Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
II. Rathakāra Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
II. The Wheelwright
Sutta 14
Cakka-Vatti Suttaɱ
Dhamma
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][bodh][upal] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler, -
even he is not without a rajah."[1]
At these words a certain monk said to the Exalted One:
"Who then, lord, is ruler over a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler?"
"Dhamma, monk," replied the Exalted One,
and went on to say:
"Herein, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,[2]
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,[3]
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst the folk.
Then again, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst the warriors who follow in his host.
Then again, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst the brahmins and housefathers.
Then again, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst dwellers in outlying parts.
Then again, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst recluses and brahmins.
Then again, monk, a rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
amongst beasts and birds alike.
He it is, that rajah who is a world-monarch,
a just and righteous ruler,
in dependence on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
with Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
who keeps constant watch and ward
that rolls the wheel of sovereignty
according to Dhamma.
That wheel of sovereignty
is not to be upset by any human being whatsoever,
by any foe that lives.
§
Just so, monk, the Tathāgata,
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant [95] watch and ward
over the actions of his body,
ever thinking:
'Such and such action of body
must be[ed1] followed,
must not be followed.'
Just so, monk, the Tathāgata,
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
over the actions of speech,
ever thinking:
'Such and such action of speech
must be followed,
must not be followed.'
Just so, monk, the Tathāgata,
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
keeps constant watch and ward
over the actions of thought,
ever thinking:
'Such and such action of thought
must be followed,
must not be followed.'
He it is, monk, that Tathāgata
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
thus keeping constant watch and ward
over acts of body,
keeps rolling the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma
in accordance with Dhamma.
He it is, monk, that Tathāgata
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
thus keeping constant watch and ward
over acts of speech,
keeps rolling the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma
in accordance with Dhamma.
He it is, monk, that Tathāgata
that Arahant who is a Fully Enlightened One,
the just and righteous ruler,
is dependent on Dhamma,
honouring Dhamma,
respectful and deferential to Dhamma,
with Dhamma as his banner,
Dhamma as his standard,
with Dhamma as his overlord,
thus keeping constant watch and ward
over acts of thought,
keeps rolling the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma
in accordance with Dhamma.
That wheel [of righteousness]
is not to be turned back
by any recluses or brahmins,
by any deva or Mara or Brahma
whatsoever in the world."
[1] Text so pi nāma arājakaɱ cakkaɱ vatteti. Comy. so pi na arājakaɱ v.
[2] Cf. K.S. ii, 190.
[3] Ādhipateyya.
[ed1] Woodward has 'must not be followed, must not be followed.'
