Bālapaṇḍitasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 129

The Foolish and the Astute · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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againPuna and furthercaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa householder·treasuregahapatiratanaṁ forth·bepātubhavati.
to himTassa deed·result·bornkammavipākajaṁ divine·eyedibbacakkhu forth·bepātubhavati, by whichyena treasure trovenidhiṁ he seespassati with·owner·evensassāmikampi without·owner·evenassāmikampi.
heSo the kingrājānaṁ wheel-turningcakkavattiṁ near·approachupasaṅkamitvā thus·sayevamāha:
free from worry‘appossukko youtvaṁ, your majestydeva, behohi. IAhaṁ for youte with wealthdhanena wealth·to be donedhanakaraṇīyaṁ I will dokarissāmī’ti.
been·beforeBhūtapubbaṁ, monksbhikkhave, the kingrājā wheel-turningcakkavattī that·sametameva householder·treasuregahapatiratanaṁ testingvīmaṁsamāno boatnāvaṁ onto·boardabhiruhitvā in the middlemajjhe of the Gangesgaṅgāya of the rivernadiyā currentsotaṁ having enteredogāhitvā householder·treasuregahapatiratanaṁ this·sayetadavoca:
need‘attho for meme, householdergahapati, with gold coined and uncoinedhiraññasuvaṇṇenā’ti.
then‘Tena indeedhi, great·kingmahārāja, oneekaṁ shoretīraṁ boatnāvā let it draw nearupetū’ti.
right here‘Idheva for meme, householdergahapati, needattho with gold coined and uncoinedhiraññasuvaṇṇenā’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho thattaṁ, monksbhikkhave, householder·treasuregahapatiratanaṁ with bothubhohi with handshatthehi in the waterudake having immersedomasitvā fullpūraṁ gold·coined goldhiraññasuvaṇṇassa potkumbhiṁ having pulled upuddharitvā the kingrājānaṁ wheel-turningcakkavattiṁ this·sayetadavoca:
is this sufficient‘alamettāvatā, great·kingmahārāja. done·this muchKatamettāvatā, great·kingmahārāja. offered·this muchPūjitamettāvatā, great kingmahārājā’ti.
the kingRājā wheel-turningcakkavattī thus·sayevamāha:
that is sufficient‘alamettāvatā, householdergahapati. done·this muchKatamettāvatā, householdergahapati. offered·this muchPūjitamettāvatā, householdergahapatī’ti.
of the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ householder·treasuregahapatiratanaṁ forth·bepātubhavati.

Next, the householder-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. The power of clairvoyance manifests in him as a result of past deeds, by which he sees treasure troves, both owned and ownerless. He approaches the wheel-turning monarch and says, ‘Relax, Your Majesty. I will take care of the treasury.’ Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same householder-treasure, boarded a boat and sailed to the middle of the Ganges River. Then he said to the householder-treasure, ‘Householder, I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’ ‘Well then, Great King, draw the boat up to one shore.’ ‘It’s right here, householder, that I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’ Then that householder-treasure, immersing both hands in the water, pulled up a pot full of gold, both coined and uncoined, and said to the king, ‘Is this sufficient, Great King? Has enough been done, Great King, enough offered?’ The wheel-turning monarch said, ‘That is sufficient, householder. Enough has been done, enough offered.’ Such is the householder-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

againPuna furthermorecaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, to the kingrañño wheel·turningcakkavattissa around·leader·treasurepariṇāyakaratanaṁ appearspātubhavati—
astutepaṇḍito competentbyatto intelligentmedhāvī capablepaṭibalo the kingrājānaṁ wheel·turningcakkavattiṁ near·go·causeupayāpetabbaṁ near·go·causeupayāpetuṁ away·go·causeapayāpetabbaṁ away·go·causeapayāpetuṁ should be keptṭhapetabbaṁ to keepṭhapetuṁ.
heSo the kingrājānaṁ wheel·turningcakkavattiṁ near·together·goupasaṅkamitvā spoke thusevamāha:
free from worry‘appossukko youtvaṁ, Your Majestydeva, behohi. I shall issue instructionsAhamanusāsissāmī’ti.
to the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel·turningcakkavattissa this·formevarūpaṁ around·leader·treasurepariṇāyakaratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.
kingRājā, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattī with theseimehi sevensattahi treasuresratanehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti.

