中部第 129 经（Sujato 英译）第 3 阅读页 · The Foolish and the Astute · 3/3

‘Householder, I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’‘Householder, I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’‘Well then, Great King, draw the boat up to one shore.’‘Well then, Great King, draw the boat up to one shore.’‘It’s right here, householder, that I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’‘It’s right here, householder, that I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’

Then that householder-treasure, immersing both hands in the water, pulled up a pot full of gold, both coined and uncoined, and said to the king,Then that householder-treasure, immersing both hands in the water, pulled up a pot full of gold, both coined and uncoined, and said to the king,‘Is this sufficient, Great King? Has enough been done, Great King, enough offered?’‘Is this sufficient, Great King? Has enough been done, Great King, enough offered?’The wheel-turning monarch said,The wheel-turning monarch said,

‘That is sufficient, householder. Enough has been done, enough offered.’‘That is sufficient, householder. Enough has been done, enough offered.’Such is the householder-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.Such is the householder-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.Next, the commander-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch.Next, the commander-treasure appears to the wheel-turning monarch.

He is astute, competent, intelligent, and capable regarding who should be ushered in to the king’s presence, who should be ushered out, and who should be kept by his side.He is astute, competent, intelligent, and capable regarding who should be ushered in to the king’s presence, who should be ushered out, and who should be kept by his side.He approaches the wheel-turning monarch and says,He approaches the wheel-turning monarch and says,‘Relax, Your Majesty. I shall issue instructions.’‘Relax, Your Majesty. I shall issue instructions.’

Such is the commander-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.Such is the commander-treasure that appears to the wheel-turning monarch.These are the seven treasures possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.These are the seven treasures possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.And what are the four blessings?And what are the four blessings?

A wheel-turning monarch is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty, more so than other humans.A wheel-turning monarch is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty, more so than other humans.This is the first blessing.This is the first blessing.Furthermore, he is long-lived, more so than other humans.Furthermore, he is long-lived, more so than other humans.

This is the second blessing.This is the second blessing.Furthermore, he is rarely ill or unwell, and his stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, more so than other humans.Furthermore, he is rarely ill or unwell, and his stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, more so than other humans.This is the third blessing.This is the third blessing.

Furthermore, a wheel-turning monarch is as dear and beloved to the brahmins and householdersFurthermore, a wheel-turning monarch is as dear and beloved to the brahmins and householdersas a father is to his children.as a father is to his children.And the brahmins and householders are as dear to the wheel-turning monarchAnd the brahmins and householders are as dear to the wheel-turning monarch

as children are to their father.as children are to their father.Once it so happened that a wheel-turning monarch went with his army of four divisions to visit a park.Once it so happened that a wheel-turning monarch went with his army of four divisions to visit a park.Then the brahmins and householders went up to him and said,Then the brahmins and householders went up to him and said,

‘Slow down, Your Majesty, so we may see you longer!’‘Slow down, Your Majesty, so we may see you longer!’And the king addressed his charioteer,And the king addressed his charioteer,‘Drive slowly, charioteer, so I can see the brahmins and householders longer!’‘Drive slowly, charioteer, so I can see the brahmins and householders longer!’

This is the fourth blessing.This is the fourth blessing.These are the four blessings possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.These are the four blessings possessed by a wheel-turning monarch.What do you think, mendicants?What do you think, mendicants?

Would a wheel-turning monarch who possessed these seven treasures and these four blessings experience pleasure and happiness because of them?”Would a wheel-turning monarch who possessed these seven treasures and these four blessings experience pleasure and happiness because of them?”“Sir, a wheel-turning monarch who possessed even a single one of these treasures would experience pleasure and happiness because of that, let alone all seven treasures and four blessings!”“Sir, a wheel-turning monarch who possessed even a single one of these treasures would experience pleasure and happiness because of that, let alone all seven treasures and four blessings!”Then the Buddha, picking up a stone the size of his palm, addressed the mendicants,Then the Buddha, picking up a stone the size of his palm, addressed the mendicants,

“What do you think, mendicants?“What do you think, mendicants?Which is bigger: the stone the size of my palm that I’ve picked up, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”Which is bigger: the stone the size of my palm that I’ve picked up, or the Himalayas, the king of mountains?”“Sir, the stone you’ve picked up is tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.”“Sir, the stone you’ve picked up is tiny. Compared to the Himalayas, it doesn’t count, it’s not worth a fraction, there’s no comparison.”

“In the same way, compared to the happiness of heaven, the pleasure and happiness experienced by a wheel-turning monarch due to those seven treasures and those four blessings doesn’t even count, it’s not even a fraction, there’s no comparison.“In the same way, compared to the happiness of heaven, the pleasure and happiness experienced by a wheel-turning monarch due to those seven treasures and those four blessings doesn’t even count, it’s not even a fraction, there’s no comparison.And suppose that astute person, after a very long time, returned to the human realm.And suppose that astute person, after a very long time, returned to the human realm.They’d be reborn in a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain.They’d be reborn in a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain.

And they’d be attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They’d get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and a bed, house, and lighting.And they’d be attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They’d get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and a bed, house, and lighting.And they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.And they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Suppose a gambler was to win a big pile of money with the first winning hand.Suppose a gambler was to win a big pile of money with the first winning hand.Such a winning hand is trivial compared toSuch a winning hand is trivial compared tothe winning hand whereby an astute person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.the winning hand whereby an astute person, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

This is the total fulfillment of the astute person’s level.”This is the total fulfillment of the astute person’s level.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.