Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa

3.6.12 Cakkavattisuttaṃ

… ‘Katamaṃ pana taṃ, deva, ariyaṃ cakkavattivatta’nti?

‘Tena hi tvaṃ, tāta, dhammaṃyeva nissāya dhammaṃ sakkaronto dhammaṃ garuṃ karonto dhammaṃ mānento dhammaṃ pūjento dhammaṃ apacāyamāno dhammaddhajo dhammaketu dhammādhipateyyo dhammikaṃ rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṃ saṃvidahassu antojanasmiṃ balakāyasmiṃ khattiyesu anuyantesu brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamajānapadesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu migapakkhīsu. Mā ca te, tāta, vijite adhammakāro pavattittha. Ye ca te, tāta, vijite adhanā assu, tesañca dhanamanuppadeyyāsi. Ye ca te, tāta, vijite samaṇabrāhmaṇā madappamādā paṭiviratā khantisoracce niviṭṭhā ekamattānaṃ damenti, ekamattānaṃ samenti, ekamattānaṃ parinibbāpenti, te kālena kālaṃ upasaṅkamitvā paripuccheyyāsi pariggaṇheyyāsi – ‘kiṃ, bhante, kusalaṃ, kiṃ akusalaṃ, kiṃ sāvajjaṃ, kiṃ anavajjaṃ, kiṃ sevitabbaṃ, kiṃ na sevitabbaṃ, kiṃ me karīyamānaṃ dīgharattaṃ ahitāya dukkhāya assa, kiṃ vā pana me karīyamānaṃ dīgharattaṃ hitāya sukhāya assā’ti? Tesaṃ sutvā yaṃ akusalaṃ taṃ abhinivajjeyyāsi, yaṃ kusalaṃ taṃ samādāya vatteyyāsi.

Idaṃ kho, tāta, taṃ ariyaṃ cakkavattivatta’nti. …

(Āyuvaṇṇādipariyānikathā)

... Tesaṃ sutvā dhammikañhi kho rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṃ saṃvidahi, no ca kho adhanānaṃ dhanamanuppadāsi. Adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate aññataro puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyi. Tamenaṃ aggahesuṃ. Gahetvā rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa1 dassesuṃ – ‘ayaṃ, deva, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti. Evaṃ vutte, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto taṃ purisaṃ etadavoca – ‘saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, ambho purisa, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti? ‘Saccaṃ, devā’ti. ‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’ti? ‘Na hi, deva, jīvāmī’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto tassa purisassa dhanamanuppadāsi – ‘iminā tvaṃ, ambho purisa, dhanena attanā ca jīvāhi, mātāpitaro ca posehi, puttadārañca posehi, kammante ca payojehi, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṃ dakkhiṇaṃ patiṭṭhāpehi sovaggikaṃ sukhavipākaṃ saggasaṃvattanika’nti. ‘Evaṃ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa paccassosi.

Aññataropi kho, bhikkhave, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyi. Tamenaṃ aggahesuṃ. Gahetvā rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa dassesuṃ – ‘ayaṃ, deva, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti. Evaṃ vutte, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto taṃ purisaṃ etadavoca – ‘saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, ambho purisa, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti? ‘Saccaṃ, devā’ti. ‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’ti? ‘Na hi, deva, jīvāmī’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto tassa purisassa dhanamanuppadāsi – ‘iminā tvaṃ, ambho purisa, dhanena attanā ca jīvāhi, mātāpitaro ca posehi, puttadārañca posehi, kammante ca payojehi, samaṇabrāhmaṇesu uddhaggikaṃ dakkhiṇaṃ patiṭṭhāpehi sovaggikaṃ sukhavipākaṃ saggasaṃvattanika’nti. ‘Evaṃ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa paccassosi.

