Bālapaṇḍitasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 129

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

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those whoYe indeedkho thenpana, monksbhikkhave, easternpuratthimāya of the directiondisāya opposing rulerspaṭirājāno theyte of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa vassalsanuyantā they becomebhavanti.
thenAtha indeedkho ittaṁ, monksbhikkhave, wheel-treasurecakkaratanaṁ easternpuratthimaṁ oceansamuddaṁ having plunged intoajjhogāhetvā having emergedpaccuttaritvā southerndakkhiṇaṁ directiondisaṁ it rollspavattati …pe……pe…
southerndakkhiṇaṁ oceansamuddaṁ having plunged intoajjhogāhetvā having emergedpaccuttaritvā westernpacchimaṁ directiondisaṁ it rollspavattati …pe……pe…
westernpacchimaṁ oceansamuddaṁ having plunged intoajjhogāhetvā having emergedpaccuttaritvā northernuttaraṁ directiondisaṁ it rollspavattati following behindanvadeva the kingrājā wheel-turningcakkavattī together withsaddhiṁ four-divisionedcaturaṅginiyā with the armysenāya. in whateverYasmiṁ indeedkho thenpana, monksbhikkhave, placepadese wheel-treasurecakkaratanaṁ stands stillpatiṭṭhāti theretattha the kingrājā wheel-turningcakkavattī to stayvāsaṁ comesupeti together withsaddhiṁ four-divisionedcaturaṅginiyā with the armysenāya.
those whoYe indeedkho thenpana, monksbhikkhave, northernuttarāya of the directiondisāya opposing rulerspaṭirājāno theyte the kingrājānaṁ wheel-turning monarchcakkavattiṁ having approachedupasaṅkamitvā they spoke thusevamāhaṁsu:
come‘ehi indeedkho, great kingmahārāja. welcomeSvāgataṁ to youte, great kingmahārāja. your ownSakaṁ we arete, great kingmahārāja. instructAnusāsa, great kingmahārājā’ti.
the kingRājā wheel-turningcakkavattī spoke thusevamāha:

And so the opposing rulers of the eastern quarter become his vassals. Then the wheel-treasure, having plunged into the eastern ocean and emerged again, rolls toward the south. … Having plunged into the southern ocean and emerged again, it rolls toward the west. … Having plunged into the western ocean and emerged again, it rolls toward the north, followed by the king together with his army of four divisions. In whatever place the wheel-treasure stands still, there the king comes to stay together with his army. And any opposing rulers of the northern quarter come to the wheel-turning monarch and say, ‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’ The wheel-turning monarch says,

living being‘pāṇo notna to be killedhantabbo, what is not givenadinnaṁ not to be takennādātabbaṁ, sexual misconductkāmesumicchā notna to be practicedcaritabbā, falselymusā notna to be spokenbhāsitabbā, liquormajjaṁ notna to be drunkpātabbaṁ; and what is eaten according to customyathābhuttañca you eatbhuñjathā’ti.
whoYe indeedkho thenpana, monksbhikkhave, easternuttarāya quarterdisāya opposing rulerspaṭirājāno theyte of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa vassalsanuyantā becomebhavanti.
thenAtha indeedkho thattaṁ, monksbhikkhave, wheel-treasurecakkaratanaṁ surrounded by oceansamuddapariyantaṁ earthpathaviṁ having triumphed overabhivijinitvā that verytameva royal capitalrājadhāniṁ having returnedpaccāgantvā of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa at the gate to the royal compoundantepuradvāre fixed to an axleakkhāhataṁ as ifmaññe standstiṭṭhati of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa gate to the royal compoundantepuradvāraṁ illuminatingupasobhayamānaṁ.
of the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ wheel-treasurecakkaratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.

‘Do not kill living creatures. Do not steal. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not lie. Do not drink liquor. Maintain the current level of taxation.’ And so the opposing rulers of the eastern quarter become his vassals. And then the wheel-treasure, having triumphed over this land surrounded by ocean, returns to the royal capital. There it stands still at the gate to the royal compound as if fixed to an axle, illuminating the royal compound. Such is the wheel-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

againPuna and furthercaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, to the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa elephant-treasurehatthiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati—
all-whitesabbaseto touching the ground in seven placessattappatiṭṭho with psychic poweriddhimā sky-walkervehāsaṅgamo Sabbathuposatho namednāma king of elephantsnāgarājā.
himTaṁ having seendisvāna of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa mindcittaṁ was pleasedpasīdati:
fine‘bhaddakaṁ trulyvata sirbho elephant vehiclehatthiyānaṁ, ifsace to tamingdamathaṁ would submitupeyyā’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho thattaṁ, monksbhikkhave, elephant-treasurehatthiratanaṁ just as ifseyyathāpi indeednāma finebhaddo thoroughbred elephanthatthājānīyo for a long timedīgharattaṁ well-tamedsuparidanto in the same wayevameva to tamingdamathaṁ submittedupeti.
once it so happenedBhūtapubbaṁ, monksbhikkhave, kingrājā wheel-turning monarchcakkavattī that sametameva elephant-treasurehatthiratanaṁ testingvīmaṁsamāno in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ having mountedabhiruhitvā surrounded by oceansamuddapariyantaṁ landpathaviṁ having traversedanusaṁyāyitvā that sametameva royal capitalrājadhāniṁ having returnedpaccāgantvā ate breakfastpātarāsamakāsi.
to the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ elephant-treasurehatthiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.

