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Lesson 3.4.0 Sīlavantānisaṃsā – The Benefits of Maintaining Moral Conduct: Sīla
During his final days, the Buddha sojourned through Magadha and while there was invited by the villagers of Pāṭaligāma to their new rest house (āvasathāgāra). After the villagers of Pāṭaligāma made the necessary arrangements by covering the floor, adding seats and some oil lamps, the Buddha came and gave the talk as presented in this Sīlavanttaānisaṃsā, which literally means the benefits/advantages (ānisaṃsā) of being established in an ethical code of conduct in life (sīlavant). In his address to the lay followers, the Buddha portrays the disadvantages or endangerments (dussīlaādīnavā) of someone who does not observe a moral code, and likewise the welfares of those who do. It seems that the inhabitants followed the Buddha’s advice and Pāṭaligāma developed into the renowned city of Pāṭaliputta, enjoying its prime during the time of King Asoka (even mentioned as Pālibothra by the Greeks), and providing the historical base for today’s Patna.