Next, the commander-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. He is astute, competent, intelligent, and capable regarding who should be ushered in to the king’s presence, who should be ushered out, and who should be kept by his side. He approaches the wheel-turning monarch and says, ‘Relax, Your Majesty. I shall issue instructions.’ Such is the commander-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch. These are the seven treasures possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.

with whatKatamāhi fourcatūhi blessings?iddhīhi?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a kingrājā wheel·turningcakkavattī very·formabhirūpo ishoti sight·worthydassanīyo lovelypāsādiko of surpassingparamāya complexion·beautyvaṇṇapokkharatāya endowed·gonesamannāgato beyond·likeativiya than otheraññehi humans.manussehi.
A kingRājā, monksbhikkhave, wheel·turningcakkavattī with thisimāya firstpaṭhamāya blessingiddhiyā endowed·gonesamannāgato is.hoti.

And what are the four blessings? A wheel-turning monarch is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty, more so than other humans. This is the first blessing.

furthermorePuna and moreovercaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, a kingrājā wheel·turningcakkavattī long-liveddīghāyuko ishoti long-lastingciraṭṭhitiko exceedinglyativiya than otheraññehi humansmanussehi.
a kingRājā, monksbhikkhave, wheel·turningcakkavattī with thisimāya seconddutiyāya blessingiddhiyā endowedsamannāgato ishoti.

Furthermore, he is long-lived, more so than other humans. This is the second blessing.

furthermorePuna and moreovercaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, kingrājā wheel-turningcakkavattī little·illnessappābādho ishoti little·diseaseappātaṅko even·digestingsamavepākiniyā stomachgahaṇiyā endowedsamannāgato not·too·coldnātisītāya not·too + hotnāccuṇhāya more thanativiya otheraññehi humansmanussehi.
kingRājā, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattī with thisimāya thirdtatiyāya blessingiddhiyā endowedsamannāgato ishoti.

Furthermore, he is rarely ill or unwell, and his stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, more so than other humans. This is the third blessing.

Furthermore, a wheel-turning monarch is as dear and beloved to the brahmins and householders as a father is to his children. And the brahmins and householders are as dear to the wheel-turning monarch as children are to their father. Once it so happened that a wheel-turning monarch went with his army of four divisions to visit a park. Then the brahmins and householders went up to him and said, ‘Slow down, Your Majesty, so we may see you longer!’ And the king addressed his charioteer, ‘Drive slowly, charioteer, so I can see the brahmins and householders longer!’ This is the fourth blessing.

a kingRājā, monksbhikkhave, wheel·turningcakkavattī with theseimāhi fourcatūhi blessingsiddhīhi possessedsamannāgato ishoti.

These are the four blessings possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.

thatTaṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññatha, mendicantsbhikkhave,
evenapi thennu indeedkho kingrājā wheel·turncakkavattī theseimehi sevensattahi treasuresratanehi possessedsamannāgato theseimāhi fourcatūhi andca blessingsiddhīhi from that·causetatonidānaṁ pleasuresukhaṁ happinesssomanassaṁ back·together·feelpaṭisaṁvediyethā”ti?
even a single one“Ekamekenapi, sirbhante, treasureratanena possessedsamannāgato kingrājā wheel·turncakkavattī from that·causetatonidānaṁ pleasuresukhaṁ happinesssomanassaṁ back·together·feelpaṭisaṁvediyetha, whatko thenpana speechvādo sevensattahi treasuresratanehi fourcatūhi andca blessingsiddhīhī”ti?

What do you think, mendicants? Would a wheel-turning monarch who possessed these seven treasures and these four blessings experience pleasure and happiness because of them?” “Sir, a wheel-turning monarch who possessed even a single one of these treasures would experience pleasure and happiness because of that, let alone all seven treasures and four blessings!”

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā smallparittaṁ palm·measurepāṇimattaṁ stonepāsāṇaṁ having takengahetvā the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
that“Taṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññatha, mendicantsbhikkhave,
whichkatamo thennu indeedkho bigger—whichmahantataro—yo and thiscāyaṁ by memayā smallparitto palm-sizedpāṇimatto stonepāsāṇo takengahito whichyo andca Himalayahimavā king of mountains?pabbatarājā”ti?
tiny“Appamattako thisayaṁ, sirbhante, by the Blessed Onebhagavatā smallparitto palm-sizedpāṇimatto stonepāsāṇo taken;gahito; Himalayahimavantaṁ king of mountainspabbatarājānaṁ compared toupanidhāya even a reckoningsaṅkhampi notna reaches;upeti; even a fractionkalabhāgampi notna reaches;upeti; even a comparisonupanidhampi notna reaches."upetī”ti.
In the same way“Evameva indeed,kho, mendicants,bhikkhave, whichyaṁ kingrājā wheel-turningcakkavattī with sevensattahi treasuresratanehi endowedsamannāgato with fourcatūhi andca blessingsiddhīhi that + causetatonidānaṁ pleasuresukhaṁ happinesssomanassaṁ back·together·feelpaṭisaṁvedeti thattaṁ divinedibbassa happinesssukhassa compared toupanidhāya even a reckoningsaṅkhampi notna reaches;upeti; even a fractionkalabhāgampi notna reaches;upeti; even a comparisonupanidhampi notna reaches.upeti.

