Lakkhana Sutta Prose Translation Preview

[Bhikkhu Ananda]

Here is a Preview of a translation of Lakkhana Sutta, Marks Discourse that I have been working on:



Lakkhana Sutta : Marks Discourse Translated into English by Bhikkhu Ananda, the Blessed One’s kammic(karmic) Explanation of the actions leading to the gaining of the 32[100%] Marks of a Great Person Excerpts(30: 3, 4, 6, 12 and 13).



Monks, there are these 32 marks unique to a Great Person, and for that Great Person only 2 courses are open. If he leads the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has a thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness then he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world and sages of other communions knows these 32 marks, but they do not know the action(kammic) reasons for the gaining of them…



(30.3) Monks in whatever former life, former existence or abiding place the Tathagata rejecting the taking of like and abstaining from it and laying aside the stick and sword abided kindly and compassionate having friendship and sympathy for all living beings by performing that action, heaping it up lavishly and abundantly, he acquired these 3 Marks of a Great Person: projecting heels, long fingers and toes, and a divinely straight body. Being endowed with these marks. if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He dwells having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He is long-lived, and during that time no human being can possibly take his life. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit? He is also long lived. No human being, not an ascetic nor Brahmin, nor deva , nor Mara, nor Brahma, nor any being in the world can possibly take his life. That is his benefit as a Buddha…



(30:4) Monks, in whatever former life, former existence or abiding place the Tathagata became a provider of good food and drink, delicious and tasty, by performing that action heaping it up lavishly and abundantly, on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state, in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond other angels in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired this mark of a Great Person. He has the 7 convex surfaces on both hands, both feet, both shoulders, and his trunk. Being endowed with these marks. if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the dhamma, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has a thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He dwells having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He will receive excellent food and drink. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit? He also receives excellent food and drink. That is his benefit as a Buddha



(30.6)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata became a speaker to the people about their welfare, about dhamma, explaining this to beings and became a bearer of welfare and happiness, a dispenser of dhamma, by performing that action heaping it up lavishly and abundantly, on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond other angels in 10 respects in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired these 2 marks of a great person: high raised ankles and upward growing body hairs(previously referred to as looking bluish like collyrium curling in rings to the right.) . Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He is the chief, foremost, highest, supreme among the unrenounced. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness then he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit. He is the chief, foremost, highest, supreme among all beings. That is his benefit as a Buddha.



(30.8)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata approached an ascetic or Brahmin and asked, "Venerable Sir, what is the wholesome? What is the unwholesome? What is blameworthy? What is blameless? What course is to be followed? What is not to be followed? What if I do it will lead to my suffering for a long time? What if I do it will lead to my happiness for a long time?"

By performing that action, heaping it up lavishly and abundantly on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond other angels in 10 respects in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired this mark of a great person: His skin is so delicate and smooth that no dust can adhere to his body. Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He will be very wise and among the unrenounced there will be none equal or superior to him in wisdom. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness then he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit. He has great wisdom, wide wisdom, joyous wisdom, swift wisdom, keen(sharp) wisdom, and penetrative wisdom and among all being there will be none equal or superior to him in wisdom. That is his benefit as a Buddha.




(30.9)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata was one who lived without anger and even after many words had been spoken was not abusive, aggressive, wrathful or agitated, displaying neither anger, nor hatred, nor resentment but instead was in the habit of giving fine rugs, cotton, linen, and woolen stuffs, by performing that action heaping it up lavishly and abundantly, on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond other angels in 10 respects in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired this mark of a great person: He has a bright complexion, the color of gold. Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He will receive such fine stuffs. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness then he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit. He will receive such fine stuffs. That is his benefit as a Buddha.


(30:12)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata desired the welfare of beings, their advantage, comfort, security from the yoke thinking how they might increase in faith, morality, learning, generosity, in Dhamma, in wisdom, in wealth and possessions, in bipeds and quadrupeds, in servants, workers and helpers, in relatives, friends and acquaintances, by performing that action, heaping it up lavishly and abundantly on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state, in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond the other angels in 10 respects, in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired these 3 marks of a Great Person, the front part of his body is like a lion's, there is no hollow between his shoulders and his neck and his shoulders are even. Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He cannot lose anything: wealth and possessions, bipeds and quadrupeds, wives and children. Losing nothing, he will succeed in all things. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, then he will become an Arahant, a Fully Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit. He cannot lose anything: faith, morality, learning, generosity or wisdom. Losing nothing, he will succeed in all things. That is his benefit as a Buddha.



(30:13)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata was one who avoided harming beings by hand, by stone, by stick, or by sword, by performing that action, heaping it up lavishly and abundantly on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state, in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond the other angels in 10 respects, in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired this mark of a Great Person: He has a perfect sense of taste. Whatever he touches with the tip of his tongue, he tastes in his throat and the taste is thoroughly dispersed. Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit? He will suffer little distress or sickness. That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit? He benefits likewise. He will suffer little distress or sickness. His digestion is neither too cool, nor too hot, but of a middle temperature tolerant of striving. That is his benefit as a Buddha.


(30:16)Monks, in whatever former life, former existence, or abiding place the Tathagata rejecting false speech and abstaining from it, put away lies, was wedded to the truth, reliable, consistent, not a deceiver of the world, by performing that action, heaping it up lavishly and abundantly on the dissolution of the body after death he was reborn in a happy state, in a heavenly world where he was endowed beyond the other angels in 10 respects, in length of heavenly life, beauty, happiness, splendor, influence and in heavenly sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles. Upon coming to be reborn here on earth he acquired these 2 marks of a Great Person: separate growing body hairs, one to each pore and the hair between his brows is white and soft like cotton down. Being endowed with these these marks if he lives the household life he will become a ruler, a wheel turning righteous leader of the law, conqueror of the 4 directions who possesses the 7 gems. These are the wheel gem, the elephant gem, the horse gem, the jewel gem, the woman gem, the householder gem and as 7th the counselor gem. He has thousand sons who are heroes, of heroic stature, conquerors of the hostile army. He abides having conquered the land bounded by the sea with stick and sword laid aside by means of the dhamma. As a ruler, how does he benefit. He will be obeyed by Brahmin(religious people) householders, citizens and villagers, treasurers, guards, doorkeepers, ministers, tributary leaders, tenants and chiefs, and pages.That is his benefit as a ruler.



But if he goes forth from the household life into homelessness, he will become an Arahant, a Fully-Enlightened Buddha, one who draws back the veil from the world. As a Buddha, how does he benefit. He will be obeyed by monks and nuns, angels and humans, asuras, nagas and gandhabbas. That is his benefit as a Buddha.