Assosuṃ kho, bhikkhave, manussā – ‘ye kira, bho, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyanti, tesaṃ rājā dhanamanuppadetī’ti. Sutvāna tesaṃ etadahosi – ‘yaṃnūna mayampi paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyeyyāmā’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, aññataro puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyi. Tamenaṃ aggahesuṃ. Gahetvā rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa dassesuṃ – ‘ayaṃ, deva, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti. Evaṃ vutte, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto taṃ purisaṃ etadavoca – ‘saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, ambho purisa, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti? ‘Saccaṃ, devā’ti. ‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’ti? ‘Na hi, deva, jīvāmī’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa etadahosi – ‘sace kho ahaṃ yo yo paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyissati, tassa tassa dhanamanuppadassāmi, evamidaṃ adinnādānaṃ pavaḍḍhissati. Yaṃnūnāhaṃ imaṃ purisaṃ sunisedhaṃ nisedheyyaṃ, mūlaghaccaṃ kareyyaṃ, sīsamassa chindeyya’nti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto purise āṇāpesi – ‘tena hi, bhaṇe, imaṃ purisaṃ daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṃ gāḷhabandhanaṃ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṃ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathikāya rathikaṃ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṃ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhamitvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sunisedhaṃ nisedhetha, mūlaghaccaṃ karotha, sīsamassa chindathā’ti. ‘Evaṃ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, te purisā rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa paṭissutvā taṃ purisaṃ daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṃ gāḷhabandhanaṃ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṃ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathikāya rathikaṃ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṃ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhamitvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sunisedhaṃ nisedhesuṃ, mūlaghaccaṃ akaṃsu, sīsamassa chindiṃsu.

Assosuṃ kho, bhikkhave, manussā – ‘ye kira, bho, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyanti, te rājā sunisedhaṃ nisedheti, mūlaghaccaṃ karoti, sīsāni tesaṃ chindatī’ti. Sutvāna tesaṃ etadahosi – ‘yaṃnūna mayampi tiṇhāni satthāni kārāpessāma, tiṇhāni satthāni kārāpetvā yesaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyissāma, te sunisedhaṃ nisedhessāma, mūlaghaccaṃ karissāma, sīsāni tesaṃ chindissāmā’ti. Te tiṇhāni satthāni kārāpesuṃ, tiṇhāni satthāni kārāpetvā gāmaghātampi upakkamiṃsu kātuṃ, nigamaghātampi upakkamiṃsu kātuṃ, nagaraghātampi upakkamiṃsu kātuṃ, panthaduhanampi upakkamiṃsu kātuṃ. Yesaṃ te adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyanti, te sunisedhaṃ nisedhenti, mūlaghaccaṃ karonti, sīsāni tesaṃ chindanti.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi, dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate adinnādānaṃ vepullamagamāsi, adinnādāne vepullaṃ gate satthaṃ vepullamagamāsi, satthe vepullaṃ gate pāṇātipāto vepullamagamāsi, pāṇātipāte vepullaṃ gate tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ asītivassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ cattārīsavassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Cattārīsavassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu aññataro puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyi. Tamenaṃ aggahesuṃ. Gahetvā rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa dassesuṃ – ‘ayaṃ, deva, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti. Evaṃ vutte, bhikkhave, rājā khattiyo muddhābhisitto taṃ purisaṃ etadavoca – ‘saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, ambho purisa, paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti? ‘Na hi, devā’ti sampajānamusā2 abhāsi.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate adinnādānaṃ vepullamagamāsi, adinnādāne vepullaṃ gate satthaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Satthe vepullaṃ gate pāṇātipāto vepullamagamāsi, pāṇātipāte vepullaṃ gate musāvādo vepullamagamāsi, musāvāde vepullaṃ gate tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ cattārīsavassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ vīsativassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Vīsativassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu aññataro puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyi. Tamenaṃ aññataro puriso rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa ārocesi – ‘itthannāmo, deva, puriso paresaṃ adinnaṃ theyyasaṅkhātaṃ ādiyī’ti pesuññamakāsi.