---
title: "Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 142 of 165
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/142/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya, section 142. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/142/"
---

# Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The 152 middle-length discourses: the simile of the saw, the snake and the raft, mindfulness of breathing, Aṅgulimāla, and the Buddha’s own account of his awakening.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 142. MN 129 · The Foolish and the Astute · part 2

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/142/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/142/#p-N

[¶0] Furthermore, when an astute person is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past good deeds—good conduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them. It is like the shadow of a great mountain peak in the evening as it settles down, rests down, and lays down upon the earth. In the same way, when an astute person is resting on a chair or a bed or on the ground, their past good deeds—good conduct of body, speech, and mind—settle down upon them, rest down upon them, and lay down upon them. Then that astute person thinks, ‘Well, I haven’t done bad things, violence and sin. And I have done good and skillful deeds that keep me safe. When I pass away, I’ll go to the place where people who’ve done such things go.’ So they don’t sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion. This is the third kind of pleasure and happiness that an astute person experiences in this very life.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍitaṁ pīṭhasamārūḷhaṁ vā mañcasamārūḷhaṁ vā chamāyaṁ vā semānaṁ, yānissa pubbe kalyāṇāni kammāni katāni kāyena sucaritāni vācāya sucaritāni manasā sucaritāni tānissa tamhi samaye olambanti …pe… seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahataṁ pabbatakūṭānaṁ chāyā sāyanhasamayaṁ pathaviyā olambanti ajjholambanti abhippalambanti; evameva kho, bhikkhave, paṇḍitaṁ pīṭhasamārūḷhaṁ vā mañcasamārūḷhaṁ vā chamāyaṁ vā semānaṁ yānissa pubbe kalyāṇāni kammāni katāni kāyena sucaritāni vācāya sucaritāni manasā sucaritāni tānissa tamhi samaye olambanti ajjholambanti abhippalambanti. Tatra, bhikkhave, paṇḍitassa evaṁ hoti: ‘akataṁ vata me pāpaṁ, akataṁ luddaṁ, akataṁ kibbisaṁ; kataṁ kalyāṇaṁ, kataṁ kusalaṁ, kataṁ bhīruttāṇaṁ. Yāvatā, bho, akatapāpānaṁ akataluddānaṁ akatakibbisānaṁ katakalyāṇānaṁ katakusalānaṁ katabhīruttāṇānaṁ gati taṁ gatiṁ pecca gacchāmī’ti. So na socati, na kilamati, na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Idampi, bhikkhave, paṇḍito tatiyaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti.

[¶1] When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

> Pali: Sa kho so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

[¶2] And if there’s anything of which it may be rightly said that it is utterly likable, desirable, and agreeable, it is of heaven that this should be said. So much so that it’s not easy to give a simile for how pleasurable heaven is.”

> Pali: Yaṁ kho taṁ, bhikkhave, sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ekantaṁ iṭṭhaṁ ekantaṁ kantaṁ ekantaṁ manāpan’ti, saggameva taṁ sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ekantaṁ iṭṭhaṁ ekantaṁ kantaṁ ekantaṁ manāpan’ti. Yāvañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, upamāpi na sukarā yāva sukhā saggā”ti.

[¶3] When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, “But sir, is it possible to give a simile?”

> Pali: Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sakkā pana, bhante, upamaṁ kātun”ti?

[¶4] “It’s possible,” said the Buddha.

> Pali: “Sakkā, bhikkhū”ti bhagavā avoca.

[¶5] “Suppose there was a king, a wheel-turning monarch who possessed seven treasures and four blessings, and experienced pleasure and happiness because of them.

> Pali: “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī sattahi ratanehi samannāgato catūhi ca iddhīhi tatonidānaṁ sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti.

[¶6] What seven? It’s when, on the fifteenth day sabbath, an anointed aristocratic king has bathed his head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath. And the heavenly wheel-treasure appears to him, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail. Seeing this, the king thinks, ‘I have heard that when the heavenly wheel-treasure appears to a king in this way, he becomes a wheel-turning monarch. Am I then a wheel-turning monarch?’

