Once on the holy day, fifteenth of the fortnight, having undertaken to keep the holy day, he thought to himself, "I will declare the Law to the multitudes, for the continual increase of good and blessing to them, and to make them vigilant in their life." Then he caused the drum to beat, and beginning with the women of his own household, gathered together all the people of the city. In the courtyard of his palace he sat, on a splendid couch set apart, beneath a pavilion adorned with jewels, and declared the Law in these words: "O people of the city! to you I will declare the practices that will cause you suffering, and these which will not. Be vigilant, and hear with care and attention."

The Master opened his mouth, a precious jewel among mouths, full of truth, and with a voice sweet as honey explained this address of the king of Kosala:

"Thus spake King Janasandha: Ten things in truth there be,
Which if a man omit to do, he suffers presently.

"Not to have got nor gathered store in time, the heart torments;
To think he sought no wealth before he afterwards repents.

"How hard is life for men untaught! he thinks, repenting sore
That learning, which he now might use, he would not learn before.

"A slanderer once, dishonest once, a backbiter unkind,
Cruel, and harsh was I: good cause for sorrow now I find.

[178]"A slayer was I, merciless, and to no creature gave,
Contemptible: for this (quoth he) much sorrow now I have.

"When I had many wives (thinks he) to whom I owed their due,
I left them for another's wife; which now I dearly rue.

"When plenteous store of food and drink there was, he sorrows sore,
To think he never gave a gift in the old time before.

"He grieves to think that when he could, he would not care and tend
Mother and father, now grown old, their youth now at an end.

"To have slighted teacher, monitor, or father, who would try
To gratify his every wish, causes deep misery.

"To have treated brahmins with neglect, ascetics many a one
Holy, and learned, in the past, makes him repent anon.

"Sweet is austerity performed, a good man honoured well:
That he did no such thing before 'tis sad to have to tell.

"Who these ten things in wisdom brings to full accomplishment,
And to all men his duty does, will never need repent."

[180] Thus twice in the month did the Great Being discourse in the same way to the multitude. And the multitude, established in his admonition, fulfilled these ten things, and became destined for heaven.