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate adinnādānaṃ vepullamagamāsi, adinnādāne vepullaṃ gate satthaṃ vepullamagamāsi, satthe vepullaṃ gate pāṇātipāto vepullamagamāsi, pāṇātipāte vepullaṃ gate musāvādo vepullamagamāsi, musāvāde vepullaṃ gate pisuṇā vācā vepullamagamāsi, pisuṇāya vācāya vepullaṃ gatāya tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ vīsativassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ dasavassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Dasavassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu ekidaṃ sattā vaṇṇavanto honti, ekidaṃ sattā dubbaṇṇā. Tattha ye te sattā dubbaṇṇā, te vaṇṇavante satte abhijjhāyantā paresaṃ dāresu cārittaṃ āpajjiṃsu.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate gate adinnādānaṃ vepullamagamāsi, adinnādāne vepullaṃ gate satthaṃ vepullamagamāsi, satthe vepullaṃ gate pāṇātipāto vepullamagamāsi, pāṇātipāte vepullaṃ gate musāvādo vepullamagamāsi, musāvāde vepullaṃ gate pisuṇā vācā vepullamagamāsi, pisuṇāya vācāya vepullaṃ gatāya kāmesumicchācāro vepullamagamāsi, kāmesumicchācāre vepullaṃ gate tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ dasavassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ pañcavassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Pañcavassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu dve dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu – pharusāvācā samphappalāpo ca. Dvīsu dhammesu vepullaṃ gatesu tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ pañcavassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ appekacce aḍḍhateyyavassasahassāyukā, appekacce dvevassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Aḍḍhateyyavassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu abhijjhābyāpādā vepullamagamaṃsu. Abhijjhābyāpādesu vepullaṃ gatesu tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ aḍḍhateyyavassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ vassasahassāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Vassasahassāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu micchādiṭṭhi vepullamagamāsi. Micchādiṭṭhiyā vepullaṃ gatāya tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ vassasahassāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ pañcavassasatāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Pañcavassasatāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu tayo dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu. Adhammarāgo visamalobho micchādhammo. Tīsu dhammesu vepullaṃ gatesu tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ pañcavassasatāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ appekacce aḍḍhateyyavassasatāyukā, appekacce dvevassasatāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Aḍḍhateyyavassasatāyukesu, bhikkhave, manussesu ime dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu. Amatteyyatā apetteyyatā asāmaññatā abrahmaññatā na kule jeṭṭhāpacāyitā.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, adhanānaṃ dhane ananuppadiyamāne dāliddiyaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Dāliddiye vepullaṃ gate adinnādānaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Adinnādāne vepullaṃ gate satthaṃ vepullamagamāsi. Satthe vepullaṃ gate pāṇātipāto vepullamagamāsi. Pāṇātipāte vepullaṃ gate musāvādo vepullamagamāsi. Musāvāde vepullaṃ gate pisuṇā vācā vepullamagamāsi. Pisuṇāya vācāya vepullaṃ gatāya kāmesumicchācāro vepullamagamāsi. Kāmesumicchācāre vepullaṃ gate dve dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu, pharusā vācā samphappalāpo ca. Dvīsu dhammesu vepullaṃ gatesu abhijjhābyāpādā vepullamagamaṃsu. Abhijjhābyāpādesu vepullaṃ gatesu micchādiṭṭhi vepullamagamāsi. Micchādiṭṭhiyā vepullaṃ gatāya tayo dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu, adhammarāgo visamalobho micchādhammo. Tīsu dhammesu vepullaṃ gatesu ime dhammā vepullamagamaṃsu, amatteyyatā apetteyyatā asāmaññatā abrahmaññatā na kule jeṭṭhāpacāyitā. Imesu dhammesu vepullaṃ gatesu tesaṃ sattānaṃ āyupi parihāyi, vaṇṇopi parihāyi. Tesaṃ āyunāpi parihāyamānānaṃ vaṇṇenapi parihāyamānānaṃ aḍḍhateyyavassasatāyukānaṃ manussānaṃ vassasatāyukā puttā ahesuṃ.

