Udāna, Exalted Utterances

2: Mucalindavaggo
2-2: Rājasuttaṁ (12)
The Discourse about the Kings
Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I heard:
ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta's Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena sambahulānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ,
Then at that time, amongst many monks,
pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ,
after returning from the alms-round after the meal,
upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ, 66
assembling together, and sitting in the attendance hall,
ayam-antarākathā udapādi:
this conversation arose:
“Ko nu kho āvuso imesaṁ dvinnaṁ rājūnaṁ
“Now, venerable friends, which of these two kings has
mahaddhanataro vā mahābhogataro vā,
the greater wealth, the greater riches,
mahākosataro vā mahāvijitataro vā,
the greater treasury, the greater realm,
mahāvāhanataro vā mahabbalataro vā, 67
the greater vehicles, the greater strength,
mahiddhikataro vā mahānubhāvataro vā -
the greater power, the greater majesty -
Rājā vā Māgadho Seniyo Bimbisāro, Rājā vā Pasenadi Kosalo?” ti.
the Magadhan King Seniya Bimbisāra, or the Kosalan King Pasenadi?”
Ayañ-carahi tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ antarākathā hoti vippakatā.
Now this conversation amongst those monks was left unfinished.
66 The genitive as used in the last four words gives a semi-absolute sense in this construction; see Syntax
§203.
67 The Commentary allows for two interpretations here, either as great army or as great strength:
mahantaṁ senābalañ-ceva thāmabalañ-ca, etassā ti mahabbalo.
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