena te yaññakāloti dassentā vadanti. Anumatipakkhāti anumatiyā pakkhā, anumatidāyakāti attho. Parikkhārā bhavantīti parivārā bhavanti. ‘‘Ratho sīlaparikkhāro, jhānakkho cakkavīriyo’’ti (saṃ. ni. 5.4) ettha pana alaṅkāro parikkhāroti vutto.

“Then, sire”: the brahmin thought, it is said: “This king has become exceedingly zealous to give a great gift. But if he gives it without consulting his followers, such as the khattiyas, they will not be pleased with him. I shall act in such a way that they will be pleased with the gift.” Therefore he said: “Then, sire…” and so forth. Therein, “townspeople”: residents of market towns. “Countryfolk”: residents of the countryside. “Let him consult”: let him invite, let him inform. “Whatever would be mine”: whatever approval of yours would be mine. “Ministers”: dear companions. “Retainers”: the rest who carry out orders. “Let the king sacrifice”: let the king offer the sacrifice. For they said: “This king did not give the gift by force, thinking ‘I am the ruler,’ but consulted us; oh, he has done well!” and being pleased, spoke thus. If he had not consulted them, they would not even have gone to see the sacrificial site. “It is the time for sacrifice, great king”: for when there are no suitable gifts to be given, and in old age, it is not possible to give such a gift; but you are both very wealthy and young—indicating this, they say: “It is the time for sacrifice.” “Siding with consent”: on the side of approval; they are givers of consent, is the meaning. “They become requisites”: they become retinues. But in “The chariot has morality as its requisite, jhāna as its axle, energy as its wheel” (SN 5.4), ornament is spoken of as requisite.