War, Wickedness, and Wealth

Thus have I heard. The Exalted One was once staying in the land of the Magadhese at Mātulā. Now there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying: Brethren!

And they made answer: Lord!

The Exalted One spake thus: Live ye as islands unto yourselves, brethren, as refuges unto yourselves, taking no other as your refuge; live with the doctrine (the Norm), as your island, with the Norm as your refuge, taking no other as your refuge.

But how, brethren, does a brother live as an island unto himself, as a refuge unto himself, taking no other as his refuge? How does he live with the Norm as his island, with the Norm as his refuge, taking no other refuge?

Herein, brethren, a brother as to the body, continues so to look upon the body that he remains ardent, self-possessed, and mindful, that he may overcome both the hankering and the dejection common in the world; as to the feelings, continues so to look upon these that he remains ardent, self-possessed, and mindful, that he may overcome both the hankering and the dejection common in the world; as to thought, continues so to look upon these that he remains ardent, self-possessed, and mindful, that he may overcome both the hankering and the dejection common in the world; as to ideas, continues so to look upon these that he remains ardent, self-possessed, and mindful, that he may overcome both the hankering and the dejection common in the world.

Thus, brethren, does a brother live as an island unto himself, as a refuge unto himself, taking no other as his refuge? How does he live with the Norm as his island, with the Norm as his refuge, taking no other refuge?

Keep to your own pastures, brethren, walk in the haunts where your fathers roamed.

If ye thus walk in them the Evil One will find no landing-place, no basis of attack.

It is precisely by the cultivation of good qualities that this merit grows.

Long, long ago, brethren, there was a sovereign overlord named Strongtyre, a righteous king ruling in righteousness, lord of the four quarters of the earth, conqueror, the protector of his people, possessor of the seven precious things.

His were these seven precious things, to wit, the Wheel, the Elephant, the Horse, the Gem, the Woman, the House-father, the Counsellor.

More than a thousand sons also were his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy.

He lived in supremacy over this earth to its ocean bounds, having conquered it, not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness.

Now, brethren, after many years, after many hundred years, after many thousand years, King Strongtyre commanded a certain man, saying: If thou shouldst see, sirrah, that the Celestial Wheel has sunk a little, has slipped down from its place, bring me word.

Even so, sire, replied the man.

Now after many years, after many hundred years, after many thousand years that man saw that the Celestial Wheel had sunk, had slipped down from its place.

On seeing that he went to King Strongtyre and said: Know, sire, for a truth that thy Celestial Wheel has sunk, has slipped down from its place.

Then King Strongtyre, brethren, let the prince his eldest son be sent for, and spake thus: Behold, dear boy, my Celestial Wheel has sunk a little, has slipped down from its place.

Now it has been told me: If the Celestial Wheel of a Wheel-turning King shall sink down, shall slip down from its place, that king has not much longer to live.

I have had my fill of human pleasures; ’Tis time to seek after divine joys.

Come, dear boy, take thou charge over this earth bounded by the ocean.

But I, shaving hair and beard, and donning yellow robes, will go forth from home into the homeless state.

So, brethren, King Strongtyre, having in due form established his eldest son on the throne, shaved hair and beard, donned yellow robes and went forth from home into the homeless state.

But on the seventh day after the royal hermit had gone forth, the Celestial Wheel disappeared.

Then a certain man went to the king, the anointed warrior, and told him, saying: Know, O king, for a truth, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared!

Then that king, brethren, the anointed warrior, was grieved thereat and afflicted with sorrow.

And he went to the royal hermit and told him, saying: Know, sire, for a truth, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared.

And the anointed king so saying, the royal hermit made reply: Grieve thou not, dear son, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared, nor be afflicted.

For no paternal heritage of thine, dear son, is the Celestial Wheel.

But verily, dear son, turn thou in the Ariyan turning of the Wheel-turners. [Act up to the noble ideal of duty set before themselves by the true sovereigns of the world.]

Then it may well be that if thou carry out the Ariyan duty of a Wheel-turning Monarch, and on the feast of the full moon thou wilt go with bathed head to keep the feast on the chief upper terrace, lo, the Celestial Wheel will manifest itself with its thousand spokes, its tyre, navel, and all its parts complete!

But what, sire, is this Ariyan duty of a Wheel-turning Monarch?