> Pali: Katamehi sattahi? Idha, bhikkhave, rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa tadahuposathe pannarase sīsaṁnhātassa uposathikassa uparipāsādavaragatassa dibbaṁ cakkaratanaṁ pātubhavati sahassāraṁ sanemikaṁ sanābhikaṁ sabbākāraparipūraṁ. Taṁ disvāna rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa evaṁ hoti: ‘sutaṁ kho pana metaṁ yassa rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa tadahuposathe pannarase sīsaṁnhātassa uposathikassa uparipāsādavaragatassa dibbaṁ cakkaratanaṁ pātubhavati sahassāraṁ sanemikaṁ sanābhikaṁ sabbākāraparipūraṁ, so hoti rājā cakkavattīti. Assaṁ nu kho ahaṁ rājā cakkavattī’ti?

[¶7] Then the anointed aristocratic king, taking a ceremonial vase in his left hand, besprinkled the wheel-treasure with his right hand, saying, ‘Roll forth, O wheel-treasure! Triumph, O wheel-treasure!’ Then the wheel-treasure rolls toward the east. And the king follows it 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 eastern 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, ‘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.

> Pali: Atha kho, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto vāmena hatthena bhiṅkāraṁ gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena cakkaratanaṁ abbhukkirati: ‘pavattatu bhavaṁ cakkaratanaṁ, abhivijinātu bhavaṁ cakkaratanan’ti. Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, cakkaratanaṁ puratthimaṁ disaṁ pavattati. Anvadeva rājā cakkavattī saddhiṁ caturaṅginiyā senāya. Yasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, padese cakkaratanaṁ patiṭṭhāti tattha rājā cakkavattī vāsaṁ upeti saddhiṁ caturaṅginiyā senāya. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, puratthimāya disāya paṭirājāno te rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘ehi kho, mahārāja. Svāgataṁ te, mahārāja. Sakaṁ te, mahārāja. Anusāsa, mahārājā’ti. Rājā cakkavattī evamāha: ‘pāṇo na hantabbo, adinnaṁ nādātabbaṁ, kāmesumicchā na caritabbā, musā na bhāsitabbā, majjaṁ na pātabbaṁ, yathābhuttañca bhuñjathā’ti. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, puratthimāya disāya paṭirājāno te rañño cakkavattissa anuyantā bhavanti.

[¶8] 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.

> Pali: Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, cakkaratanaṁ puratthimaṁ samuddaṁ ajjhogāhetvā paccuttaritvā dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ pavattati …pe… dakkhiṇaṁ samuddaṁ ajjhogāhetvā paccuttaritvā pacchimaṁ disaṁ pavattati …pe… pacchimaṁ samuddaṁ ajjhogāhetvā paccuttaritvā uttaraṁ disaṁ pavattati anvadeva rājā cakkavattī saddhiṁ caturaṅginiyā senāya. Yasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, padese cakkaratanaṁ patiṭṭhāti tattha rājā cakkavattī vāsaṁ upeti saddhiṁ caturaṅginiyā senāya.

[¶9] 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, ‘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.

> Pali: Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, uttarāya disāya paṭirājāno te rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘ehi kho, mahārāja. Svāgataṁ te, mahārāja. Sakaṁ te, mahārāja. Anusāsa, mahārājā’ti. Rājā cakkavattī evamāha: ‘pāṇo na hantabbo, adinnaṁ nādātabbaṁ, kāmesumicchā na caritabbā, musā na bhāsitabbā, majjaṁ na pātabbaṁ; yathābhuttañca bhuñjathā’ti. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, uttarāya disāya paṭirājāno te rañño cakkavattissa anuyantā bhavanti.

[¶10] 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.

