A series of impossibilities — two wheel-turning monarchs or two fully awakened Buddhas cannot arise in the same solar system at the same time, and a woman cannot fill either role.

AN 1.278-286 Chapter Two

278

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ ekissā lokadhātuyā dve rājāno cakkavattī apubbaṁ acarimaṁ uppajjeyyuṁ. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ ekissā lokadhātuyā eko rājā cakkavattī uppajjeyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

279

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī arahaṁ assa sammāsambuddho. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho, etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso arahaṁ assa sammāsambuddho. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

280

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī rājā assa cakkavattī. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso rājā assa cakkavattī. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

281–283

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī sakkattaṁ kāreyya …pe… mārattaṁ kāreyya …pe… brahmattaṁ kāreyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso sakkattaṁ kāreyya …pe… mārattaṁ kāreyya …pe… brahmattaṁ kāreyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

284

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ kāyaduccaritassa iṭṭho kanto manāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ kāyaduccaritassa aniṭṭho akanto amanāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

285–286

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ vacīduccaritassa …pe… yaṁ manoduccaritassa iṭṭho kanto manāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ manoduccaritassa aniṭṭho akanto amanāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

Vaggo dutiyo.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

1.278

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ ekissā lokadhātuyā dve rājāno cakkavattī apubbaṁ acarimaṁ uppajjeyyuṁ. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for two wheel-turning monarchs to arise in the same solar system at the same time.

Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ ekissā lokadhātuyā eko rājā cakkavattī uppajjeyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for just one wheel-turning monarch to arise in one solar system.”

1.279

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī arahaṁ assa sammāsambuddho. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha.

Ṭhānañca kho, etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso arahaṁ assa sammāsambuddho. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for a man to be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha.”

1.280

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī rājā assa cakkavattī. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to be a wheel-turning monarch.

Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso rājā assa cakkavattī. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for a man to be a wheel-turning monarch.”

1.281–283

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ itthī sakkattaṁ kāreyya …pe… mārattaṁ kāreyya …pe… brahmattaṁ kāreyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to perform the role of Sakka, Māra, or the Divinity.

Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ puriso sakkattaṁ kāreyya …pe… mārattaṁ kāreyya …pe… brahmattaṁ kāreyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for a man to perform the role of Sakka, Māra, or the Divinity.”

1.284

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ kāyaduccaritassa iṭṭho kanto manāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a likable, desirable, agreeable result to come from bad bodily conduct.

Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ kāyaduccaritassa aniṭṭho akanto amanāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for an unlikable, undesirable, disagreeable result to come from bad bodily conduct.”

1.285–286

“Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ vacīduccaritassa …pe… yaṁ manoduccaritassa iṭṭho kanto manāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a likable, desirable, agreeable result to come from bad verbal … bad mental conduct.

Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ manoduccaritassa aniṭṭho akanto amanāpo vipāko nibbatteyya. Ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

But it is possible for an unlikable, undesirable, disagreeable result to come from bad verbal … bad mental conduct.”

Vaggo dutiyo.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026