This, dear son, that thou, leaning on the Norm [the Law of truth and righteousness] honouring, respecting and revering it, doing homage to it, hallowing it, being thyself a Norm-banner, a Norm-signal, having the Norm as thy master, shouldst provide the right watch, ward, and protection for thine own folk, for the army, for the nobles, for vassals, for brahmins, and householders, for town and country dwellers, for the religious world, and for beasts and birds.

Throughout thy kingdom let no wrongdoing prevail.

And whosoever in thy kingdom is poor, to him let wealth be given.

And when, dear son, in thy kingdom men of religious life, renouncing the carelessness arising from the intoxication of the senses, and devoted to forbearance and sympathy, each mastering self, each calming self, each perfecting self, shall come to thee from time to time, and question thee concerning what is good and what is bad, what is criminal and what is not, what is to be done and what left undone, what line of action will in the long run work for weal or for woe, thou shouldst hear what they have to say, and thou shouldst deter them from evil, and bid them take up what is good.

This, dear son, is the Ariyan duty of a sovereign of the world.

Even so, sire, answered the anointed king, and obeying, carried out the Ariyan duty of a sovereign lord.

To him, thus behaving, when on the feast of the full moon he had gone in due observance with bathed head to the chief upper terrace, the Celestial Wheel revealed itself, with its thousand spokes, its tyre, its navel, and all its parts complete.

And seeing this it occurred to the king: It has been told me that a king to whom on such an occasion the Celestial Wheel reveals itself completely, becomes a Wheel-turning monarch.

May I even I also become a sovereign of the world

Then, brethren, the king arose from his seat, and uncovering his robe from one shoulder, took in his left hand a pitcher, and with his right hand sprinkled up over the Celestial Wheel, saying: Roll onward, O lord Wheel! Go forth and overcome, O lord Wheel!

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel rolled onwards towards the region of the East, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men.

And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army.

Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing. Ye shall not take that which has not been given.

Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires.

Ye shall speak no lie.

Ye shall drink no maddening drink.

Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the East became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Eastern ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the South, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men.

And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army.

Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing.

Ye shall not take that which has not been given.

Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires.

Ye shall speak no lie.

Ye shall drink no maddening drink.

Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the South became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Southern ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the West, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men.

And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army.

Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing.

Ye shall not take that which has not been given.

Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires.

Ye shall speak no lie.

Ye shall drink no maddening drink.

Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the West became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Western ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the North, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men.

And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army.

Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing.

Ye shall not take that which has not been given.

Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires.

Ye shall speak no lie.

Ye shall drink no maddening drink.

Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the North became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then when the Celestial Wheel had gone forth conquering over the whole earth to its ocean boundary, it returned to the royal city, and stood, so that one might think it fixed, in front of the judgment hall at the entrance to the inner apartments of the king, the Wheel-turner, lighting up with its glory the facade of the inner apartments of the king, the sovereign of the world.

The Third in the Line

Now, brethren, after many years, after many hundred years, after many thousand years, the King commanded a certain man, saying: If thou shouldst see, sirrah, that the Celestial Wheel has sunk a little, has slipped down from its place, bring me word.

Even so, sire, replied the man.

Now after many years, after many hundred years, after many thousand years that man saw that the Celestial Wheel had sunk, had slipped down from its place. On seeing that he went to the King and said: Know, sire, for a truth that thy Celestial Wheel has sunk, has slipped down from its place.

Then the King, brethren, let the prince his eldest son be sent for, and spake thus: Behold, dear boy, my Celestial Wheel has sunk a little, has slipped down from its place. Now it has been told me: If the Celestial Wheel of a Wheel-turning King shall sink down, shall slip down from its place, that king has not much longer to live. I have had my fill of human pleasures; ’Tis time to seek after divine joys. Come, dear boy, take thou charge over this earth bounded by the ocean. But I, shaving hair and beard, and donning yellow robes, will go forth from home into the homeless state.

So, brethren, the King, having in due form established his eldest son on the throne, shaved hair and beard, donned yellow robes and went forth from home into the homeless state. But on the seventh day after the royal hermit had gone forth, the Celestial Wheel disappeared.

Then a certain man went to the king, the anointed warrior, and told him, saying: Know, O king, for a truth, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared!

Then that king, brethren, the anointed warrior, was grieved thereat and afflicted with sorrow. And he went to the royal hermit and told him, saying: Know, sire, for a truth, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared.

