佛為優填王說王法政論經

One day, King Udayana was sitting in his quiet chamber in a place of solitude, reflecting: How can I come to know the true faults and the true merits of kings? If I knew them, I would abandon the faults and cultivate the merits. Is there any pure-conducted Śramaṇa who understands this clearly and could expound it to me? Then the king thought further: Only my World-Honored One, the great master of the three realms, endowed with omniscience, surely knows the true faults and merits of kings. I must go to the World-Honored One and inquire about this matter.

Having thought this, the king at once went to the place of the Buddha and inquired:

World-Honored One! What are the faults of kings? What are the true merits of kings?

The Buddha taught that a king has ten faults, ten merits, five kinds of evil conduct that bring a king to ruin, and five things that cause a king to be loved and revered by his subjects.

The ten faults are:

1. Being of a lineage that is not noble.

2. Having no power.

3. Being cruel by nature.

4. Having harsh and brutal policies.

5. Bestowing few favors.

6. Heeding deceitful and flattering words.

7. Acting without conforming to the regulations of the former kings.

8. Not inclining toward wholesome dharmas.

9. Not examining right from wrong, gain from loss.

10. Merely indulging in pleasure and license.

If any king commits these ten faults, then even though his treasuries are vast and his armies mighty and his generals strong, before long the country will meet with calamity and turmoil. The Great King should know that the first fault pertains to the king's lineage, while the latter nine faults pertain to the king's own nature.

The ten merits are:

1. Being of a noble lineage.

2. Attaining great power.

3. Not being cruel by nature.

4. Having lenient and forgiving policies.

5. Bestowing generous favors.

6. Heeding upright and honest words.

7. Acting and thinking in accordance with the teachings of the former kings.

8. Inclining toward wholesome dharmas.

9. Clearly knowing right from wrong, gain from loss.

10. Not being licentious or dissolute.

If any king possesses these ten merits in full, then even though the nation has no treasuries, or lacks mighty armies and strong generals, before long the country will of itself become rich and strong and will be revered by all.

What, then, are the five kinds of evil conduct that bring a king to ruin?

1. Not skillfully observing and watching over his ministers.

2. Although observing skillfully, bestowing no favors; or although bestowing favors, not doing so in a timely manner.

3. Caring only for amusement and not thinking of the affairs of state.

4. Caring only for amusement and license, and not safeguarding the treasuries.

5. Caring only for amusement and not cultivating wholesome dharmas.

If any king commits these five things, he loses his meritorious rewards in the present and in lives to come….

There are, moreover, five things that cause a king to be loved and revered by his subjects:

1. Nurturing the people with kindness and benevolence.

2. Being fully heroic and valiant.

3. Skillfully employing expedient means and clever strategies.

4. Receiving and using provisions properly.

5. Diligently cultivating wholesome dharmas.

What is nurturing the people with kindness and benevolence? It means that the king is by nature content and free of greed. If he has treasuries, he provides according to his means, giving alms to the poor and the solitary… and with gentle words encourages and transforms the people…

What is being fully heroic and valiant? It means that the king has a spirit that does not sink into depravity, and is fully endowed with martial strength and strategy. Those who have not yet submitted he brings to submission, and those who have already submitted he protects.

What is skillfully employing expedient means and clever strategies? It means that the king is skillful in understanding and clearly discerns all matters. He uses expedient means to subdue all enemies and adversaries.

What is receiving and using provisions properly? It means that the king knows how to reckon the increase and decrease of his treasuries; he is neither extravagant nor miserly, but uses things at a moderate level, providing in due season for his ministers and kinsfolk… When ill, he should eat the foods that ought to be eaten, eating in accordance with the physician's instructions… If there is fine food, he should share it with everyone.

What is diligently cultivating wholesome dharmas? It means that the king is fully endowed with pure faith, precepts, learning, relinquishment, and wisdom.

As for pure faith: it is clearly knowing and believing that there are future lives, and believing in the karmic rewards of humans and devas, and in the wholesome and unwholesome karma of future lives.

As for upholding pure precepts: it is, each year for three months and each month for six days of fasting and precept-observance, keeping away from killing, stealing, and so forth—this is pure precepts.

As for pure learning: it is understanding the karma of this life and the fruits of future lives, cultivating merit and virtue, advancing diligently in the path of the Way, and delighting in the subtle and wondrous dharma-gates…

As for pure relinquishment: it is a mind that keeps away from stinginess and greed, giving alms with one's own hand, and cultivating merit to perfection…

As for pure wisdom: it is understanding as it truly is what is offense and what is not offense, drawing near to Śramaṇas who are learned and of pure moral conduct, keeping away from evil and heterodox teachings. And it is clearly knowing the perfection of karmic reward, the perfection of human endeavor, and the perfection of merit.

When a king succeeds to the royal enterprise, is born into a clan of intelligence and wisdom, and has treasuries and wealth that are used endlessly without exhaustion—this is called the perfection of karmic reward.

If a king skillfully employs expedient means and clever strategies, regularly accomplishes affairs, is heroic in battle, and is versed in the various crafts and arts—this is called the perfection of human endeavor.

If a king upholds the right Dharma and, together with the inner palace, the princes, and the great ministers, practices almsgiving, performs wholesome deeds, observes fasting, and receives the precepts… this is called the perfection of merit.

Whoever practices fully in this way is said to be fully endowed with pure wisdom.

After expounding this clearly, the Buddha said to the king: Each day at early dawn you should read or recite this supreme teaching, and rely upon it in your cultivation; then you will be called a Holy King, a Dharma King. Moreover, you will be constantly guarded and protected by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, devas, nāgas…, and you will be able to move the world to response, so that the rains are timely and the winds are gentle, wars come to an end, other nations come to pay tribute, blessings and prosperity are boundless, the nation is peaceful and joyful, and your lifespan is long. All will receive benefit, and in this present life will attain peace and joy.

When King Udayana had heard the Buddha's teaching, he was overjoyed, and he vowed to uphold and practice it accordingly.