輪王七寶經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī together with a full assembly of great bhikṣus. At that time the Buddha addressed the bhikṣus, saying:

"You should know that there is a Kṣatriya Great Anointed King who, having received the rite of anointment upon the crown, attains the station of a Wheel-Turning King, possessed of majestic virtue and sovereign mastery, honored by all. When such a king appears, in the world there appear seven treasures. What are the seven treasures? They are: the precious wheel, the precious elephant, the precious horse, the precious treasury-master spirit (the precious householder), the precious commander-of-troops spirit, the precious maṇi jewel, and the precious woman. Such seven treasures appear in accordance with the king.

What is meant by the precious wheel?

It is a wheel made of gold with a thousand spokes, supreme and exquisite, its features perfectly round and complete, possessed of great majestic power. This precious golden wheel descends from the empty sky and stands before the gate of the king's palace. At that time the Kṣatriya Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King, having seen this precious wheel appear, was exceedingly joyful in his heart, and at once said to his attending officer: 'You shall swiftly make ready the four kinds of troops, that I may journey forth.' Then the attending officer, having received the king's command, at once made ready the four kinds of troops.

When all had been set in proper order, he came before the king and reported, saying: 'The four kinds of troops have been made ready. May the king journey forth; now is the proper time.'

At that time the Kṣatriya Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King at once rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, and went out the palace gate. That precious thousand-spoked wheel came before the king and ran toward the king's right hand. Then the king journeyed throughout the four seas, and in but the blink of an eye he had already returned to the king's palace, by reason of the supreme efficacy of the precious wheel. Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when the Kṣatriya Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious wheel appears. This is the first.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Kṣatriya Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appears the precious elephant. The precious elephant has a body and form supremely wondrous, wholly pure white without any admixture, like a great dragon, with the seven places of its body full and complete. It comes from the northern quarter, riding upon the empty sky, and stands before the king's palace. At that time the officials, having seen the precious elephant, reported the matter in full to the king. King Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King, having seen this precious elephant appear, was very joyful in his heart and thought to himself: 'Most auspicious, exceedingly supreme! If I have need, let the precious elephant be kept; if I have need, let this precious elephant be kept and put to use.'

At that time the king said to his ministers:

'The precious elephant has appeared. You shall diligently guard and keep it, to be in readiness for when I have need of it.'

Then the attendant troops, having received the king's command, ever diligently guarded and kept it, skillfully training the precious elephant, not allowing the slightest negligence, in readiness for when the king should have need of it.

The Buddha told the bhikṣus:

"In times past, when the Kṣatriya Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appeared in the world, at that time there also appeared the precious elephant. The king, in the early morning, would mount that precious elephant and journey throughout the four seas, and forthwith would return to the palace. You should know that the precious elephant possesses such supremely wondrous efficacy.

Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when King Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious elephant appears. This is the second.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appear four precious horses. Every part of their bodies is full and complete, and each one possesses a color and form most beautiful. They are called blue, yellow, red, and white; the front and back of their necks are truly beautiful, like Mira; they walk and run most swiftly, and are well tamed and disciplined.

These four precious horses appeared at the king's palace. At that time the officials, having seen the precious horses, surpassingly beautiful and rare, at once reported to the king. King Great Anointed, having seen these four precious horses, was very joyful in his heart and thought to himself: 'The appearance of the precious horses is most excellent; if I have need, surely it shall be according to my wish.'

The Great Wheel-Turning King further proclaimed, saying: 'O ministers, you shall diligently guard and keep, and skillfully train these precious horses at all times; when I have need, I shall make use of them.' Then the officials, having received the king's command, ever guarded and protected the precious horses, awaiting the time when the king should make use of them.

Bhikṣus, in times past there was King Great Anointed who appeared in the world, and at that time there also appeared the precious horses. The king, in the early morning, would mount these precious horses and roam throughout the four seas, and forthwith would return to the palace. You should know that the precious horses possess such supreme efficacy. Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when the Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious horses also appear. This is the third.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appears the precious treasury-master spirit. At that time there is a great treasure-store, vast and firm, with much wealth and riches, of which the Treasure Spirit is the master. Then the spirit who is master of the treasury came before the king and addressed him, saying: 'There is a great treasure-store, precious, fully possessed of all wondrous and precious things—that is, gold... all precious objects. If the king has need, I shall offer all according to your wish, lacking in nothing.'

