Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
14. Rāja Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XIV: The Rajah

Sutta 132

Dutiya Cakkānuvattana Suttaṃ

The Onward Roll of the Wheel (b)

[114]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, endowed in five ways
the eldest son of a rajah,
who rolls the wheel (of state),
keeps¹ rolling on by Dhamma
the wheel his father set a-roll;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by the hand of any hostile creature.

In what five ways?

Herein, monks, the eldest son of a rajah,²
rolling the wheel of state,
knows good;
knows Dhamma;
knows measure;
knows times;
and knows assembled men.

Monks, endowed in these five ways
the eldest son of a rajah,
who rolls the wheel (of state),
keeps rolling on by Dhamma
the wheel his father set a-roll;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by the hand of any hostile creature.

Even so, monks, endowed in five ways
Sāriputta keeps rolling on,
just in the right way,³
the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma
the Tathāgata set a-roll;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by recluse,
godly man,
deva,
Māra,
Brahmā,
or by any in the world.

In what five ways?

Herein, monks, Sāriputta
knows good;
knows Dhamma;
knows measure;
knows times;
and knows assembled men.

Verily, monks, endowed in these five ways
Sāriputta keeps rolling on,
just in the right way,
the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma
the Tathāgata set a-roll;
and that wheel may not be rolled back
by recluse,
godly man,
deva,
Māra,
Brahmā,
or by any in the world.'

¹ Anupamtteti, in distinction from pavatteti previously.

² The text repeats in full. Cf. Sn. 557; Thag. 827.