Dhammapada 4.3.p29

4.3.p29

Rājā sākiyānaṃ dosaṃ saritvā dutiyampi nikkhamitvā tatheva satthāraṃ passitvā puna nivatti. Tatiyavārepi nikkhamitvā tatheva satthāraṃ passitvā puna nivatti. Catutthavāre pana tasmiṃ nikkhante satthā sākiyānaṃ pubbakammaṃ oloketvā tesaṃ ekadivasaṃ nadiyaṃ visapakkhipanapāpakammassa appaṭibāhiyabhāvaṃ ñatvā catutthavāre nāgamāsi. Viṭaṭūbho ‘‘sākiye ghātessāmī’’ti mahantena balakāyena nikkhami. Sammāsambuddhassa pana ñātakā asattaghātakā nāma, attanā marantāpi paresaṃ jīvitaṃ na voropenti. Te cintayiṃsu – ‘‘mayaṃ susikkhitā katahatthā katūpāsanā mahissāsā, na kho pana sakkā amhehi paraṃ jīvitā voropetuṃ, attano kammaṃ dassetvā palāpessāmā’’ti te katasannāhā nikkhamitvā yuddhaṃ ārabhiṃsu. Tehi khittā sarā viṭaṭūbhassa purisānaṃ antarantarena gacchanti, phalakantarakaṇṇachiddantarādīhi nikkhamanti. Viṭaṭūbho disvā nanu bhaṇe ‘‘sākiyā asattaghātakāmhā’’ti vadanti, atha ca pana me purise nāsentīti.

The king remembered his hatred of the Sākiyas and went forth the second time, but seeing the Teacher in the same place, turned back. Again the third time he went forth, but seeing the Teacher in the same place, turned back. But when he went forth the fourth time, the Teacher, surveying the former deeds of the Sākiyas and realizing the impossibility of averting the consequences of the evil deed they committed by throwing poison into the river, refrained from going the fourth time.

Viḍūḍabha therefore went forth with a large force, saying, “I will slay the Sākiyas.” Now the kinsmen of the Supremely Enlightened One do not slay their enemies, but are willing to die rather than take the lives of others. Therefore they said to themselves, “We are trained and skillful; we are expert archers and adepts with the long bow. Since it is unlawful for us to take the lives of others, we will put them to flight by a display of our skill.” So they put on their armor and went forth and began battle. The arrows they shot sped through the ranks of Viḍūḍabha’s men, passing between their shields and through the holes for the ears, without hitting a man. When Viḍūḍabha saw the arrows fly, he said, “I have understood it to be a boast of the Sākiyas that they do not kill their enemies; but they are now killing my men.” One of his men asked him, “Master, why do you turn and look about you?” “The Sākiyas are killing my men.” “Not one of your men is dead; pray have them counted.” He had them counted and perceived that he had not lost one.