长部第 26 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Wheel-Turning Monarch · 1/3

Long Discourses 26Long Discourses 26The Wheel-Turning MonarchThe Wheel-Turning Monarch1. Taking Refuge in Oneself1. Taking Refuge in Oneself

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Mātulā.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Mātulā.There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“Mendicants!”“Mendicants!”“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Venerable sir,” they replied.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:

“Mendicants, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge.“Mendicants, live as your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge.And how does a mendicant do this?And how does a mendicant do this?They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …mind …mind …principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

That’s how a mendicant lives with themselves as island and refuge, without other refuge; with the teachings as island and refuge, without other refuge.That’s how a mendicant lives with themselves as island and refuge, without other refuge; with the teachings as island and refuge, without other refuge.You should roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers.You should roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers.If you roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers, Māra won’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity.If you roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers, Māra won’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity.

It is due to undertaking skillful qualities that merit grows.It is due to undertaking skillful qualities that merit grows.

2. King Daḷhanemi2. King Daḷhanemi

Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a king named Daḷhanemi who was a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. His dominion extended to all four sides, he achieved stability in the country, and he possessed the seven treasures.Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a king named Daḷhanemi who was a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. His dominion extended to all four sides, he achieved stability in the country, and he possessed the seven treasures.He had the following seven treasures:He had the following seven treasures:the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure.the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure.

He had over a thousand sons who were valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of his enemies.He had over a thousand sons who were valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of his enemies.After conquering this land girt by sea, he reigned by principle, without rod or sword.After conquering this land girt by sea, he reigned by principle, without rod or sword.Then, after many years, many hundred years, many thousand years had passed, King Daḷhanemi addressed one of his men,Then, after many years, many hundred years, many thousand years had passed, King Daḷhanemi addressed one of his men,

‘My man, when you see that the heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place, please tell me.’‘My man, when you see that the heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place, please tell me.’‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.After many thousand years had passed, that man saw that the heavenly wheel-treasure had receded back from its place. So he went to King Daḷhanemi and said,After many thousand years had passed, that man saw that the heavenly wheel-treasure had receded back from its place. So he went to King Daḷhanemi and said,

‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that your heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place.’‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that your heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place.’So the king summoned the crown prince and said,So the king summoned the crown prince and said,‘Dear prince, my heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place.‘Dear prince, my heavenly wheel-treasure has receded back from its place.

I’ve heard thatI’ve heard thatwhen this happens to a wheel-turning monarch, he does not have long to live.when this happens to a wheel-turning monarch, he does not have long to live.I have enjoyed human pleasures. Now it is time for me to seek heavenly pleasures.I have enjoyed human pleasures. Now it is time for me to seek heavenly pleasures.

Come, dear prince, rule this land surrounded by ocean!Come, dear prince, rule this land surrounded by ocean!I shall shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’I shall shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’And so, after carefully instructing the crown prince in kingship, King Daḷhanemi shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.And so, after carefully instructing the crown prince in kingship, King Daḷhanemi shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Seven days later the heavenly wheel-treasure vanished.Seven days later the heavenly wheel-treasure vanished.Then a certain man approached the newly anointed aristocrat king and said,Then a certain man approached the newly anointed aristocrat king and said,‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’

At that the king was unhappy and experienced unhappiness.At that the king was unhappy and experienced unhappiness.He went to the royal seer and said,He went to the royal seer and said,‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’

When he said this, the royal seer said to him,When he said this, the royal seer said to him,‘Don’t be unhappy at the vanishing of the wheel-treasure. My dear, the wheel-treasure is not inherited from your father.‘Don’t be unhappy at the vanishing of the wheel-treasure. My dear, the wheel-treasure is not inherited from your father.Come now, my dear, proceed in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.Come now, my dear, proceed in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.

If you do so, it’s possible that—on a fifteenth day sabbath, having bathed your head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath—the heavenly wheel-treasure will appear to you, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.’If you do so, it’s possible that—on a fifteenth day sabbath, having bathed your head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath—the heavenly wheel-treasure will appear to you, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.’

