The story of the Licchavīs

^Kd.6.30.3 Then the Licchavis of Vesālī heard: “They say that the Lord has reached Koṭigāma”. Then the Licchavis of Vesālī, having had very magnificent vehicles harnessed, having (each) mounted a magnificent vehicle, went off with the very magnificent vehicles from Vesālī to see the Lord. Some Licchavis were dark green,^[1] dark green in colour, their clothes were dark green, their ornaments were dark green. Some Licchavis were yellow, yellow in colour … their ornaments were yellow. Some Licchavis were red, red in colour … their ornaments were red. Some Licchavis were white, white in colour, their clothes were white, their ornaments were white. Then the courtesan Ambapālī drove up against the many young Licchavis, pole to pole, yoke to yoke, wheel to wheel, axle to axle. ^Vin.1.232

^Kd.6.30.4 Then these Licchavis spoke thus to the courtesan Ambapālī: “Now then,^[2] why do you, Ambapālī, drive up against the many young Licchavis pole to pole, yoke to yoke, wheel to wheel, axle to axle?”

“Indeed, young gentlemen,^[3] it is because the Order of monks with the awakened one at its head is invited by me for the morrow.”

“Now then, Ambapālī, give up this meal to us for a hundred thousand.”^[4]

“But if, young gentlemen, you were to give up Vesālī with its produce,^[5] I would not give up this meal.”

^BD.4.317 Then these Licchavis snapped their fingers,^[6] saying: “Truly we are beaten by this mango-girl,^[7] truly we are defeated by this mango-girl.”

^Kd.6.30.5 Then these Licchavis approached the Lord. The Lord saw these Licchavis coming from afar, and seeing them, he addressed the monks, saying:

“By whatever monks, monks, the Devas of the Thirty have not been seen before, look, monks, at the Licchavi company, look again, monks, at the Licchavi company, compare, monks, the Licchavi company to the company of the Devas of the Thirty.” Then these Licchavis, having gone by vehicle as far as the ground … as in Kd.6.30.1, Kd.6.30.2 down to: “Lord, may the Lord consent to a meal with us on the morrow?”

“I have promised, Licchavis, (to take) a meal with the courtesan Ambapālī to-morrow.” Then these Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying:

“Truly we are beaten by this mango-girl; truly we are defeated by this mango-girl.”

Then these Licchavis, having approved of what the Lord had said and having given thanks for it, rising from their seats, having greeted the Lord, departed keeping their right sides towards him.

^Kd.6.30.6 Then the Lord, having stayed in Koṭigāma for as long as he found suiting, approached Ňātikā. The Lord stayed there at Ňātikā in the Brick Residence. Then the courtesan Ambapālī, having had sumptuous food, solid and soft, prepared towards the end of that night in her own park, had the time announced to the Lord, saying: … as in Kd.6.28.10 down to:^{[8] Vin.1.233} … sat down at a respectful distance. As she was sitting down at a respectful distance, the courtesan Ambapālī spoke thus to the Lord: “I, Lord, would give this Ambapālī Grove to the Order of monks with the awakened one at its head.”

The Lord accepted the park. Then the Lord, having gladdened, rejoiced, roused, delighted the courtesan Ambapālī ^BD.4.318 with talk on dhamma, rising from his seat,^[9] approached the Great Grove. The Lord stayed there at Vesālī in the Great Grove in the Hall with the Peaked Gable.

Told is the Portion for Repeating on the Licchavis.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

nīla is defined at Vin.4.120. Vin-a.1096 says that these colours are for the sake of distinguishing the Licchavis. They are not “dark green” and so on by nature, but are coloured with a dark green cosmetic—as some of the faces of the Ajanta frescoes are meant to be.

[2]:

je.

[3]:

ayyaputta.

[4]:

Probably kahāpaṇas are to be understood.

[5]:

sāhāra = sa-āhāra, with its food. Vin-a.1097, DN-a.545 explain by sa-janapada. No justification for “with its subject territory” of Vinaya Texts ii.107, Dialogues of the Buddha ii.103.

[6]:

aṅgulī pothesuṃ. Vin-a.1097 explains by cālesuṃ, to move, to shake.

[7]:

ambakā, with probably intended a play on her name, itself connected with the mango-grove she owned. See Dialogues of the Buddha ii.103, n.1; Vinaya Texts ii.107, n.

[8]:

Replace “Sunidha and Vassakāra, chief ministers of Magadha” by “the courtesan Ambapālī,” and “good Gotama” by “Lord”.

[9]:

To here from Kd.6.30.1 is in all material respects the same as DN.ii.95. The DN version says the Lord went to Beluva.