The Discourse on the Unrighteous

<p>The Discourse on the Unrighteous</p><p>‘‘Bhikkhus, when kings are unrighteous, at that time royal officials are also unrighteous. When royal officials are unrighteous, at that time brahmins and householders are also unrighteous. When brahmins and householders are unrighteous, at that time the people of the towns and countryside are also unrighteous. When the people of the towns and countryside are unrighteous, the sun and moon revolve irregularly. When the sun and moon revolve irregularly, the constellations and starry forms revolve irregularly. When the constellations and starry forms revolve irregularly, days and nights revolve irregularly. When days and nights revolve irregularly, months and half-months revolve irregularly. When months and half-months revolve irregularly, seasons and years revolve irregularly.</p><p> When seasons and years revolve irregularly, winds blow irregularly, out of season. When winds blow irregularly and out of season, the devas become agitated. When the devas are agitated, the sky does not send down rain properly. When the sky does not send down rain properly, the crops ripen unevenly. Bhikkhus, when people consume crops that have ripened unevenly, they become short-lived, ill-favored, and greatly afflicted by disease.</p><p> ‘‘Bhikkhus, when kings are righteous, at that time royal officials are also righteous. When royal officials are righteous, at that time brahmins and householders are also righteous. When brahmins and householders are righteous, at that time the people of the towns and countryside are also righteous. When the people of the towns and countryside are righteous, the sun and moon revolve regularly. When the sun and moon revolve regularly, the constellations and starry forms revolve regularly. When the constellations and starry forms revolve regularly, days and nights revolve regularly. When days and nights revolve regularly, months and half-months revolve regularly. When months and half-months revolve regularly, seasons and years revolve regularly. When seasons and years revolve regularly, winds blow regularly, in season. When winds blow regularly and in season, the devas do not become agitated. When the devas are not angered, the rain pours down properly. When the rain pours down properly, the crops ripen evenly. "Monks, when people consume crops that ripen evenly, they become long-lived, beautiful, strong, and free from illness." </p><p>“If, among the cattle crossing a river, the leading bull goes crookedly, all of them go crookedly, when the leader has gone crookedly. </p><p>"Even so, among humans, if one who is considered the best, if he practices unrighteousness, how much more will the other people do so; the entire realm suffers, if the king is unrighteous. </p><p>"If, among the cattle crossing a river, the leading bull goes straight, all of them go straight, when the leader has gone straight. </p><p>"Even so, among humans, if one who is considered the best, if he practices righteousness, how much more will the other people do so; the entire realm lives happily, if the king is righteous."</p><p>The Buddha’s words </p><p>adhammikasutta from Tipitaka Pali Reader</p>