{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.37/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.37","id":"suttacentral_an3.37","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.37/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cOn the eighth day of the fortnight, mendicants, the ministers and councillors of the four great kings wander about the world, thinking: \u2018Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents, ascetics and brahmins, honoring the elders in their families, observing and keeping vigil on the sabbath, and making merit.\u2019 And on the fourteenth day of the fortnight, the sons of the four great kings wander about the world, thinking: \u2018Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit.\u2019 And on the fifteenth day sabbath, the four great kings themselves wander about the world, thinking: \u2018Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit.\u2019 If only a few humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit, the four great kings address the gods of the thirty-three, seated together in the Hall of Clear Right: \u2018Only a few humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit.\u2019 Then the gods of the thirty-three are disappointed, thinking, \u2018The heavenly hosts will dwindle, while the titan hosts will swell!\u2019 But if many humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit, the four great kings address the gods of the thirty-three, seated together in the Hall of Clear Right: \u2018Many humans are paying due respect to their parents \u2026 and making merit.\u2019 Then the gods of the thirty-three are pleased, thinking, \u2018The heavenly hosts will swell, while the titan hosts will dwindle!\u2019 Once upon a time, Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse: \u2018Whoever wants to be like me would observe the sabbath complete in all eight factors, on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days, and the eighth day of the fortnight, as well as on the fortnightly special displays.\u2019 But that verse was poorly sung by Sakka, lord of gods, not well sung; poorly spoken, not well spoken. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of gods, is not free of greed, hate, and delusion. But for a mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014it is appropriate to say: \u2018Whoever wants to be like me would observe the sabbath, complete in all eight factors, on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days, and the eighth day of the fortnight, as well as on the fortnightly special displays.\u2019 Why is that? Because that mendicant is free of greed, hate, and delusion.\u201d","title":"The Four Great Kings (1st)","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":435}