Cakkavattiariyavattaṃ, Cakkavattisuttaṃ, Pāthikavaggapāḷi, Dīghanikāyo

 


1. rañño khattiyassa muddhābhisittassa: expression for the king, who was a khattiya, anointed king, translated as: rightful king.

2. For sampajānamusā see Introduction to lesson 3.3.6 Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasuttaṃ, Part One – How to Train Oneself and to Confess Shortcomings to One’s Elders and lesson 3.4.4 Musāvādasuttaṃ - The Consequences of Wrong Speech.


Vocabulary
  1. abhijjhāyantā - [abhijjhā + yantā (suffix)] covetousness + filled with
  2. abhinivajjeyyāsi - [abhi + nivajjeti (opt.)] get rid of, avoid, turn back from, desist
  3. aḍḍhateyyavassasatāyukānaṃ - [aḍḍhateyya + vassa + sata + āyukānaṃ] two and half + century + lifespan
  4. ādiyeyyāmā - [ādiyāti (opt.)] we should attend to,
  5. ādiyissati - [ādiyāti (fut.)] attend to, seize, take up
  6. aggahesuṃ - [aggaheti (aor.)] take, seize
  7. amatteyyatā - [a + matteyyatā] not + motherhood
  8. ananuppadiyamāne - [an + anuppadiya + mane (ger.)] not + giving out, handing over
  9. anuyantesu - [anuyanta/anuyutta (pp)] subjects / applying oneself to
  10. apacāyamāno - [apacāyāti + māno (ger.)] honouring, paying reverence
  11. āpajjiṃsu - [āpajjati (aor.)] produce, get into, make
  12. apetteyyatā - [a + petteyyatā] not + fatherhood
  13. ārocesi - [āroceti (aor.)] declare, tell, announce
  14. āyuvaṇṇādipariyānikathā - [āyu + vaṇṇa + ādipariyāni + kathā] age + complexion + starting point + turning round + talk, sermon
  15. balakāyasmiṃ - [balakāyo (loc)] army
  16. cakkavattivatta’nti - [cakkaṃ + vatti + vattaṃ + ti] wheel (of righteousness) + they say + duty, observance
  17. daḷhāya - [daḷha (dat.; gen.)] strong, firm
  18. dāliddiyaṃ - poverty
  19. dassesuṃ - [dasseti (aor.)] point to, show
  20. dhammādhipateyyo - [dhamma + ādhipateyyo/ādhipacco] dhamma + master, chief, ruler
  21. dhanamanuppadeyyāsi - [dhanaṃ + anuppadeti (opt.)] property, wealth + hand out, give
  22. gāḷhabandhanaṃ - [gāḷha + bandhanaṃ] strong + binding
  23. gāmaghātampi - [gāma + ghātaṃ + pi] village + destroying, killing
  24. jeṭṭhāpacāyitā - [jeṭṭhā + apacayati (pp.)] elders + honouring
  25. kārāpessāma - [kārāpeti (caus.)] cause to do
  26. khantisoracce - [khanti + soracce] tolerance, forbearance + sympathy, gentleness
  27. kharassarena - [khara + s + sara (instr.)] harsh, rough + sound
  28. khuramuṇḍaṃ - [khura + muṇḍaṃ] shave + closely
  29. muddhābhisittassa - [muddhābhisitta (gen./ dat.)] to the king
  30. mūlaghaccaṃ - [mūla + ghacco] root + to be destroyed
  31. negamajānapadesu - [negama + jānapado (loc.)] town + country
  32. nisedheyyaṃ - [nisedheti (opt.)] prevent, stop, make and end
  33. paṇavena - [instr.] drum
  34. panthaduhanampi - [pantha + duhanaṃ + pi] road + robbery, waylaying, hurting
  35. pariggaṇheyyāsi - [pariggaṇhati (opt.)] embrace, seize, take hold, search
  36. paṭissutvā - [paṭissuṇāti (ger.)] agree, consent
  37. pavaḍḍhissati - [pa + vaḍḍhati (ft.)] grow, increase
  38. pavattittha - [pavatteti (pp.)] set moving, proceeding, going on
  39. payojehi - [payojeti (imp.)] conduct, perform, carry out
  40. pesuññamakāsi - [pesuññaṃ + akāsi (aor.)] backbiting, slander + made
  41. posehi - [poseti (imp.)] feed, nourish
  42. rajjuyā - [instr.] rope, string
  43. rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṃ - [rakkhā + varaṇa + guttiṃ] protection + surrounding + guarding
  44. saṃvidahassu - [saṃvidahati (opt.)] arrange, appoint, fix, accomplish
  45. siṅghāṭakena - [instr.] four roads meet, crossroad
  46. sovaggikaṃ - connected with heavenly fields
  47. sunisedhaṃ - [su + nisedha] well + prohibition, prevention
  48. tāta - [tāta] respected, dear, father, (son)
  49. theyyasaṅkhātaṃ - [theyya + saṅkhāta] theft + named, called, reckoned
  50. uddhaggikaṃ - [uddhaggikaṃ] living with the object of spiritual progress
  51. vatteyyāsi - [vattati (cus.; opt.)] proceed, occupy yourself with, practise
  52. vepullaṃ - development, increase
  53. vepullamagamāsi - [vepullam + gacchati (aor.)] increase + go to
  54. vijite - [vijayati (pp., noun; loc.)] conquered land, realm, country

Last modified: Sunday, 21 September 2025, 10:39 AM