Maghadevasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 83

About King Maghadeva · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Nimi tesaṁ rājā pacchimako ahosi dhammiko dhammarājā dhamme ṭhito mahārājā;
dhammaṁ carati brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca;
uposathañca upavasati cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassa.

Nimi was the last of those kings, a just and principled king, a great king who stood by his duty. He justly treated brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. And he observed the sabbath on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth of the fortnight.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, ānanda, devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:
‘lābhā vata, bho, videhānaṁ, suladdhaṁ vata, bho, videhānaṁ,
yesaṁ nimi rājā dhammiko dhammarājā dhamme ṭhito mahārājā;
dhammaṁ carati brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca;
uposathañca upavasati cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassā’ti.
Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:
‘iccheyyātha no tumhe, mārisā, nimiṁ rājānaṁ daṭṭhun’ti?
‘Icchāma mayaṁ, mārisa, nimiṁ rājānaṁ daṭṭhun’ti.
Tena kho pana, ānanda, samayena nimi rājā tadahuposathe pannarase sīsaṁnhāto uposathiko uparipāsādavaragato nisinno hoti.
Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—devesu tāvatiṁsesu antarahito nimissa rañño pamukhe pāturahosi.

Once upon a time, Ānanda, while the gods of the thirty-three were sitting together in the Hall of Clear Right, this discussion came up among them: ‘The people of Videha are so fortunate, so very fortunate to have Nimi as their king. He is a just and principled king, a great king who stands by his duty. He justly treats brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. And he observes the sabbath on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth of the fortnight.’ Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three, ‘Good fellows, would you like to see King Nimi?’ ‘We would.’ Now at that time it was the fifteenth day sabbath, and King Nimi had bathed his head and was sitting upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath. Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sakka vanished from the thirty-three gods and reappeared in front of King Nimi.

Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo nimiṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca:
‘lābhā te, mahārāja, suladdhaṁ te, mahārāja.
Devā, mahārāja, tāvatiṁsā sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ kittayamānarūpā sannisinnā:
“lābhā vata, bho, videhānaṁ, suladdhaṁ vata, bho, videhānaṁ,
yesaṁ nimi rājā dhammiko dhammarājā dhamme ṭhito mahārājā;
dhammaṁ carati brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca;
uposathañca upavasati cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassā”ti.
Devā te, mahārāja, tāvatiṁsā dassanakāmā.
Tassa te ahaṁ, mahārāja, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ pahiṇissāmi;
abhiruheyyāsi, mahārāja, dibbaṁ yānaṁ avikampamāno’ti.
Adhivāsesi kho, ānanda, nimi rājā tuṇhībhāvena.
Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo nimissa rañño adhivāsanaṁ viditvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—nimissa rañño pamukhe antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi.

He said to the king, ‘You’re fortunate, Great King, so very fortunate. The gods of the thirty-three were sitting together in the Hall of Clear Right, where they were singing your praises. They would like to see you. I shall send a chariot harnessed with a thousand thoroughbreds for you, Great King. Mount the heavenly chariot, Great King, without wavering!’ King Nimi consented with silence. Then, knowing that the king had consented, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sakka vanished from King Nimi and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three.

Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:
‘ehi tvaṁ, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā nimiṁ rājānaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadehi—
ayaṁ te, mahārāja, sahassayutto ājaññaratho sakkena devānamindena pesito;
abhiruheyyāsi, mahārāja, dibbaṁ yānaṁ avikampamāno’ti.
‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, ānanda, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā nimiṁ rājānaṁ upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:
‘ayaṁ te, mahārāja, sahassayutto ājaññaratho sakkena devānamindena pesito;
abhiruha, mahārāja, dibbaṁ yānaṁ avikampamāno.
Api ca, mahārāja, katamena taṁ nemi, yena vā pāpakammā pāpakānaṁ kammānaṁ vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedenti, yena vā kalyāṇakammā kalyāṇakammānaṁ vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti?
‘Ubhayeneva maṁ, mātali, nehī’ti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali, ‘Come, dear Mātali, harness the chariot with a thousand thoroughbreds. Then go to King Nimi and say, “Great king, this chariot has been sent for you by Sakka, lord of gods. Mount the heavenly chariot, Great King, without wavering!”’ ‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali. He did as Sakka asked, and said to the king, ‘Great king, this chariot has been sent for you by Sakka, lord of gods. Mount the heavenly chariot, Great King, without wavering! But which way should we go—the way of those who experience the result of bad deeds, or the way of those who experience the result of good deeds?’ ‘Take me both ways, Mātali.’

Sampavesesi kho, ānanda, mātali, saṅgāhako nimiṁ rājānaṁ sudhammaṁ sabhaṁ.
Addasā kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo nimiṁ rājānaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.
Disvāna nimiṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca:
‘ehi kho, mahārāja.
Svāgataṁ, mahārāja.
Devā te dassanakāmā, mahārāja, tāvatiṁsā sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ kittayamānarūpā sannisinnā:
“lābhā vata, bho, videhānaṁ, suladdhaṁ vata, bho, videhānaṁ,
yesaṁ nimi rājā dhammiko dhammarājā dhamme ṭhito mahārājā;
dhammaṁ carati brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca;
uposathañca upavasati cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassā”ti.
Devā te, mahārāja, tāvatiṁsā dassanakāmā.
Abhirama, mahārāja, devesu devānubhāvenā’ti.
‘Alaṁ, mārisa, tattheva maṁ mithilaṁ paṭinetu.
Tathāhaṁ dhammaṁ carissāmi brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca;
uposathañca upavasāmi cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassā’ti.

Mātali brought King Nimi to the Hall of Clear Right. Sakka saw King Nimi coming off in the distance, and said to him: ‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! The gods of the thirty-three who wanted to see you were sitting together in the Hall of Clear Right, where they were singing your praises. The gods of the thirty-three would like to see you. Enjoy heavenly glory among the gods!’ ‘Enough, good fellow. Send me back to Mithilā right away. That way I shall justly treat brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. And I shall observe the sabbath on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth of the fortnight.’

Atha kho, ānanda, sakko devānamindo mātaliṁ saṅgāhakaṁ āmantesi:
‘ehi tvaṁ, samma mātali, sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā nimiṁ rājānaṁ tattheva mithilaṁ paṭinehī’ti.
‘Evaṁ, bhaddantavā’ti kho, ānanda, mātali saṅgāhako sakkassa devānamindassa paṭissutvā sahassayuttaṁ ājaññarathaṁ yojetvā nimiṁ rājānaṁ tattheva mithilaṁ paṭinesi.
Tatra sudaṁ, ānanda, nimi rājā dhammaṁ carati brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca, uposathañca upavasati cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ aṭṭhamiñca pakkhassāti.
Atha kho, ānanda, nimi rājā bahūnaṁ vassānaṁ bahūnaṁ vassasatānaṁ bahūnaṁ vassasahassānaṁ accayena kappakaṁ āmantesi:
‘yadā me, samma kappaka, passeyyāsi sirasmiṁ palitāni jātāni, atha me āroceyyāsī’ti.
‘Evaṁ, devā’ti kho, ānanda, kappako nimissa rañño paccassosi.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed his chariot handler Mātali, ‘Come, dear Mātali, harness the chariot with a thousand thoroughbreds and send King Nimi back to Mithilā right away.’ ‘Yes, lord,’ replied Mātali, and did as Sakka asked. And there King Nimi justly treated his people, and observed the sabbath. Then, after many years, many hundred years, many thousand years had passed, King Nimi addressed his barber, ‘My dear barber, when you see grey hairs growing on my head, please tell me.’ And all unfolded as before.

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