At that time the Wheel-Turning King, seeing the Treasure Spirit who is master of the treasury appear, was very joyful in his heart. The king further heard the Treasure Spirit say: 'Gold... all the treasures are fully complete; however much you wish to take, take as you please.' Then the king said to the Treasure Spirit who is master of the treasury: 'Now you possess such majestic power, spiritual penetration, and color and form, and can be master of the great treasures hidden in the earth, such as gold... all the treasures, all fully complete. To behold such deeds is most rare and exceedingly auspicious. You shall skillfully take charge of them. Whenever I have need, you shall provide; otherwise, while I have not yet need, you shall skillfully take charge of them.'

Bhikṣus, you should know that these treasure-stores hidden beneath the earth, human beings do not see, but non-humans do see. When the Wheel-Turning King appears, there is a spirit who is master of the treasury who appears of himself, guarding and providing all for the king. This is called: when the Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious treasury-master spirit appears. This is the fourth.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appears the precious commander-of-troops spirit. This commander of troops possesses great wisdom, strategy, valor, majestic virtue, great strength, and color and form, all fully complete; he skillfully trains the troop-divisions and defends the borders of the kingdom, so that it is not invaded or troubled by enemy armies. At that time the precious commander-of-troops spirit came before the king and addressed him thus:

'Great king, you should know: I am the commander of troops, skilled in my craft, who guards the land of the king. At any time, in whatever I do, I shall act in accordance with the king's wishes, never falling short.' Then the king, seeing this commander-of-troops spirit appear, was very joyful in his heart, and at once said: 'Now you possess great wisdom and strategy, valor, majestic virtue, strength, and color and form, and can do whatever is needed at any time, skillfully commanding the troop-divisions to guard the borders of the land.

You are truly a worthy and good one. You shall ever assist me; in all your deeds use skillful means. Now you are indeed the great protector for the king.' Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when the Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious commander-of-troops spirit appears.

This is the fifth.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appears the precious Great Maṇi jewel. This precious Maṇi jewel is supremely excellent, of color and hue beautiful and extraordinary; it is fully possessed of a great and perfect radiance, and that radiance is exceedingly strong, illumining all, having great merit. Within the king's palace, if there be this precious jewel, then even in the dark of night, when there is no lamp to give light, this jewel emits a radiance that naturally illumines all, like the light of the sun.

Bhikṣus, in times past there was a Great Wheel-Turning King who appeared in the world, and at that time there also appeared the precious Great Maṇi jewel with its great radiance. Then the king, wishing to test the capacity of the jewel, at once said to his great minister to swiftly make ready the four kinds of troops, that at night he might journey through the forest. At that time the great minister, obeying the king's command, at once swiftly made ready the four kinds of troops, and then came before the king and reported thus: 'The four troop-divisions have been assembled; now is the time.

May the king set forth.'

At that time the king took the precious Great Maṇi jewel and placed it atop the banner. The king went first, into the dark of night, roaming through the forest. The radiance of the jewel illumined a full yojana, and all four troop-divisions of the king were illumined by its radiance, like the light in the sky, without any difference. Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when the Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious Great Maṇi jewel appears. This is the sixth.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when the Wheel-Turning King appears, there also appears the precious woman. Her color and form are surpassingly beautiful, her body full and lovely, foremost of all, such that none among the people of the world can compare with her. She is gentle, soft, and supple like the Kacalindi cloth; from all the pores of her body there exudes a wondrous fragrance, like a precious vessel filled with sweet incense, ever wafting forth its fragrance.

Furthermore, the breath of the precious woman, as it goes out and in, ever bears a fragrance like that of the blue lotus, which all people love. When the king goes anywhere, the precious woman follows behind; whatever she does is fitting, joyful, and at ease; her nature and conduct are chaste and upright, without any deviant defilement; she ever speaks lovely words that all delight to hear; her body is radiant and bright, which all delight to behold.

Bhikṣus, this is what is called: when the Wheel-Turning King appears, the precious woman appears. This is the seventh.

The Buddha told the bhikṣus:

"Such is what is called: when the Wheel-Turning King appears, the seven treasures appear. You should know that when the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, appears, he expounds the Dharma of the seven factors of enlightenment. What are the seven?

They are: the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the enlightenment factor of discrimination of dharmas, the enlightenment factor of diligence, the enlightenment factor of joy, the enlightenment factor of tranquility, the enlightenment factor of concentration, and the enlightenment factor of equanimity. Such is what is called the Dharma of the seven factors of enlightenment. This Dharma, only when the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, appears in the world is it proclaimed—just as with the seven treasures before, so too is it likewise: only when the Great Anointed Wheel-Turning King appears do the seven treasures appear, and only then.

You should know that the Tathāgata has expounded the Dharma of the seven factors of enlightenment, causing all sentient beings to cultivate and practice in accordance with principle, and all to attain peace, joy, and benefit. You shall diligently cultivate and study in this way."

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA OF THE SEVEN TREASURES OF THE WHEEL-TURNING KING