Next, the elephant-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, touching the ground in seven places, a king of elephants named Sabbath. Seeing him, the king was impressed, ‘This would truly be a fine elephant vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’ Then the elephant-treasure submitted to taming, as if he were a fine thoroughbred elephant that had been tamed for a long time. Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same elephant-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast. Such is the elephant-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

againPuna and furthercaparaṁ, O monksbhikkhave, of the kingrañño wheel-turning monarch'scakkavattissa horse-treasureassaratanaṁ appearspātubhavati—
all-whitesabbaseto with black headkāḷasīso with muñja-grass manemuñjakeso with psychic poweriddhimā sky-walkervehāsaṅgamo Thundercloudvalāhako namednāma royal steedassarājā.
himTaṁ having seendisvāna of the kingrañño wheel-turning monarch'scakkavattissa mindcittaṁ is pleasedpasīdati:
excellent‘bhaddakaṁ trulyvata sirbho horse vehicleassayānaṁ, ifsace tamingdamathaṁ would undergoupeyyā’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho ittaṁ, O monksbhikkhave, horse-treasureassaratanaṁ just asseyyathāpi namednāma finebhaddo thoroughbred horseassājānīyo for a long timedīgharattaṁ well-tamedsuparidanto just soevameva tamingdamathaṁ underwentupeti.
once it happenedBhūtapubbaṁ, O monksbhikkhave, kingrājā wheel-turning monarchcakkavattī that sametameva horse-treasureassaratanaṁ testingvīmaṁsamāno in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ having mountedabhiruhitvā bounded by oceansamuddapariyantaṁ earthpathaviṁ having traversedanusaṁyāyitvā that sametameva royal capitalrājadhāniṁ having returnedpaccāgantvā breakfastedpātarāsamakāsi.
of the kingRañño, O monksbhikkhave, wheel-turning monarch'scakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ horse-treasureassaratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.

Next, the horse-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, with head of black and mane like woven reeds, a royal steed named Thundercloud. Seeing him, the king was impressed, ‘This would truly be a fine horse vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’ Then the horse-treasure submitted to taming, as if he were a fine thoroughbred horse that had been tamed for a long time. Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same horse-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast. Such is the horse-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

againPuna and furthercaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, to the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa jewel-treasuremaṇiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.
itSo ishoti a gemmaṇi berylveḷuriyo lustroussubho noble-bredjātimā eight-facetedaṭṭhaṁso well-workedsuparikammakato.
of thatTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, of the jewel-treasuremaṇiratanassa radianceābhā all-roundsamantā a leagueyojanaṁ spreadphuṭā ishoti.
once it happenedBhūtapubbaṁ, monksbhikkhave, kingrājā wheel-turning monarchcakkavattī that sametameva jewel-treasuremaṇiratanaṁ testingvīmaṁsamāno four-divisionedcaturaṅginiṁ armysenaṁ having mobilizedsannayhitvā jewelmaṇiṁ on his bannerdhajaggaṁ having hoistedāropetvā in the dark of nightrattandhakāratimisāya set outpāyāsi.
thoseYe indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, all-roundsamantā villagersgāmā wereahesuṁ theyte by that radiancetenobhāsena to workkammante set offpayojesuṁ it is day‘divā’ti thinkingmaññamānā.
to the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ jewel-treasuremaṇiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.

Next, the jewel-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. It is a beryl gem that’s naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked. And the radiance of that jewel spreads all-round for a league. Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same jewel-treasure, mobilized his army of four divisions and, with the jewel hoisted on his banner, set out in the dark of the night. Then the villagers around them set off to work, thinking that it was day. Such is the jewel-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

againPuna furthermorecaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa woman-treasureitthiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.
sheSā attractiveabhirūpā good-lookingdassanīyā lovelypāsādikā surpassingparamāya of beautyvaṇṇapokkharatāya endowedsamannāgatā not too tallnātidīghā not too shortnātirassā not too thinnātikisā not too fatnātithūlā not too darknātikāḷikā not too lightnāccodātā, outdoingatikkantā humanmānusaṁ beautyvaṇṇaṁ, not reachingappattā heavenlydibbaṁ beautyvaṇṇaṁ.
herTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, of the woman-treasureitthiratanassa suchevarūpo touchkāyasamphasso ishoti, as ifseyyathāpi namelynāma of a tuft of cotton-wooltūlapicuno orvā of kapokkappāsapicuno orvā.
herTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, of the woman-treasureitthiratanassa when coolsīte warmuṇhāni limbsgattāni arehonti, when warmuṇhe coolsītāni limbsgattāni arehonti.
herTassa indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, of the woman-treasureitthiratanassa from the bodykāyato fragrance of sandalcandanagandho floatsvāyati, from the mouthmukhato fragrance of lotusuppalagandho floatsvāyati.
theTaṁ indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, woman-treasureitthiratanaṁ of the kingrañño wheel-turningcakkavattissa gets up beforepubbuṭṭhāyinī ishoti goes to bed afterpacchānipātinī obligingkiṅkārapaṭissāvinī behaving nicelymanāpacārinī speaking politelypiyavādinī.
theTaṁ indeedkho andpana, monksbhikkhave, woman-treasureitthiratanaṁ the kingrājānaṁ wheel-turningcakkavattiṁ even in thoughtmanasāpi notno betraysaticarati, still lesskuto andpana in deedkāyena?
of the kingRañño, monksbhikkhave, wheel-turningcakkavattissa suchevarūpaṁ woman-treasureitthiratanaṁ appearspātubhavati.

Next, the woman-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch. She is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. She’s neither too tall nor too short; neither too thin nor too fat; neither too dark nor too light. She outdoes human beauty without reaching heavenly beauty. And her touch is like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok. When it’s cool her limbs are warm, and when it’s warm her limbs are cool. The fragrance of sandal floats from her body, and lotus from her mouth. She gets up before the king and goes to bed after him, and is obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely. The woman-treasure does not betray the wheel-turning monarch even in thought, still less in deed. Such is the woman-treasure who appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

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