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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

XIII. Fears — AN 4.130: Incredible Things About the Wheel-Turning Monarch

1“Mendicants, there are these four incredible and amazing things about a wheel-turning monarch. What four?


If an assembly of aristocrats goes to see a wheel-turning monarch, they’re uplifted by seeing him and uplifted by hearing him speak. And when he falls silent, they’ve never had enough.


2-4If an assembly of brahmins … householders … or ascetics goes to see a wheel-turning monarch, they’re uplifted by seeing him and uplifted by hearing him speak. And when he falls silent, they’ve never had enough.

These are the four incredible and amazing things about a wheel-turning monarch.


5In the same way, there are these four incredible and amazing things about Ānanda. What four?

If an assembly of monks goes to see Ānanda, they’re uplifted by seeing him and uplifted by hearing him speak. And when he falls silent, they’ve never had enough.

6If an assembly of nuns … laymen … or laywomen goes to see Ānanda, they’re uplifted by seeing him and uplifted by hearing him speak. And when he falls silent, they’ve never had enough.


These are the four incredible and amazing things about Ānanda.”

1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, acchariyā abbhutā dhammā raññe cakkavattimhi. Katame cattāro?


Sace, bhikkhave, khattiyaparisā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce rājā cakkavattī bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, khattiyaparisā hoti, atha rājā cakkavattī tuṇhī bhavati.


2Sace, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇaparisā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce rājā cakkavattī bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇaparisā hoti, atha rājā cakkavattī tuṇhī bhavati.

3Sace, bhikkhave, gahapatiparisā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce rājā cakkavattī bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, gahapatiparisā hoti, atha rājā cakkavattī tuṇhī bhavati.

4Sace, bhikkhave, samaṇaparisā rājānaṁ cakkavattiṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce rājā cakkavattī bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, samaṇaparisā hoti, atha rājā cakkavattī tuṇhī bhavati.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro acchariyā abbhutā dhammā raññe cakkavattimhi.


5Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro acchariyā abbhutā dhammā ānande. Katame cattāro?

Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhuparisā ānandaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce ānando dhammaṁ bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, bhikkhuparisā hoti, atha ānando tuṇhī bhavati.

6Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniparisā … pe … sace, bhikkhave, upāsakaparisā … pe … sace, bhikkhave, upāsikāparisā ānandaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamati, dassanenapi sā attamanā hoti. Tatra ce ānando dhammaṁ bhāsati, bhāsitenapi sā attamanā hoti. Atittāva, bhikkhave, upāsikāparisā hoti, atha ānando tuṇhī bhavati.


Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro acchariyā abbhutā dhammā ānande"ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Bhayavaggo tatiyo.

7Attānuvādaūmi ca,
dve ca nānā dve ca honti;
Mettā dve ca acchariyā,
aparā ca tathā duveti.