Then the Buddha, picking up a stone the size of his palm, addressed the mendicants, “What do you think, mendicants? Which is bigger: the stone the size of my palm that I’ve picked up, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?” “Sir, the stone you’ve picked up is tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.” “In the same way, compared to the happiness of heaven, the pleasure and happiness experienced by a wheel-turning monarch due to those seven treasures and those four blessings doesn’t even count, it’s not even a fraction, there’s no comparison.

thatSa indeedkho heso, monksbhikkhave, astute personpaṇḍito ifsace sometimekadāci occasionallykarahaci longdīghassa of timeaddhuno after the passingaccayena human statemanussattaṁ comes toāgacchati, whateveryāni thosetāni high familiesuccākulāni—
aristocrat wealthy familykhattiyamahāsālakulaṁ orvā brahmin wealthy familybrāhmaṇamahāsālakulaṁ orvā householder wealthy familygahapatimahāsālakulaṁ orvā suchtathārūpe in familykule is rebornpaccājāyati richaḍḍhe affluentmahaddhane wealthymahābhoge with lots of gold and silverpahūtajātarūparajate with lots of property and assetspahūtavittūpakaraṇe with lots of money and grainpahūtadhanadhaññe.
heSo andca ishoti attractiveabhirūpo good-lookingdassanīyo lovelypāsādiko with surpassingparamāya beautyvaṇṇapokkharatāya endowedsamannāgato, acquirerlābhī of foodannassa of drinkpānassa of clothesvatthassa of vehiclesyānassa of garlands, fragrances, and cosmeticsmālāgandhavilepanassa of bed, house, and lightingseyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa.
heSo by bodykāyena good conductsucaritaṁ practicescarati, by speechvācāya good conductsucaritaṁ practicescarati, by mindmanasā good conductsucaritaṁ practicescarati.
heSo by bodykāyena good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā, by speechvācāya good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā, by mindmanasā good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā, of bodykāyassa from breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ from deathmaraṇā to good destinationsugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ worldlokaṁ is rebornupapajjati.

And suppose that astute person, after a very long time, returned to the human realm. They’d be reborn in a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain. And they’d be attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They’d get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and a bed, house, and lighting. And they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

supposeSeyyathāpi, monksbhikkhave, gamblerakkhadhutto with firstpaṭhameneva handkaṭaggahena bigmahantaṁ pile of moneybhogakkhandhaṁ would winadhigaccheyya;
trivialappamattako suchso, monksbhikkhave, winning handkaṭaggaho whichyaṁ thatso gamblerakkhadhutto with firstpaṭhameneva handkaṭaggahena bigmahantaṁ pile of moneybhogakkhandhaṁ would winadhigaccheyya.
thenAtha indeedkho this veryayameva than thattato greatermahantataro winning handkaṭaggaho wherebyyaṁ anso astute personpaṇḍito by bodykāyena good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā, by speechvācāya good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā, by mindmanasā good conductsucaritaṁ having practicedcaritvā of bodykāyassa breaking upbhedā afterparaṁ deathmaraṇā good placesugatiṁ heavenlysaggaṁ realmlokaṁ is rebornupapajjati.
thisAyaṁ, monksbhikkhave, totalkevalā fulfillmentparipūrā astute person's levelpaṇḍitabhūmī”ti.
this saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
satisfiedAttamanā thosete mendicantsbhikkhū of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ approvedabhinandunti.
Discourse on the Foolish and the AstuteBālapaṇḍitasuttaṁ finishedniṭṭhitaṁ ninthnavamaṁ.

Suppose a gambler was to win a big pile of money with the first winning hand. Such a winning hand is trivial compared to the winning hand whereby an astute person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. This is the total fulfillment of the astute person’s level.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

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