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AN 5.49PTS AN 3.571 min read

The King of Kosala

Kosalasutta

When King Pasenadi learns of the death of his beloved Queen Mallikā, the Buddha consoles him.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.49Numbered Discourses 5.49
  • 0.25. Muṇḍarājavagga5. With King Muṇḍa

0.3KosalasuttaThe King of Kosala

1.1PTS 3.57Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.2Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

2.1Tena kho pana samayena mallikā devī kālaṅkatā hoti.2.2Atha kho aññataro puriso yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa upakaṇṇake āroceti:Then a man went up to the king and whispered in his ear,2.3“mallikā devī, deva, kālaṅkatā”ti.“Your Majesty, Queen Mallikā has passed away.”

2.4Evaṁ vutte, rājā pasenadi kosalo dukkhī dummano pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdi.When this was said, King Pasenadi was miserable and sad. He sat with his shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.

3.1Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ dukkhiṁ dummanaṁ pattakkhandhaṁ adhomukhaṁ pajjhāyantaṁ appaṭibhānaṁ viditvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca:Knowing this, the Buddha said to him,3.2“pañcimāni, mahārāja, alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ.“Great king, there are five things that cannot be had by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or divinity or by anyone in the world.3.3Katamāni pañca?What five?3.4‘Jarādhammaṁ mā jīrī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ …pe… na socanāya paridevanāya …pe… kammaṁ daḷhaṁ kinti karomi dānī”ti.That someone liable to old age should not grow old. … Sorrowing and lamenting doesn’t do even a little bit of good … ‘The deed is powerful. What can I do now?’”

3.5Navamaṁ.