The Buddha shares an analogy of the Licchavīs to illustrate the importance of diligence and continuous effort in the practice.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at |Vesāli::capital of the Licchavīs [vesālī]| in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked roof. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus!”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṁ. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ licchavī sukhumālā mudutalunahatthapādā te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.
“Bhikkhus, at present, the |Licchavīs::the Licchavīs were a republican clan of Vesāli, known for their unity and democratic governance. The Buddha often praised their diligence, using them as a model of collective strength, while warning against complacency [licchavī]| dwell using wooden pillows, |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| and |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]| in their training. Therefore, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the son of Videhi, finds no opportunity or foothold. But in the future, bhikkhus, the Licchavīs will be delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with cotton pillows. At that time, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the son of Videhi, will find an opportunity and a foothold.
Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṁ. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ bhikkhū sukhumā mudutalunahatthapādā. Te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.
Bhikkhus, at present, the bhikkhus dwell using wooden pillows, diligent and with continuous effort in their |striving::making effort, exerting [padhāna]|. Therefore, Māra the |Evil One::profoundly immoral and wicked, having evil quality, epithet of Māra [pāpimant]| finds no opportunity or foothold. But in the future, there will be bhikkhus who are delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with cotton pillows. At that time, Māra the Evil One will find an opportunity and a foothold.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves: ‘We will dwell using wooden pillows, diligent and with continuous effort in our striving.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at |Vesāli::capital of the Licchavīs [vesālī]| in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked roof. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus!”
“Venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“Bhikkhus, at present, the |Licchavīs::the Licchavīs were a republican clan of Vesāli, known for their unity and democratic governance. The Buddha often praised their diligence, using them as a model of collective strength, while warning against complacency [licchavī]| dwell using wooden pillows, |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| and |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]| in their training. Therefore, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the son of Videhi, finds no opportunity or foothold. But in the future, bhikkhus, the Licchavīs will be delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with cotton pillows. At that time, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the son of Videhi, will find an opportunity and a foothold.
Bhikkhus, at present, the bhikkhus dwell using wooden pillows, diligent and with continuous effort in their |striving::making effort, exerting [padhāna]|. Therefore, Māra the |Evil One::profoundly immoral and wicked, having evil quality, epithet of Māra [pāpimant]| finds no opportunity or foothold. But in the future, there will be bhikkhus who are delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with cotton pillows. At that time, Māra the Evil One will find an opportunity and a foothold.
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves: ‘We will dwell using wooden pillows, diligent and with continuous effort in our striving.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṁ. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ licchavī sukhumālā mudutalunahatthapādā te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.
Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṁ. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ bhikkhū sukhumā mudutalunahatthapādā. Te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.