Vassakāra untranslated

Vassakāra. A Brahmin, chief minister of Ajātasattu. He and Sunidha were in charge of the fortifications of Pāṭaligāma, built against the Vajjī. Vin.i.228; Ud.viii.6; the Dīgha account, DN.ii.72ff. omits Sunidha. The Vinaya account omits Vassakāra’s questions to the Buddha; cf. AN­a.ii.705ff.

At Ajātasattu’s suggestion, Vassakāra visited the Buddha to discover, indirectly, whether, in the Buddha’s view, there were any chances of Ajātasattu conquering the Vajjians in battle. The Buddha said that as long as the Vajjians practised the seven conditions of prosperity which he had taught them at Sārandadacetiya, they would prosper rather than decline, and this gave Vassakāra the idea that the downfall of the Vajjians could be brought about by diplomacy (upalāpana) or disunion (mithubheda). He thereupon conspired with the king (DN.A.ii.522ff) and, by agreement, the latter expelled him on the charge of showing favour to the Vajjians during discussions in the assembly. Vassakāra then went to the Vajjī country, and the Licchavīs, all unsuspecting, welcomed him and appointed him as the teacher of their children. By means of cunning and questioning the children in secret, he made them quarrel with each other, and these quarrels soon spread to the elders. In three years the Licchavīs were completely disunited, and when the assembly drum was beaten, they failed to appear. Vassakāra then sent a message to Ajātasattu, who was able to capture Vesālī without meeting any resistance.

In the Gopaka Moggallānasutta (MN.iii.8ff), Vassakāra is represented as arriving in the middle of a conversation, which Gopaka Moggallāna was holding with Ānanda, having been sent to inspect the works at Rājagaha, which were in charge of Moggallāna. Having asked the subject of conversation, he inquired whether the Buddha himself or the Saṅgha had chosen a leader for the Saṅgha after the Buddha’s death. Ānanda explains that the Buddha did not do so, that no special leader has been appointed, but that there were monks to whom they showed honour and reverence because of their virtue and insight. Vassakāra admits this as good, as does also Upananda, the Senāpati, who is present. Vassakāra asks Ānanda where he lives, and is told, in Veḷuvana. Vassakāra thinks this a good place for the practice of jhāna, and tells Ānanda of a conversation he once had with the Buddha regarding jhāna. Ānanda, remarks that all jhānas are not equally praiseworthy, and Vassakāra takes his leave.

Buddhaghosa says (MN­a.ii.854) that Vassakāra knew well of Ānanda’s residence at Veḷuvana, but that as the place was under his special protection, he wished to hear his work praised. Then follows a curious tale. Vassakāra once saw Mahā Kaccāna descending Gijjhakūṭa and remarked that he was just like a monkey. The Buddha, hearing of this, said that, unless Vassakāra begged the Elder’s forgiveness, he would be born as a monkey in Veḷuvana. Vassakāra, feeling sure that the Buddha’s prophecy would come true, had various fruit and other trees planted in Veḷuvana, to be of use to him as a monkey. After death he was actually reborn as a monkey and answered to the name of Vassakāra.

Three conversations between the Buddha and Vassakāra are recorded in the Aṅguttaranikāya, all three taking place at Veḷuvana. See Vassakārasuttas (1) and (2), and Sutasutta ??. Another Sutta, also called Vassakāra (3), repeats the conversation recorded in the Dīgha regarding the possibility of Ajātasattu defeating the Vajjians.

Vassakāra had a daughter whom he wished to give in marriage to Uttara, but the latter refused the proposal as he wished to join the Saṅgha. Vassakāra was angry, and contrived to take his revenge even after Uttara had become a monk (Thag­a.i.240; see Uttara).

Buddhaghosa says (Vin-a.ii.295) that Vassakāra was envious by nature, and, on discovering that a certain forest official had given tribute to Dhaniya (2) without the king’s special leave, he reported the man to the king and had him punished (the incident is repeated at Vin.iii.42ff). In this context we find that Vassakāra was Mahā Matta (? chief minister) to Bimbisāra as well.