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WHAT IS NOT—DHAMMA
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One to tell him what he thought about the value of a sacrifice.
The Blessed One said: “Well then, O Brahmin, give ear and listen attentively and I will speak.”
“Very well, sir,” said Kutadanta in reply ; and the Blessed One spoke as follows :
“Long ago, O Brahmin, there was a king by name Maha Vigeta, mighty, with great wealth and large property; with stores of silver and gold, of aids to enjoyment, of goods and corn ; with his treasure-houses and his garners full.
“Now when King Maha Vigeta was once sitting alone in meditation he became anxious at the thought: ‘I have in abundance all the good things a mortal can enjoy. The whole wide circle of the earth is mine by conquest to possess. It were well if I were to offer a great sacrifice that should ensure me weal and welfare for many days.’
“Thereupon the Brahmin who was chaplain said to the king : ‘The king’s country, sire, is harassed and harried. There are dacoits abroad who pillage the villages and townships and who make the roads unsafe. Were the king, so long as that is so, to levy a fresh tax, verily his majesty would be acting wrongly.
“ ‘But perchance his majesty might think : ‘ I’ll soon put a stop to these scoundrels’ game by degradation and banishment, and fines and bonds and death !’ But their licence cannot be satisfactorily put a stop to. The remnant left unpunished would still go on harassing the realm.
“ ‘Now there is one method to adopt to put a thorough end to this order. Whosoever there be in the king’s realm who devote themselves to keeping cattle and the farm, to them let His Majesty the King give food and seed-corn. Whosoever there be in the king’s realm who devote themselves to trade, to them let His Majesty the King give capital. Whosoever there be in the king’s realm who devote themselves to government service, to them let His Majesty the King give wages and food.
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