Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXV: Āppatti-bhaya Vagga

The Book of the Fours

Chapter XXV: Fear of Offence

Sutta 245

Thupāraha Suttaṃ

Worthy of a Cairn¹

 

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[250]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

Monks, these four are worthy of a cairn.

What four?

A Tathāgata, Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One
is worthy of a cairn;
a Pacceka Buddha
is worthy of a cairn;
a Tathāgata's disciple
is worthy of a cairn;
and a rājah who rolls the wheel
is worthy of a cairn.'

 

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¹ Or stūpa. Cf. D. ii, 143 = Dial. ii, 156. Here Comy. remarks:
'Why does the Exalted One permit a cairn, for a wheel-rolling rājah and not for an ordinary virtuous monk? Because of its singularity. Besides, if such were allowed there would be no room in the villages and districts of Ceylon, nor yet in other parts. With the idea: They would not be singular, he did not allow it.'