Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
14. Rāja Vaggo
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XIV: The Rajah
Sutta 131
Paṭhama Cakkānuvattana Suttaṃ
The Onward Roll of the Wheel (a)
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, endowed in five ways
a rajah, rolling the wheel (of state),
rolls on the wheel[1] by Dhamma;[2]
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by the hand of any hostile son of man.
In what five ways?
Herein, monks, the rajah,
rolling the wheel of state,
knows good;[3]
knows Dhamma;
knows measure;[4]
knows times;[5]
and knows assembled[6] men.
Monks, endowed in these five ways
a rajah, rolling the wheel of state,
rolls on the wheel by Dhamma;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by the hand of any hostile son of man.
§
Even so, monks, endowed in five ways,
the Tathāgata,
arahant,
fully enlightened,
rolls on by Dhamma
the unsurpassed Dhamma wheel;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by recluse,
godly man,
deva,
Māra,
Brahmā,
or by any in the world.
In what five ways?
[114] Herein, monks, the Tathāgata,
arahant,
fully enlightened,
knows good;[7]
knows Dhamma;[8]
knows measure;
knows times;[9]
and knows assembled men.
Verily, monks, endowed in these five ways
the Tathāgata,
arahant,
fully enlightened,
rolls on by Dhamma
the unsurpassed wheel[10] of Dhamma;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by recluse,
godly man,
deva,
Māra,
Brahmā,
or by any in the world.'
[1] Comy. āṇā-cakka the order-wheel.
[2] Comy. dasa-kusala-dhammena.
[3] Attha, but Comy. hetu.
[4] Comy. in punishments and impositions; Cf. Jer. xxx, 11: 'I will correct thee in measure.'
[5] Comy. times for pleasure, court-work and touring the country.
[6] Comy. whether they be nobles, brahmans, etc.
[7] Comy. pañca atthe jānāti.
[8] Comy. the four.
[9] Comy. for going apart, attainment (in musing), teaching and touring.
[10] Comy. seṭṭha-cakka, the best wheel.
