法苑珠林 5.50

5.50

If we speak in terms of the four directions, the northern continent of Uttarakuru is the wealthiest and most egalitarian. The eastern and western directions are intermediate, though they have their superior and inferior aspects. Southern Jambudvīpa is the poorest. The four directions differ from one another, as the sūtras recount in full. Furthermore, among the people of Jambudvīpa, poverty and wealth are unfixed, each having three grades. The highest is exemplified by the wheel-turning king (cakravartin), who gathers all four directions into his domain, whose wealth encompasses the four seas, and who lacks nothing of whatsoever he needs. Just as the sūtras state, a cakravartin's power of merit is supreme; when he appears in the world, he induces five extraordinary phenomena, and the seven treasures respond to his summons. As for the five extraordinary phenomena: First, he induces the world to become level, pure, and clean, with flowing springs and bathing ponds everywhere. Second, he induces heavenly ambrosia (amṛta) to well forth in the palace courtyards; when the king is thirsty, he drinks it, his body becomes light, and all illnesses are cured. Third, he induces the waters of the great oceans to recede by one yojana, whereon paths of golden sand burst forth along each inner shore, enabling the king to traverse them and tour the four continents. Fourth, he induces gośīrṣa sandalwood incense to grow along the seashores; when the king takes it and burns it, the fragrance rises with immense power, carrying against the wind for forty li, and whichever deceased persons smell it all return to life. Fifth, he induces kācilindika birds to be born in the oceans; when the king holds and touches them, his body and mind experience soothing comfort surpassing the pleasures of the six heavens of the desire realm. Because of this meaning, the Treatise on Rebirth (Wang sheng lun) says in verse: