Once upon a time the Exalted One was in residence at Mithila, in Makhadeva Mango Grove. Now at a certain spot the Exalted One smiled. And to Venerable Ananda occurred the following thought: "What, pray, is the cause, what is the reason, for the Exalted One's smiling? Not without cause do the Tathagatas smile." Accordingly Venerable Ananda adjusted his robe so as to cover one shoulder only, bent his joined hands in reverent salutation before the Exalted One, and said this to the Exalted One: "What, pray, Reverend Sir, is the cause, what is the reason, for the Exalted One's smiling? Not without cause do the Tathagatas smile."

"In olden times, Ananda, in this very city of Mithila, there was a king named Makhadeva. He was a righteous king, a king of righteousness, abiding steadfast in righteousness, a mighty king. He dealt righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk. He kept Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month.

"Now, Ananda, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years had gone by, King Makhadeva addressed his barber: 'When, master barber, you see gray hairs growing on my head, pray be good enough to tell me.' 'Yes, your majesty,' said the barber to King Makhadeva, giving him his word.

"Ananda, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years had gone by, the barber saw gray hairs growing on King Makhadeva's head. When he saw them, he said this to King Makhadeva: 'The heavenly messengers have appeared to your majesty. Gray hairs are visible growing on your head.' 'Well then, master barber, extract these gray hairs carefully with a pair of tongs and place them in the hollow of my joined hands.'

"'Yes, your majesty,' said the barber to King Makhadeva. And in obedience to his command the barber extracted those gray hairs carefully and placed them in the hollow of King Makhadeva's joined hands. And, Ananda, King Makhadeva gave the barber a splendid village. Then, addressing his eldest son, the royal prince, he said this:

"'Dear prince, the heavenly messengers have appeared to me. Gray hairs are visible growing on my head. But I have enjoyed the pleasures of earth; it is time for me to seek the pleasures of heaven. Come, dear prince, enter upon this kingdom. As for me, I will shave off my hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Now then, dear prince, when you also see gray hairs growing on your head, then you must give your barber a splendid village, thoroughly instruct your eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, shave off your hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last man to follow me. If ever, dear prince, in the lifetime of two men, one uproots the succession, he is the last man of the line. Therefore, dear prince, I say this to you: Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last to follow me.'

"Accordingly, Ananda, King Makhadeva, having given his barber a splendid village, having thoroughly instructed his eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, in this very Makhadeva Mango Grove shaved off his hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retired from the house-life to the houseless life. He dwelt suffusing with thoughts of friendliness, compassion, sympathy, and indifference, one quarter, likewise a second, likewise a third, likewise a fourth. So likewise above, below, across,--everywhere,--identifying himself with all things, he dwelt suffusing the all-embracing earth with thoughts of friendliness, compassion, sympathy, and indifference,--ample, far-reaching, boundless, free from enmity, free from ill-will.

"Now, Ananda, King Makhadeva for eighty-four thousand years diverted himself with the diversions of a royal prince; for eighty- four thousand years exercised the functions of a viceroy; for eighty-four thousand years exercised the functions of a king; for eighty-four thousand years, in this very Makhadeva Mango Grove, having retired from the house-life to the houseless life, led the Holy Life. He cultivated the Four Exalted States, and after death, upon dissolution of the body, was reborn in the Brahma World. Now, Ananda, King Makhadeva's son and his son and his son, to the number of eighty-four thousand Warrior princes descended from him, in this very Makhadeva Mango Grove, shaved off hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retired from the house-life to the houseless life. They cultivated the Four Exalted States, and after death, upon dissolution of the body, were reborn in the Brahma World.

"Nimi was the last of these kings. He was a righteous king, a king of righteousness, abiding steadfast in righteousness, a mighty king. He dealt righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk. He kept Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month.

"In former times, Ananda, among the gods of the Thirty-three, assembled and met together in the mote-hall Goodness, arose the following desultory talk: 'O how fortunate are the Videhas, O how very fortunate are the Videhas, that they should have Nimi for their king! He is a righteous king, a king of righteousness, abiding steadfast in righteousness, a mighty king. He deals righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk. He keeps Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month.'

"Thereupon, Ananda, Sakka king of gods addressed the gods of the Thirty-three: 'Would you wish, sirs, to see King Nimi?' 'We wish, sir, to see King Nimi.' Now at that time, on that very day, on Fast-day, on the fifteenth day of the half-month, King Nimi bathed his head, took upon himself the obligations of Fast-day, and went up on the terrace of his splendid palace and sat down. And, Ananda, Sakka king of gods, just as a strong man might straighten his bent arm or bend his straightened arm, precisely so disappeared from among the gods of the Thirty-three and appeared before King Nimi. And, Ananda, Sakka king of gods said this to King Nimi: 'You are fortunate, great king! you are very fortunate, great king! Great king, the gods of the Thirty-three say thus and so. Great king, the gods of the Thirty-three desire to see you. Great king, I will send to you here a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds. Great king, you may mount the heavenly vehicle with never a tremor of fear.'

"And, Ananda, King Nimi gave consent by remaining silent. Then, Ananda, Sakka king of gods, perceiving that King Nimi had given his consent, just as a strong man might straighten his bent arm or bend his straightened arm, precisely so disappeared from the presence of King Nimi and appeared among the gods of the Thirty-three. And, Ananda, Sakka king of gods addressed the charioteer Matali: 'Come, friend Matali, harness a thousand thoroughbreds to a chariot, and approach King Nimi and speak as follows: "Here, great king, is a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, sent to you by Sakka king of gods. Great king, you may mount the heavenly vehicle with never a tremor of fear."' 'So be it! My best wishes!'

"Thereupon, Ananda, the charioteer Matali, in obedience to the command of Sakka king of gods, harnessed a thousand thoroughbreds to a chariot, approached King Nimi, and spoke as follows: 'Here, great king, is a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, sent to you by Sakka king of gods. Great king, mount the heavenly vehicle with never a tremor of fear. But, great king, by what road shall I conduct you? Where those who have done evil deeds experience the fruition of evil deeds? Or where those who have done good deeds experience the fruition of good deeds?' 'By all means conduct me by both roads, Matali.'

"Thereupon, Ananda, the charioteer Matali escorted King Nimi to the mote-hall Goodness. Now, Ananda, Sakka king of gods saw King Nimi approaching even from afar. Seeing, he said this to King Nimi: 'Come now, great king; you are welcome, great king. Great king, the gods of the Thirty-three, assembled in the mote-hall Goodness, uttered your praises: "O how fortunate are the Videhas, O how very fortunate are the Videhas, that they should have Nimi for their king! He is a righteous king, a king of righteousness, abiding steadfast in righteousness, a mighty king. He deals righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk. He keeps Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month." Great king, the gods of the Thirty-three desire to see you. Great king, take your pleasure among the gods and exercise the supernatural power of a god.'

"'Enough, Sire! Let Matali conduct me right back there to Mithila. There would I deal righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk; there would I keep Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month.'

"Thereupon, Ananda, Sakka king of gods addressed the charioteer Matali: 'Come, friend Matali, harness a thousand thoroughbreds to a chariot and conduct King Nimi right back there to Mithila.' 'So be it! My best wishes!' And in obedience to the command of Sakka king of gods, the charioteer Matali harnessed a thousand thoroughbreds to a chariot and conducted King Nimi right back there to Mithila.

"And there, Ananda, King Nimi dealt righteously with Brahmans and householders, with country folk and city folk. There he kept Fast-day on the fourteenth day, on the fifteenth day, and on the eighth day of the half-month.

"Now, Ananda, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years had gone by, King Nimi addressed his barber: 'When, master barber, you see gray hairs growing on my head, pray be good enough to tell me.' 'Yes, your majesty,' said the barber to King Nimi, giving him his word.

