..续本文上一页one should be eager to protect the country. Whenever there is an announcement from any part of the country that the enemy has invaded any town or village asukaṭṭānesu gāmasīmā vā nigamasīmā vā and when the people are asked, "Who will go there and crush the enemy

　　" ko gatvā imaṃ amittamaddanaṃ karissati brave shouts of "First me, first me" ahaṃ paṭhama, ahaṃ paṭhama should echo throughout the country. During times of danger, all citizens should consider it their fundamental duty to defend the country. They should never fail to fulfil this duty.

　　3. Licchavīs! As long as the Vajjians do not transgress their ancient principles of governance and system of justice, they will remain invincible.

　　If any rājā arbitrarily increases taxes in his region or imposes fresh taxes, this will be a violation of the constitution and will cause discontent. Discontented people will not help during times of crisis.

　　Or if any rājā does not collect tax in his region out of favouritism, it will result in depletion of the state treasury. The army will not be able to procure necessary weapons. If the army does not get its salary on time, its strength will diminish.

　　There should never be any violation of the ancient penal code of the judiciary. According to the penal code, any person arrested on suspicion of having committed any crime has the right to appeal up to seven levels. He can appeal in turn to the minister of enquiry, the judicial magistrate, the chief magistrate, the jury, the commander, the crown prince and the king. If proved innocent in the course of any of these appeals, he is released. If he is ultimately proved to be guilty, he is punished. If he is punished in this way, the law-breaker and his family as well as the people in the community will not have any grievance. But if he is punished without a fair trial and is not given an opportunity to appeal, it will be in violation of the judicial system, and people will become discontented. They will not give their full co-operation to resist the enemy in times of danger. If the government is run without the slightest violation of the judicial system, the people will be contented and will gladly help in the defence of the country.

　　4. Licchavīs! As long as the Vajjians revere, respect, venerate, and honour their elders and pay regard to their words, they will remain invincible.

　　If the respect for experienced elderly retired rājās of the country is maintained, if they are not ignored, then the country will continue to benefit from their long experience of governance and security of the state. The security of the republic can be strengthened with their experience about the way they united at the time of danger and saved the country; the way they deployed the army in the battlefield and destroyed the army formations of their enemies. If their advice is ignored, the country will be deprived of the benefit of their vast experience.

　　5. Licchavīs! As long as the Vajjians protect their women and do not abduct them, they will remain invincible.

　　The intoxication of power is extremely potent. If any rājā intoxicated by power harasses the womenfolk of others, their families will become unhappy and turn into enemies of the state. When the country is attacked, they will join the enemy and help in the destruction of the country to avenge the wrong done to them. If the rājās refrain from immorality, the security of the country will not be endangered.

　　6. Licchavīs! As long as the Vajjians venerate the objects of worship inside and outside their republic, and maintain monetary support to them, they will remain invincible.

　　There were many sects in those days too, with their own temples and places of worship. A wise nation should keep all the people happy and sat…

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