And the anointed king so saying, the royal hermit made reply: Grieve thou not, dear son, that the Celestial Wheel has disappeared, nor be afflicted. For no paternal heritage of thine, dear son, is the Celestial Wheel. But verily, dear son, turn thou in the Ariyan turning of the Wheel-turners. [Act up to the noble ideal of duty set before themselves by the true sovereigns of the world.] Then it may well be that if thou carry out the Ariyan duty of a Wheel-turning Monarch, and on the feast of the full moon thou wilt go with bathed head to keep the feast on the chief upper terrace, lo, the Celestial Wheel will manifest itself with its thousand spokes, its tyre, navel, and all its parts complete!

But what, sire, is this Ariyan duty of a Wheel-turning Monarch?

This, dear son, that thou, leaning on the Norm [the Law of truth and righteousness] honouring, respecting and revering it, doing homage to it, hallowing it, being thyself a Norm-banner, a Norm-signal, having the Norm as thy master, shouldst provide the right watch, ward, and protection for thine own folk, for the army, for the nobles, for vassals, for brahmins, and householders, for town and country dwellers, for the religious world, and for beasts and birds. Throughout thy kingdom let no wrongdoing prevail. And whosoever in thy kingdom is poor, to him let wealth be given.

And when, dear son, in thy kingdom men of religious life, renouncing the carelessness arising from the intoxication of the senses, and devoted to forbearance and sympathy, each mastering self, each calming self, each perfecting self, shall come to thee from time to time, and question thee concerning what is good and what is bad, what is criminal and what is not, what is to be done and what left undone, what line of action will in the long run work for weal or for woe, thou shouldst hear what they have to say, and thou shouldst deter them from evil, and bid them take up what is good. This, dear son, is the Ariyan duty of a sovereign of the world.

Even so, sire, answered the anointed king, and obeying, carried out the Ariyan duty of a sovereign lord. To him, thus behaving, when on the feast of the full moon he had gone in due observance with bathed head to the chief upper terrace, the Celestial Wheel revealed itself, with its thousand spokes, its tyre, its navel, and all its parts complete. And seeing this it occurred to the king: It has been told me that a king to whom on such an occasion the Celestial Wheel reveals itself completely, becomes a Wheel-turning monarch. May I even I also become a sovereign of the world

Then, brethren, the king arose from his seat, and uncovering his robe from one shoulder, took in his left hand a pitcher, and with his right hand sprinkled up over the Celestial Wheel, saying: Roll onward, O lord Wheel! Go forth and overcome, O lord Wheel!

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel rolled onwards towards the region of the East, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men. And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army. Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing. Ye shall not take that which has not been given. Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires. Ye shall speak no lie. Ye shall drink no maddening drink. Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the East became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Eastern ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the South, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men. And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army. Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing. Ye shall not take that which has not been given. Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires. Ye shall speak no lie. Ye shall drink no maddening drink. Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the South became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Southern ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the West, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men. And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army. Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing. Ye shall not take that which has not been given. Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires. Ye shall speak no lie. Ye shall drink no maddening drink. Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the West became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then, brethren, the Celestial Wheel, plunging down into the Western ocean, rose up out again, and rolled onwards to the region of the North, and after it went the Wheel-turning king, and with him his army, horses and chariots and elephants and men. And in whatever place, brethren, the Wheel stopped, there the king, the victorious war-lord, took up his abode, and with him his fourfold army. Then all the rival kings in the region of the East came to the sovereign king and said: Come, O mighty king! Welcome, O mighty king! All is thine, O mighty king! Teach us, O mighty king!

The king, the sovereign war-lord, spake thus: Ye shall slay no living thing. Ye shall not take that which has not been given. Ye shall not act wrongly touching bodily desires. Ye shall speak no lie. Ye shall drink no maddening drink. Enjoy your possessions as you have been wont to do.

Then, brethren, all they that were enemy kings in the region of the North became vassals to the king, the Wheel-turner.

Then when the Celestial Wheel had gone forth conquering over the whole earth to its ocean boundary, it returned to the royal city, and stood, so that one might think it fixed, in front of the judgment hall at the entrance to the inner apartments of the king, the Wheel-turner, lighting up with its glory the facade of the inner apartments of the king, the sovereign of the world.

The Fourth in the Line