2.1. The Noble Duty of a Wheel-Turning Monarch2.1. The Noble Duty of a Wheel-Turning Monarch

‘But Your Majesty, what is the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch?’‘But Your Majesty, what is the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch?’‘Well then, my dear, relying only on principle—honoring, respecting, and venerating principle, having principle as your flag, banner, and authority—provide just protection and security for your court, troops, aristocrats, vassals, brahmins and householders, people of town and country, ascetics and brahmins, beasts and birds.‘Well then, my dear, relying only on principle—honoring, respecting, and venerating principle, having principle as your flag, banner, and authority—provide just protection and security for your court, troops, aristocrats, vassals, brahmins and householders, people of town and country, ascetics and brahmins, beasts and birds.

Do not let injustice prevail in the realm.Do not let injustice prevail in the realm.Provide money to the penniless in the realm.Provide money to the penniless in the realm.And there are ascetics and brahmins in the realm who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves. From time to time you should go up to them and ask and learn:And there are ascetics and brahmins in the realm who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves. From time to time you should go up to them and ask and learn:

“Sirs, what is skillful? What is unskillful? What is blameworthy? What is blameless? What should be cultivated? What should not be cultivated? Doing what leads to my lasting harm and suffering? Doing what leads to my lasting welfare and happiness?”“Sirs, what is skillful? What is unskillful? What is blameworthy? What is blameless? What should be cultivated? What should not be cultivated? Doing what leads to my lasting harm and suffering? Doing what leads to my lasting welfare and happiness?”Having heard them, you should shun what is unskillful and proceed having undertaken what is skillful.Having heard them, you should shun what is unskillful and proceed having undertaken what is skillful.This is the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.’This is the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.’

2.2. The Wheel-Treasure Appears2.2. The Wheel-Treasure Appears

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied the new king to the royal seer. And he proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied the new king to the royal seer. And he proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.While he was proceeding in that duty, on a fifteenth day sabbath, he had bathed his head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath.While he was proceeding in that duty, on a fifteenth day sabbath, he had bathed his head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath.And the heavenly wheel-treasure appeared to him, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.And the heavenly wheel-treasure appeared to him, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.

Seeing this, the king thought,Seeing this, the king thought,‘I have heard that when the heavenly wheel-treasure appears to a king in this way, he becomes a wheel-turning monarch.‘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?’Am I then a wheel-turning monarch?’

Then the anointed king, rising from his seat and arranging his robe over one shoulder, took a ceremonial vase in his left hand and besprinkled the wheel-treasure with his right hand, saying,Then the anointed king, rising from his seat and arranging his robe over one shoulder, took a ceremonial vase in his left hand and besprinkled the wheel-treasure with his right hand, saying,‘Roll forth, O wheel-treasure! Triumph, O wheel-treasure!’‘Roll forth, O wheel-treasure! Triumph, O wheel-treasure!’Then the wheel-treasure rolled toward the east. And the king followed it together with his army of four divisions. In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.Then the wheel-treasure rolled toward the east. And the king followed it together with his army of four divisions. In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.

And any opposing rulers of the eastern quarter came to the wheel-turning monarch and said,And any opposing rulers of the eastern quarter came to the wheel-turning monarch and said,‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’The wheel-turning monarch said,The wheel-turning monarch said,

‘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.’‘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 became his vassals.And so the opposing rulers of the eastern quarter became his vassals.Then the wheel-treasure, having plunged into the eastern ocean and emerged again, rolled toward the south. …Then the wheel-treasure, having plunged into the eastern ocean and emerged again, rolled toward the south. …

Having plunged into the southern ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the west. …Having plunged into the southern ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the west. …Having plunged into the western ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the north, followed by the king together with his army of four divisions.Having plunged into the western ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the north, followed by the king together with his army of four divisions.In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.