> Pali: Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, cakkaratanaṁ samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ abhivijinitvā tameva rājadhāniṁ paccāgantvā rañño cakkavattissa antepuradvāre akkhāhataṁ maññe tiṭṭhati rañño cakkavattissa antepuradvāraṁ upasobhayamānaṁ. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ cakkaratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶11] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa hatthiratanaṁ pātubhavati— sabbaseto sattappatiṭṭho iddhimā vehāsaṅgamo uposatho nāma nāgarājā. Taṁ disvāna rañño cakkavattissa cittaṁ pasīdati: ‘bhaddakaṁ vata bho hatthiyānaṁ, sace damathaṁ upeyyā’ti. Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, hatthiratanaṁ seyyathāpi nāma bhaddo hatthājānīyo dīgharattaṁ suparidanto evameva damathaṁ upeti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī tameva hatthiratanaṁ vīmaṁsamāno pubbaṇhasamayaṁ abhiruhitvā samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ anusaṁyāyitvā tameva rājadhāniṁ paccāgantvā pātarāsamakāsi. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ hatthiratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶12] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa assaratanaṁ pātubhavati— sabbaseto kāḷasīso muñjakeso iddhimā vehāsaṅgamo valāhako nāma assarājā. Taṁ disvāna rañño cakkavattissa cittaṁ pasīdati: ‘bhaddakaṁ vata bho assayānaṁ, sace damathaṁ upeyyā’ti. Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, assaratanaṁ seyyathāpi nāma bhaddo assājānīyo dīgharattaṁ suparidanto evameva damathaṁ upeti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī tameva assaratanaṁ vīmaṁsamāno pubbaṇhasamayaṁ abhiruhitvā samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ anusaṁyāyitvā tameva rājadhāniṁ paccāgantvā pātarāsamakāsi. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ assaratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶13] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa maṇiratanaṁ pātubhavati. So hoti maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato. Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, maṇiratanassa ābhā samantā yojanaṁ phuṭā hoti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī tameva maṇiratanaṁ vīmaṁsamāno caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā maṇiṁ dhajaggaṁ āropetvā rattandhakāratimisāya pāyāsi. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, samantā gāmā ahesuṁ te tenobhāsena kammante payojesuṁ ‘divā’ti maññamānā. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ maṇiratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶14] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa itthiratanaṁ pātubhavati. Sā abhirūpā dassanīyā pāsādikā paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgatā nātidīghā nātirassā nātikisā nātithūlā nātikāḷikā nāccodātā, atikkantā mānusaṁ vaṇṇaṁ, appattā dibbaṁ vaṇṇaṁ. Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, itthiratanassa evarūpo kāyasamphasso hoti, seyyathāpi nāma tūlapicuno vā kappāsapicuno vā. Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, itthiratanassa sīte uṇhāni gattāni honti, uṇhe sītāni gattāni honti. Tassa kho pana, bhikkhave, itthiratanassa kāyato candanagandho vāyati, mukhato uppalagandho vāyati. Taṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, itthiratanaṁ rañño cakkavattissa pubbuṭṭhāyinī hoti pacchānipātinī kiṅkārapaṭissāvinī manāpacārinī piyavādinī. Taṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, itthiratanaṁ rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ manasāpi no aticarati, kuto pana kāyena? Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ itthiratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶15] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa gahapatiratanaṁ pātubhavati. Tassa kammavipākajaṁ dibbacakkhu pātubhavati, yena nidhiṁ passati sassāmikampi assāmikampi. So rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘appossukko tvaṁ, deva, hohi. Ahaṁ te dhanena dhanakaraṇīyaṁ karissāmī’ti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī tameva gahapatiratanaṁ vīmaṁsamāno nāvaṁ abhiruhitvā majjhe gaṅgāya nadiyā sotaṁ ogāhitvā gahapatiratanaṁ etadavoca: ‘attho me, gahapati, hiraññasuvaṇṇenā’ti. ‘Tena hi, mahārāja, ekaṁ tīraṁ nāvā upetū’ti. ‘Idheva me, gahapati, attho hiraññasuvaṇṇenā’ti. Atha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, gahapatiratanaṁ ubhohi hatthehi udake omasitvā pūraṁ hiraññasuvaṇṇassa kumbhiṁ uddharitvā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ etadavoca: ‘alamettāvatā, mahārāja. Katamettāvatā, mahārāja. Pūjitamettāvatā, mahārājā’ti. Rājā cakkavattī evamāha: ‘alamettāvatā, gahapati. Katamettāvatā, gahapati. Pūjitamettāvatā, gahapatī’ti. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ gahapatiratanaṁ pātubhavati.

[¶16] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño cakkavattissa pariṇāyakaratanaṁ pātubhavati— paṇḍito byatto medhāvī paṭibalo rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upayāpetabbaṁ upayāpetuṁ apayāpetabbaṁ apayāpetuṁ ṭhapetabbaṁ ṭhapetuṁ. So rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘appossukko tvaṁ, deva, hohi. Ahamanusāsissāmī’ti. Rañño, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa evarūpaṁ pariṇāyakaratanaṁ pātubhavati. Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imehi sattahi ratanehi samannāgato hoti.

[¶17] And what are the four blessings?

> Pali: Katamāhi catūhi iddhīhi?

[¶18] A wheel-turning monarch is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty, more so than other humans. This is the first blessing.

