Part 43 - Four Marvellous Qualities of a Universal Monarch

“Bhikkhus, a Universal Monarch has four marvellous and astounding qualities. They are:

i) If, bhikkhus, a company of the ruling class should visit the Universal Monarch, they are gladdened by the sight of him. If the Universal Monarch should give them a discourse, they are gladdened by the discourse. Even when, at the end of his discourse, the Universal Monarch remains silent, the company of the ruling class is still unsatiated. (This is one marvellous quality).

ii) If, bhikkhus, a company of brahmins.... (repeat p: below) iii) If, bhikkhus, a company of rich householders... (repeat p: below)

iv) If, bhikkhus, a company of recluses (p:) should visit the Universal Monarch, they are gladdened by the sight of him. If the Universal Monarch should give them a discourse, they are gladdened by the discourse. Even when, at the end of the discourse, the Universal Monarch remains silent, the company of recluses is still unsatiated. (This is another marvellous quality)

“These are the four marvellous qualities of a Universal Monarch.”

“Bhikkhus, in the same way, Ānanda has four marvellous and astounding qualities. They are:

i) If, bhikkhus, a company of bhikkhus should come to see Ānanda, they are gladdened on seeing him. If Ānanda should give them a discourse, they are gladdened by the discourse. Even when, at the end of the discourse, Ānanda remains silent, the company

of bhikkhus is still unsatiated. (This is one marvellous quality.)

ii) If, bhikkhus, a company of bhikkhunīs... (repeat p: below) iii) If, bhikkhus, a company of male lay disciples... (repeat p: below)

iv) If, bhikkhus, a company of female lay disciples (p:) should come to see Ānanda, they are gladdened by seeing him. If Ānanda should give them a discourse, they are gladdened by the discourse Even when, at the end of the discourse, Ānanda remains silent, the company of female lay disciples is still unsatiated. (This is another marvellous quality.)

“Bhikkhus, these are the four marvellous and astounding qualities of Ānanda.”

(The Buddha, in these words, compares Ānanda to a Universal Monarch.

The ruling class, who visits the Universal Monarch includes both crowned kings as well as uncrowned kings. They visited him because they have heard the good reputation of the Universal Monarch, such as: “The Universal Monarch is attractive and dignified in appearance, he roams his realms by air to administer peace and justice, and he rules by justice (alone).” And when they see him in person they are gladdened because all the good things they have heard about the Universal Monarch are found to be true.

When the ruling class visits him, the Universal Monarch would ask them: “How is it, friends, do you abide by the ten points of kingly conduct? Do you protect and preserve the time honoured traditions of ancient rulers?” To the brahmin visitors, he would ask: “How is it, masters, do you teach the Vedas? Do the close pupils of yours learn the Vedas? Are you being honoured with sacrifices, are you being offered with new cloth, with milk-cows of variegated colours?” To the rich house-holders who visits him, he would ask: “How is it, O men, are you free from oppression by the rulers with unjust sentences or unjust taxes? Do you get regular rainfall? Are your harvests bountiful?” To the recluses who visit him, he would ask: “How is it, recluses, are you being offered your requisites without stint? Are you arduous in your religious undertakings?”