翻譯名義集 3.7

3.7

【Cakravartirāja】Or cakravartin; here translated as "wheel-turning king" (zhuanlunwang). The Kośa states: "From the time when human lifespan in this continent is immeasurable years down to eighty thousand years, wheel-turning kings are born. When the lifespan decreases below eighty thousand, though sentient beings have wealth and joy, their lifespan decreases and various evils gradually flourish; they are no longer vessels for great beings, and thus there are no wheel-turning kings. Because the turning of the wheel responds and guides, overpowering and subduing all, they are called wheel-turning kings. The Prajñaptipāda speaks of four kinds: the responses of gold, silver, copper, and iron wheels differ; according to their sequence, superior, high, medium, and lower, in reverse order they rule over one, two, three, or four continents, and so forth." Sūtras follow the superior and speak only of the golden-wheel [king]. Thus a sūtra states: "If a king is born into the kṣatriya caste and inherits the anointed throne, on the fifteenth day, when observing the precepts, he bathes his head and body and takes the supreme precepts. He ascends to a high terrace palace, attended by his ministers. Suddenly in the east, a golden wheel treasure appears, with a thousand spokes, complete with hub and rim, all features perfect and pure as if fashioned by a skilled artisan, emitting exquisite light and coming to the king's presence—this king is definitely a golden-wheel-turning king. Know that the other wheel-turning kings are also like this." The four kinds of wheel kings also differ in how their majesty pacifies the various directions. That is to say, for the golden-wheel king, the kings of small states all come to welcome him, saying: 'Our lands are vast, abundant, secure, wealthy, and joyous, with many peoples. We only pray that the Heavenly Honored One personally deign to instruct us; we are all the Heavenly Honored One's attendants.' For the silver-wheel king, he goes to their lands himself, and as his majesty approaches, they submit as ministers. For the copper-wheel king, after arriving in their country, he displays majesty and competes in virtue, whereupon they concede superiority. For the iron-wheel king, he also goes to their country, displays his might, and arranges battle formations; once victorious, he halts. All wheel kings commit no harm; causing others to submit and triumphing over them, they settle each in their place and exhort them to cultivate the path of the ten wholesome deeds. Therefore, when a wheel king dies, he is certain to be born in heaven. Ci'en states: 'The golden wheel transforms with people yielding simply on hearing of his approach; the silver wheel causes surrender only when envoys are dispatched; the copper wheel subdues only upon brandishing majesty; the iron wheel pacifies only after taking up weapons.'"