> Pali: Idha, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī abhirūpo hoti dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato ativiya aññehi manussehi. Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imāya paṭhamāya iddhiyā samannāgato hoti.

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

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī dīghāyuko hoti ciraṭṭhitiko ativiya aññehi manussehi. Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imāya dutiyāya iddhiyā samannāgato hoti.

[¶20] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī appābādho hoti appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya ativiya aññehi manussehi. Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imāya tatiyāya iddhiyā samannāgato hoti.

[¶21] 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.

> Pali: Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī brāhmaṇagahapatikānaṁ piyo hoti manāpo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pitā puttānaṁ piyo hoti manāpo; evameva kho, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī brāhmaṇagahapatikānaṁ piyo hoti manāpo. Raññopi, bhikkhave, cakkavattissa brāhmaṇagahapatikā piyā honti manāpā. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pitu puttā piyā honti manāpā; evameva kho, bhikkhave, raññopi cakkavattissa brāhmaṇagahapatikā piyā honti manāpā.

[¶22] 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.

> Pali: Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī caturaṅginiyā senāya uyyānabhūmiṁ niyyāsi. Atha kho, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇagahapatikā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘ataramāno, deva, yāhi yathā taṁ mayaṁ cirataraṁ passeyyāmā’ti. Rājāpi, bhikkhave, cakkavattī sārathiṁ āmantesi: ‘ataramāno, sārathi, pesehi yathā maṁ brāhmaṇagahapatikā cirataraṁ passeyyun’ti. Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imāya catutthāya iddhiyā samannāgato hoti.

[¶23] These are the four blessings possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.

> Pali: Rājā, bhikkhave, cakkavattī imāhi catūhi iddhīhi samannāgato hoti.

[¶24] 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?”

> Pali: Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu kho rājā cakkavattī imehi sattahi ratanehi samannāgato imāhi catūhi ca iddhīhi tatonidānaṁ sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyethā”ti?

[¶25] “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!”

> Pali: “Ekamekenapi, bhante, ratanena samannāgato rājā cakkavattī tatonidānaṁ sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyetha, ko pana vādo sattahi ratanehi catūhi ca iddhīhī”ti?

[¶26] 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?”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ pāṇimattaṁ pāsāṇaṁ gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamo nu kho mahantataro—yo cāyaṁ mayā paritto pāṇimatto pāsāṇo gahito yo ca himavā pabbatarājā”ti?

[¶27] “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.”

> Pali: “Appamattako ayaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā paritto pāṇimatto pāsāṇo gahito; himavantaṁ pabbatarājānaṁ upanidhāya saṅkhampi na upeti; kalabhāgampi na upeti; upanidhampi na upetī”ti.

[¶28] “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.

> Pali: “Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ rājā cakkavattī sattahi ratanehi samannāgato catūhi ca iddhīhi tatonidānaṁ sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti taṁ dibbassa sukhassa upanidhāya saṅkhampi na upeti; kalabhāgampi na upeti; upanidhampi na upeti.

[¶29] 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.

> Pali: Sa kho so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito sace kadāci karahaci dīghassa addhuno accayena manussattaṁ āgacchati, yāni tāni uccākulāni— khattiyamahāsālakulaṁ vā brāhmaṇamahāsālakulaṁ vā gahapatimahāsālakulaṁ vā tathārūpe kule paccājāyati aḍḍhe mahaddhane mahābhoge pahūtajātarūparajate pahūtavittūpakaraṇe pahūtadhanadhaññe. So ca hoti abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, lābhī annassa pānassa vatthassa yānassa mālāgandhavilepanassa seyyāvasathapadīpeyyassa. So kāyena sucaritaṁ carati, vācāya sucaritaṁ carati, manasā sucaritaṁ carati. So kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā, manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

[¶30] 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.”

> Pali: Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, akkhadhutto paṭhameneva kaṭaggahena mahantaṁ bhogakkhandhaṁ adhigaccheyya; appamattako so, bhikkhave, kaṭaggaho yaṁ so akkhadhutto paṭhameneva kaṭaggahena mahantaṁ bhogakkhandhaṁ adhigaccheyya. Atha kho ayameva tato mahantataro kaṭaggaho yaṁ so paṇḍito kāyena sucaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya sucaritaṁ caritvā, manasā sucaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, kevalā paripūrā paṇḍitabhūmī”ti.

[¶31] That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

[¶32] > Pali: Bālapaṇḍitasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.