7.
The Discourse on the Four Great Kings
37. "On the eighth day of the fortnight, monks, the ministers and councillors of the four great kings wander about this world - 'Are there many human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit?' On the fourteenth of the fortnight, monks, the sons of the four great kings wander about this world - 'Are there many human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit?' On that day, monks, on the Observance day, the fifteenth, the four great kings themselves wander about this world - 'Are there many human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit?'"
"If, monks, there are few human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit. Then, monks, the four great kings report to the gods of the Thirty-three seated together assembled in the Sudhammā assembly hall - 'There are few indeed, sirs, human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit.' By that, monks, the gods of the Thirty-three are displeased - 'Indeed, sirs, the divine hosts will decline, the titan hosts will be filled.'"
"But if, monks, there are many human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit. Then, monks, the four great kings report to the gods of the Thirty-three seated together assembled in the Sudhammā assembly hall - 'There are many indeed, sirs, human beings among humans who are respectful to their mothers, respectful to their fathers, respectful to ascetics, committed to holy life, honouring the elders in the family, observing the Observance, keeping vigil, and making merit.' By that, monks, the gods of the Thirty-three are delighted - 'Indeed, sirs, the divine hosts will be filled, the titan hosts will decline.'"
"Once upon a time, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, conciliating the gods of the Thirty-three, at that time spoke this verse -
And the extra holiday, well endowed with the eight factors;
One should observe the Observance, whoever is a man like me.'
"But that verse, monks, was badly sung by Sakka, the lord of the gods, not well sung, badly spoken, not well spoken. What is the reason for this? Because Sakka, monks, the lord of the gods, is not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion.
"But whatever monk, monks, is a Worthy One, one who has eliminated the mental corruptions, one who has lived the holy life, one who has done what was to be done, one who has laid down the burden, one who has attained his own welfare, one who has completely destroyed the fetter of becoming, one completely liberated through final knowledge - for that monk, monks, it is proper to say -
And the extra holiday, well endowed with the eight factors;
One should observe the Observance, whoever is a man like me.'
"What is the reason for this? Because that monk, monks, is free from lust, free from hate, free from delusion." The seventh.