Dighanikaya 15.95

15.95

Evaṃ me sutaṃ…pe… kurūsūti mahānidānasuttaṃ. Tatrāyaṃ anuttānapadavaṇṇanā. Kurūsu viharatīti kurū nāma jānapadino rājakumārā, tesaṃ nivāso ekopi janapado ruḷhīsaddena ‘‘kurū’’ti vuccati. Tasmiṃ kurūsu janapade. Aṭṭhakathācariyā panāhu – mandhātukāle tīsu dīpesu manussā ‘‘jambudīpo nāma buddhapaccekabuddhamahāsāvakacakkavattippabhutīnaṃ uttamamanussānaṃ uppattibhūmi uttamadīpo atiramaṇīyo’’ti sutvā raññā mandhātucakkavattinā cakkaratanaṃ purakkhatvā cattāro dīpe anusaṃyāyantena saddhiṃ āgamaṃsu. Tato rājā pariṇāyakaratanaṃ pucchi – ‘‘atthi nu kho manussalokato ramaṇīyataraṃ ṭhāna’’nti. Kasmā deva evaṃ bhaṇasi? Kiṃ na passasi candimasūriyānaṃ ānubhāvaṃ, nanu etesaṃ ṭhānaṃ ito ramaṇīyataranti? Rājā cakkaratanaṃ purakkhatvā tattha agamāsi. Cattāro mahārājāno – ‘‘mandhātumahārājā āgato’’ti sutvāva ‘‘mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo rājā, na sakkā yuddhena paṭibāhitu’’nti sakaṃ rajjaṃ niyyātesuṃ. So taṃ gahetvā puna pucchi – ‘‘atthi nu kho ito ramaṇīyataraṃ ṭhāna’’nti?

"Thus have I heard … among the Kurus" introduces the Mahānidāna Sutta. Herein is the explanation of the obscure words. "Dwelling among the Kurus": "Kurus" refers to royal princes who are country-dwellers; by conventional usage even a single country that is their dwelling-place is called "the Kurus". In that country among the Kurus. But the teachers of the commentary say: In the time of Mandhātar, human beings in the three continents, having heard, "Jambudīpa is the birthplace of supreme men such as Buddhas, paccekabuddhas, great disciples, and wheel-turning monarchs; it is an excellent continent, exceedingly delightful," came along with King Mandhātar, the wheel-turning monarch, as he toured the four continents placing the wheel-treasure in front. Then the king asked the counselor-treasure: "Is there any place more delightful than the human world?" [The counselor replied:] "Why, sire, do you speak thus? Do you not see the majesty of the moon and sun? Is their place not more delightful than this?" The king, placing the wheel-treasure in front, went there. The Four Great Kings, as soon as they heard, "King Mandhātar has arrived," [thought,] "The king is of great supernormal power, of great majesty; it is impossible to ward him off in battle," and surrendered their own realm. Taking that, he asked again: "Is there any place more delightful than this?"