"Ananda, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years had gone by, the barber saw gray hairs growing on King Nimi's head. When he saw them, he said this to King Nimi: 'The heavenly messengers have appeared to your majesty. Gray hairs are visible growing on your head.' 'Well then, master barber, extract these gray hairs carefully with a pair of tongs and place them in the hollow of my joined hands.'

"'Yes, your majesty,' said the barber to King Nimi. And in obedience to his command the barber extracted those gray hairs carefully and placed them in the hollow of King Nimi's joined hands. And, Ananda, King Nimi gave the barber a splendid village. Then, addressing his eldest son, the royal prince, he said this:

"'Dear prince, the heavenly messengers have appeared to me. Gray hairs are visible growing on my head. But I have enjoyed the pleasures of earth; it is time for me to seek the pleasures of heaven. Come, dear prince, enter upon this kingdom. As for me, I will shave off my hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Now then, dear prince, when you also see gray hairs growing on your head, then you must give your barber a splendid village, thoroughly instruct your eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, shave off your hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retire from the house-life to the houseless life. Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last man to follow me. If ever, dear prince, in the lifetime of two men, one uproots the succession, he is the last man of the line. Therefore, dear prince, I say this to you: Inasmuch as I have established this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last to follow me.'

"Accordingly, Ananda, King Nimi, having given his barber a splendid village, having thoroughly instructed his eldest son, the royal prince, in the duties of a king, in this very Makhadeva Mango Grove shaved off his hair and beard, put on yellow robes, and retired from the house-life to the houseless life. He dwelt suffusing with thoughts of friendliness, compassion, sympathy, and indifference, one quarter, likewise a second, likewise a third, likewise a fourth. So likewise above, below, across,--everywhere,--identifying himself with all things, he dwelt suffusing the all-embracing earth with thoughts of friendliness, compassion, sympathy, and indifference,--ample, far-reaching, boundless, free from enmity, free from ill-will.

Now, Ananda, King Nimi for eighty-four thousand years diverted himself with the diversions of a royal prince; for eighty-four thousand years exercised the functions of a viceroy; for eighty-four thousand years exercised the functions of a king; for eighty-four thousand years, in this very Makhadeva Mango Grove, having retired from the house-life to the houseless life, led the Holy Life. He cultivated the Four Exalted States, and after death, upon dissolution of the body, was reborn in the Brahma World.

"Now, Ananda, King Nimi had a son named Kalarajanaka. He did not retire from the house-life to the houseless life. He uprooted that splendid succession. He was the last man of the line.

"Now, Ananda, it may be that the thought has occurred to you: 'At that time some one other than the Exalted One was King Makhadeva, by whom that splendid succession was established.' But, Ananda, this is not the proper view to take. I, at that time, was King Makhadeva. I established that splendid succession. By me that splendid succession was founded. Those who came after me kept it going. But, Ananda, that splendid succession conduces, not to utter disgust, not to detachment, not to cessation, not to tranquillity, not to higher wisdom, not to enlightenment,--only to rebirth in the World of Brahma.

"However, Ananda, this splendid succession which I have now founded, does conduce to utter disgust, to detachment, to cessation, to tranquillity, to higher wisdom, to enlightenment,--to Nirvana. But Ananda, what is this splendid succession which I have now founded, which conduces to utter disgust, to detachment, to cessation, to tranquillity, to higher wisdom, to enlightenment,--to Nirvana? It is this alone: the Noble Eightfold Path; to wit, Right Views, Right Resolution, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Means of Livelihood, Right Exertion, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. This, Ananda, is the splendid succession which I have now founded, which conduces to utter disgust, to detachment, to cessation, to tranquillity, to higher wisdom, to enlightenment,--to Nirvana.

"Therefore, Ananda, I say this to you. Inasmuch as I have founded this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last man to follow me. If ever, Ananda, in the lifetime of two men, one uproots the succession, he is the last man of the line. Therefore, Ananda, I say this to you: Inasmuch as I have founded this splendid succession, it is your duty to keep it going; you must not be the last man to follow me."

Thus spoke the Exalted One. Venerable Ananda, pleased, applauded the words of the Exalted One.