Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
IV. Cakka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
IV: The Wheel
Sutta 31
Cakka Suttaṃ
The Wheel
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four wheels,[1]
possessed of which
on devas and mankind
there rolls a four-wheeled prosperity:
possessed of which
both devas and mankind
in no long time
attain greatness
and increase in prosperity.
What are the four wheels?
They are:
dwelling in a fitting place,
association with the worthy ones,[2]
perfect application of the self,[3]
and merit done aforetime.
These are the four wheels,
possessed of which
on devas and mankind
there rolls a four-wheeled prosperity:
possessed of which
both devas and mankind
in no long time
attain greatness
and increase in prosperity.
If one dwells in a fitting dwelling-place
And friendship makes with Ariyans,[4]
And perfectly applies the self,
And hath aforetime merit done,
There rolls[5] upon him wealth of crops,
Fame, good report and happiness.'
[1] Cf. D. iii, 276: quoted Asl. 58; Expos. i, 77; VibhA. 399. Here Comy. merely def. as sampattiyo. 'The four wheels have been declared, but should be classed as the one moment, in the sense of occasion (or, conjuncture), for they are the occasion for the production of merit. Expos. These are among the blessings described, in Mahāmangala-sutta, Sn. 258.
[2] Sappursā = ariyā.
[3] Atta-sammā'paṇidhi, lit. 'perfect self-adjustment' (Dial. iii, 254). [but ?] Comy. has attano sammā-ṭhapanaṃ. KhpA. 132, atta- = 'the mind, or, the whole personality.' Cf. Sammā paṇihūaṃ cittay, Dhp. 43 and UdA. 16 (where cakka is discussed).
[4] Ariya-mitta-karo (a word not in Pali Dict.).
[5] Adhivattati, metaphor of a rolling wheel.
