Kathavatthu 4.7: Lakkhaṇakathā

4.7.1.1

Lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with the marks a bodhisatta?

Controverted Point: That one who is gifted with the Marks is a Bodhisat.

4.7.1.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

Controverted Point: That one who is gifted with the Marks is a Bodhisat.

4.7.1.3

Padesalakkhaṇehi samannāgato padesabodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with partial marks a partial bodhisatta?

Theravādin: By your proposition you must also admit a fortiori (a) that anyone who is gifted with the Marks to a limited extent, with one-third, or one-half of them, is a limited, one-third, or half Bodhisat, respectively—which you deny.

4.7.1.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.2.1

Lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with the marks a bodhisatta?

4.7.2.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.7.2.3

Tibhāgalakkhaṇehi samannāgato tibhāgabodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with a third of the marks a one-third bodhisatta?

4.7.2.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.3.1

Lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with the marks a bodhisatta?

4.7.3.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.7.3.3

Upaḍḍhalakkhaṇehi samannāgato upaḍḍhabodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with half the marks a half-bodhisatta?

4.7.3.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.4.1

Lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisattoti?

Is one endowed with the marks a bodhisatta?

And (b) that a universal emperor—who is also gifted with the Marks—is a Bodhisat, and that the previous study and conduct, declaring and teaching the Norm in the Bodhisat's career, are the same as those in the universal emperor's career; that (c) when a universal emperor is born, devas receive him first, and then humans, as they do the new-born Bodhisat; that (d) four sons of the devas receiving the new-born imperial babe place it before the mother, saying: “Rejoice, O queen! to thee is born a mighty son!” even as they do for the new-born Bodhisat; that (e) two rain-showers, cold and warm, come from the sky, wherewith both babe and mother may be washed, even as happens at the birth of a Bodhisat; that (f) a new-born imperial babe, standing on even feet, and facing north, walks seven paces, a white canopy being held over him, and looking round on all sides speaks the trumpet notes: “I am the foremost, I am chief, I am the highest in the world. This is my last birth; now is there no more coming again to be!” that (g) there is manifested at the birth of the one as of the other a mighty light, a mighty radiance, a mighty earthquake; that (h) the natural body of the one as of the other lights up a fathom's space around it; that (i) one and the other see a great dream—all of which you deny.

4.7.4.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.7.4.3

Cakkavattisatto lakkhaṇasamannāgato, cakkavattisatto bodhisattoti?

A wheel-turning being is endowed with the marks; is a wheel-turning being a bodhisatta?

4.7.4.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.5.1

Cakkavattisatto lakkhaṇasamannāgato, cakkavattisatto bodhisattoti?

A wheel-turning being is endowed with the marks; is a wheel-turning being a bodhisatta?

4.7.5.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.7.5.3

Yādiso bodhisattassa pubbayogo pubbacariyā dhammakkhānaṃ dhammadesanā, tādiso cakkavattisattassa pubbayogo pubbacariyā dhammakkhānaṃ dhammadesanāti?

Just as the bodhisatta had previous preparation, previous conduct, declaration of the Dhamma, and teaching of the Dhamma, does a wheel-turning being have such previous preparation, previous conduct, declaration of the Dhamma, and teaching of the Dhamma?

4.7.5.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.6.1

Yathā bodhisattassa jāyamānassa devā paṭhamaṃ paṭiggaṇhanti pacchā manussā, evamevaṃ cakkavattisattassa jāyamānassa devā paṭhamaṃ paṭiggaṇhanti pacchā manussāti?

Just as when the bodhisatta is being born, devas receive him first and humans afterwards, so too when a wheel-turning being is being born, do devas receive him first and humans afterwards?

4.7.6.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.7.1

Yathā bodhisattassa jāyamānassa cattāro naṃ devaputtā paṭiggahetvā mātu purato ṭhapenti—

Just as when the bodhisatta is being born, four devaputtas receive him and place him before his mother, saying:

4.7.7.2

“attamanā, devi, hohi.

“Be glad, Queen!

4.7.7.3

Mahesakkho te putto uppanno”ti, evamevaṃ cakkavattisattassa jāyamānassa cattāro naṃ devaputtā paṭiggahetvā mātu purato ṭhapenti—

An illustrious son has been born to you,” so too when a wheel-turning being is being born, do four devaputtas receive him and place him before his mother, saying:

4.7.7.4

“attamanā, devi, hohi.

“Be glad, Queen!

4.7.7.5

Mahesakkho te putto uppanno”ti?

An illustrious son has been born to you”?

4.7.7.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.8.1

Yathā bodhisattassa jāyamānassa dve udakassa dhārā antalikkhā pātubhavanti—

Just as when the bodhisatta is being born, two streams of water appear from the sky—

4.7.8.2

ekā sītassa, ekā uṇhassa—

one cold, one warm—

4.7.8.3

yena bodhisattassa udakakiccaṃ karonti mātu ca, evamevaṃ cakkavattisattassa jāyamānassa dve udakassa dhārā antalikkhā pātubhavanti—

wherewith they perform the water service for the bodhisatta and his mother, so too when a wheel-turning being is being born, do two streams of water appear from the sky—

4.7.8.4

ekā sītassa, ekā uṇhassa—

one cold, one warm—

4.7.8.5

yena cakkavattisattassa udakakiccaṃ karonti mātu cāti?

wherewith they perform the water service for the wheel-turning being and his mother?

