The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The First Chapter for Recitation
“Very well, dear Sir,” and the Magadhan chief minister the brahmin
Vassakāra, after replying to the Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of
Lady Wisdom, and having (many) great and august vehicles prepared,
and mounting (those) great and august vehicles, departed with those
great and august vehicles from Rājagaha, and after approaching by
vehicle to the Vultures' Peak Mountain as far as the ground for
vehicles (would allow), and descending from the vehicles, he
approached the Gracious One by foot, and after approaching, he
exchanged greetings with the Gracious One, and after exchanging
courteous talk and greetings, he sat down on one side. While sitting on
one side, the Magadhan chief minister the brahmin Vassakāra said this
to the Gracious One:
“The Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, dear
Gotama, worships with his head at dear Gotama's feet, and asks
whether you are free from sickness, free from illness, in good health,
and living comfortably. 6
The Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, dear
Gotama, desires to attack the Vajjians. He says this: ‘I will annihilate
these Vajjians, who are so successful, so powerful, I will destroy the
6 This is an example of what is called elsewhere: courteous talk and greetings.
Notice he doesn't wait for a reply because it is a formality, and a reply was
not expected.
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