Then King Pasenadi approached the Blessed One in the middle of the day and, on arrival, having bowed down, sat to one side."What do you think, great king? Suppose a man, trustworthy and reliable, were to come to you from the East and on arrival would say: 'If it please your majesty, you should know that I come from the East. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings in its path. Do whatever you think should be done.'
"Then a second man were to come to you from the West... Then a third man were to come from the North... Then a fourth man were to come to you from the South and on arrival would say: 'If it please your majesty, you should know that I come from the South. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings in its path. Do whatever you think should be done.'
"If, your majesty, such a great peril should arise, such terrible destruction of human life, what should be done?"
The king replied, "What else should be done but Dhamma-conduct, right conduct, skillful deeds, meritorious deeds?"
The Buddha said, "I inform you, great king, I announce to you, great king: aging and death are rolling in on you. When aging and death are rolling in on you, what should be done?"
"As aging and death are rolling in on me, Lord, what else should be done but Dhamma-conduct, right conduct, skillful deeds, meritorious deeds?"
The Buddha said, "One who practices the Dhamma in thought, word and deed, receives praise here on earth and after death rejoices in heaven."
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