DiscoverANAN 1AN 1.278–286

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.

PTS 1.28–1.29

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

☀️ bright quality

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

☀️ bright quality

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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Person:

Sakka, lord of the gods

Sakka, Lord of the Gods

Ruler of the gods in Tāvatiṃsa, Sakka came to the Buddha as a king should, into a mountain cave and in awe, with the heavenly musician Pañcasikha's music as an offering (DN 21). His question was a king's question: why do beings who long for peace live in war? The Buddha pointed to envy and stinginess, and led Sakka through restraint, giving, and the ending of craving until the lord of the gods attained the fruit of stream-entry (DN 21). He asked the same for his realm: what makes some beings end the taints here and now and others not (SN 35.118).

The saṃyutta in his name is a king's education in power. He won lordship of the gods by seven vows: supporting parents, honoring elders, gentle speech, no slander (SN 11.11); bound in chains and dragged before the devas, he endured his captor Vepacitti's abuse in perfect calm, to his own charioteer's amazement (SN 11.4); challenged to a verse contest before both hosts, he beat the asura lord with patience instead of weapons (SN 11.5); and he honored the homeless Saṅgha above all the powers of heaven (SN 11.17). Even his liturgy was measured; his sabbath verse, the Buddha noted, suits him poorly, since Sakka is still subject to rebirth, aging, and death (AN 3.38). Moggallāna shook his palace to rouse him from divine comfort (MN 37); and serving Mahākassapa's austere alms round, he disguised himself as a poor weaver just to refill the elder's bowl (UD 3.7).

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Last updated on October 25, 2026

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