title: SN3.25 — The Blessed One, while sitting to one side, addressed King Pasenadi of Kosala: Where have you come from, great king, in the middle of the day?
SN3.25 — The Blessed One, while sitting to one side, addressed King Pasenadi of Kosala: Where have you come from, great king, in the middle of the day?
Venerable sir, I have been engaged in the royal duties that are the concern of kings, noble warriors, who are intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty, overwhelmed by the greed for sensual pleasures, having conquered a vast expanse of land, and who dwell in their territories.
What do you think, great king? Suppose a man were to come from the eastern direction, trustworthy and reliable, and he were to approach you and say: Great king, you should know that I am coming from the east. There I saw a great mountain, high as the clouds, crushing all living beings as it advances. Whatever you have to do, great king, do it now. Then a second man were to come from the western direction... then a third man from the northern direction... then a fourth man from the southern direction, trustworthy and reliable, and he were to approach you and say: Great king, you should know that I am coming from the south. There I saw a great mountain, high as the clouds, crushing all living beings as it advances. Whatever you have to do, great king, do it now. In such a situation, great king, with a great impending danger, a terrible destruction of human life, a rarity of human existence, what should be done?
In such a situation, venerable sir, with a great impending danger, a terrible destruction of human life, a rarity of human existence, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, to do wholesome deeds, to perform meritorious actions?
I inform you, great king, I declare to you, great king, that old age and death are advancing upon you. With old age and death advancing upon you, great king, what should be done?
With old age and death advancing upon me, venerable sir, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, to do wholesome deeds, to perform meritorious actions? Venerable sir, the elephant battles that are the concern of kings, noble warriors, who are intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty, overwhelmed by the greed for sensual pleasures, having conquered a vast expanse of land, and who dwell in their territories, even those elephant battles have no escape, no domain, when old age and death are advancing.
Venerable sir, whatever battles there are among the kings, the warriors anointed on the head, whether they be battles of horses, chariots, or infantry, none of these battles have any escape or domain when old age and death are advancing. There are, venerable sir, in this royal family, ministers and great officials who are capable of breaking the approaching enemies with their strategies. Yet, even for them, there is no escape or domain in strategic battles when old age and death are advancing. There is, venerable sir, abundant gold and silver in this royal family, both on the ground and in the sky, with which we might be able to appease the approaching enemies with wealth. Yet, even for them, there is no escape or domain in battles of wealth when old age and death are advancing. When old age and death are advancing upon me, venerable sir, what should be done except for the practice of the Dhamma, righteous conduct, skillful actions, and meritorious deeds?
Indeed, great king, indeed, great king. When old age and death are advancing, what should be done except for the practice of the Dhamma, righteous conduct, skillful actions, and meritorious deeds? Thus spoke the Blessed One, the teacher.
Just as great rocks, mountains touching the sky, would crush everything in all directions, so do old age and death advance upon beings, whether they be warriors, brahmins, merchants, or outcasts. They spare nothing, they crush everything. There is no ground for elephants, no ground for chariots, no ground for infantry, nor can one win with strategic battles or wealth. Therefore, a wise person, seeing his own benefit, should place faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Whoever practices the Dhamma with body, speech, and mind, is praised here and rejoices in heaven after passing away.
This is the third section. The summary is: The individual, the grandmother, the world, sovereignty, and the mountain simile, as taught by the supreme Buddha, this is the Kosala Pentad. The Kosala Samyutta is complete.