And any opposing rulers of the northern quarter came to the wheel-turning monarch and said,And any opposing rulers of the northern quarter came to the wheel-turning monarch and said,‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’The wheel-turning monarch said,The wheel-turning monarch said,

‘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.’‘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 rulers of the northern quarter became his vassals.And so the rulers of the northern quarter became his vassals.And then the wheel-treasure, having triumphed over this land surrounded by ocean, returned to the royal capital. There it stood still by the gate to the royal compound at the High Court as if fixed to an axle, illuminating the royal compound.And then the wheel-treasure, having triumphed over this land surrounded by ocean, returned to the royal capital. There it stood still by the gate to the royal compound at the High Court as if fixed to an axle, illuminating the royal compound.

3. On Subsequent Wheel-Turning Monarchs3. On Subsequent Wheel-Turning Monarchs

And for a second time,And for a second time,and a third,and a third,a fourth,a fourth,

a fifth,a fifth,a sixth,a sixth,and a seventh time, a wheel-turning monarch was established in exactly the same way. And after many years the seventh wheel-turning monarch went forth, handing the realm over to the crown prince.and a seventh time, a wheel-turning monarch was established in exactly the same way. And after many years the seventh wheel-turning monarch went forth, handing the realm over to the crown prince.

Seven days later the heavenly wheel-treasure vanished.Seven days later the heavenly wheel-treasure vanished.Then a certain man approached the newly anointed aristocrat king and said,Then a certain man approached the newly anointed aristocrat king and said,‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’‘Please Your Majesty, you should know that the heavenly wheel-treasure has vanished.’

At that the king was unhappy and experienced unhappiness.At that the king was unhappy and experienced unhappiness.But he didn’t go to the royal seer and ask about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.But he didn’t go to the royal seer and ask about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.He just governed the country according to his own ideas.He just governed the country according to his own ideas.

So governed, the country’s people did not prosper like before, as they had when former kings proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.So governed, the country’s people did not prosper like before, as they had when former kings proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.Then the ministers and councillors, the treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers gathered and said to the king,Then the ministers and councillors, the treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers gathered and said to the king,‘Your Majesty, when governed according to your own ideas, the country’s people do not prosper like before, as they did when former kings proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.‘Your Majesty, when governed according to your own ideas, the country’s people do not prosper like before, as they did when former kings proceeded in the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.

In your realm are found ministers and councillors, treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers—both ourselves and others—who remember the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.In your realm are found ministers and councillors, treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers—both ourselves and others—who remember the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.Please, Your Majesty, ask us about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.Please, Your Majesty, ask us about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.We will answer you.’We will answer you.’

4. On the Period of Decline4. On the Period of Decline

So the anointed king asked the assembled ministers and councillors, treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.So the anointed king asked the assembled ministers and councillors, treasurers and chief ministers, military officers, guardsmen, and professional advisers about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch.And they answered him.And they answered him.After listening to them, he provided just protection and security. But he did not provide money to the penniless in the realm.After listening to them, he provided just protection and security. But he did not provide money to the penniless in the realm.

And so poverty grew widespread.And so poverty grew widespread.When poverty was widespread, a certain person stole from others, with the intention to commit theft.When poverty was widespread, a certain person stole from others, with the intention to commit theft.They arrested himThey arrested him

and presented him to the king, saying,and presented him to the king, saying,‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others with the intention to commit theft.’‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others with the intention to commit theft.’The king said to that person,The king said to that person,

‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others with the intention to commit theft?’‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others with the intention to commit theft?’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’‘What was the reason?’‘What was the reason?’

‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’So the king provided some money to that person, saying,So the king provided some money to that person, saying,‘With this money, my man, keep yourself alive, and provide for your mother and father, partners and children. Work for a living, and establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.’‘With this money, my man, keep yourself alive, and provide for your mother and father, partners and children. Work for a living, and establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.But then another man stole something from others.But then another man stole something from others.They arrested himThey arrested him