4.7.8.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.9.1

Yathā sampatijāto bodhisatto samehi pādehi patiṭṭhahitvā uttarena abhimukho sattapadavītihārena gacchati setamhi chatte anudhāriyamāne, sabbā ca disā viloketi, āsabhiñca vācaṃ bhāsati—

Just as the newly-born bodhisatta stands firmly with level feet, faces north, walks seven strides while a white parasol is held over him, surveys all directions, and utters the noble utterance:

4.7.9.2

“aggohamasmi lokassa, jeṭṭhohamasmi lokassa, seṭṭhohamasmi lokassa, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti, evamevaṃ sampatijāto cakkavattisatto samehi pādehi patiṭṭhahitvā uttarena abhimukho sattapadavītihārena gacchati setamhi chatte anudhāriyamāne, sabbā ca disā viloketi, āsabhiñca vācaṃ bhāsati—

“I am the foremost in the world, I am the eldest in the world, I am the best in the world; this is the final birth, there is now no renewed existence,” so too does the newly-born wheel-turning being stand firmly with level feet, face north, walk seven strides while a white parasol is held over him, survey all directions, and utter the noble utterance:

4.7.9.3

“aggohamasmi lokassa, jeṭṭhohamasmi lokassa, seṭṭhohamasmi lokassa, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo”ti?

“I am the foremost in the world, I am the eldest in the world, I am the best in the world; this is the final birth, there is now no renewed existence”?

4.7.9.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.10.1

Yathā bodhisattassa jāyamānassa mahato ālokassa mahato obhāsassa mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvo hoti, evamevaṃ cakkavattisattassa jāyamānassa mahato ālokassa mahato obhāsassa mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvo hotīti?

Just as when the bodhisatta is being born, there is an appearance of great light, great radiance, and a great earthquake, so too when a wheel-turning being is being born, is there an appearance of great light, great radiance, and a great earthquake?

4.7.10.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.11.1

Yathā bodhisattassa pakatikāyo samantā byāmaṃ obhāsati, evamevaṃ cakkavattisattassa pakatikāyo samantā byāmaṃ obhāsatīti?

Just as the bodhisatta’s natural body shines all around for a fathom, so too does a wheel-turning being’s natural body shine all around for a fathom?

4.7.11.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.12.1

Yathā bodhisatto mahāsupinaṃ passati, evamevaṃ cakkavattisatto mahāsupinaṃ passatīti?

Just as the bodhisatta sees a great dream, so too does a wheel-turning being see a great dream?

4.7.12.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.7.13.1

Na vattabbaṃ—

Should it not be said:

Uttarāpathaka: But if you reject my proposition, tell me: is there not a Suttanta in which the Exalted One said:

4.7.13.2

“lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisatto”ti?

“One endowed with the marks is a bodhisatta”?

Uttarāpathaka: But if you reject my proposition, tell me: is there not a Suttanta in which the Exalted One said:

4.7.13.3

Āmantā.

Yes.

Uttarāpathaka: But if you reject my proposition, tell me: is there not a Suttanta in which the Exalted One said:

4.7.13.4

Nanu vuttaṃ bhagavatā—

Was it not said by the Blessed One:

Uttarāpathaka: But if you reject my proposition, tell me: is there not a Suttanta in which the Exalted One said:

4.7.13.5

“dvattiṃsimāni, bhikkhave, mahāpurisassa mahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yehi samannāgatassa mahāpurisassa dveva gatiyo bhavanti anaññā.

“Monks, there are these thirty-two marks of a great man, endowed with which a great man has only two destinations, none other.

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.6

Sace agāraṃ ajjhāvasati, rājā hoti cakkavattī dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato.

If he lives the household life, he becomes a wheel-turning monarch, righteous, a king of righteousness, conqueror of the four quarters, who has attained stability in the country, endowed with the seven treasures.

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.7

Tassimāni satta ratanāni bhavanti, seyyathidaṃ—

His are these seven treasures, namely:

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.8

cakkaratanaṃ, hatthiratanaṃ, assaratanaṃ, maṇiratanaṃ, itthiratanaṃ, gahapatiratanaṃ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṃ.

the wheel-treasure, the elephant-treasure, the horse-treasure, the jewel-treasure, the woman-treasure, the householder-treasure, and the counselor-treasure as the seventh.

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.9

Parosahassaṃ kho panassa puttā bhavanti sūrā vīraṅgarūpā parasenappamaddanā.

More than a thousand sons are his, valiant, heroic in form, crushing enemy armies.

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.10

So imaṃ pathaviṃ sāgarapariyantaṃ adaṇḍena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasati.

Having conquered this earth bounded by the ocean without rod, without sword, by righteousness, he abides over it.

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.11

Sace kho pana agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajati, arahaṃ hoti sammāsambuddho loke vivaṭṭacchado”ti.

If, however, he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, he becomes an arahant, a fully awakened one, who has rolled back the veil in the world”?

“Bhikkhus, to one endowed with the thirty-two marks of a Superman, two careers lie open, and none other. If he live the life of the house, he becomes Lord of the Wheel, a righteous Lord of the Right, Ruler of the four quarters, conqueror, guardian of the people's good, owner of the Seven Treasures; his do those seven treasures become, to wit, the Wheel treasure, the Elephant, the Horse, the Jewel, the Woman, the Steward, the Heir Apparent. More than a thousand sons are his, heroes, vigorous of frame, crushers of the hosts of the enemy. He, when he has conquered this earth to its ocean bounds, is established not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness. But if he go forth from his home to the homeless, he becomes an Arahant Buddha Supreme, rolling back the veil from the world”?

4.7.13.12

Attheva suttantoti?

Is there such a sutta discourse?

Is not therefore my proposition true?

4.7.13.13

Āmantā.

Yes.

Is not therefore my proposition true?

4.7.13.14

Tena hi lakkhaṇasamannāgato bodhisattoti.

Therefore, the bodhisatta is endowed with the marks.

Is not therefore my proposition true?

4.7.13.15

Lakkhaṇakathā niṭṭhitā.

The discussion on the marks is finished.