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### Samyutta Nikaya IV.20

# Rajja Sutta

# Rulership

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying among the Kosalans in a wilderness hut in a Himalayan district. Then, as he was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in his awareness: "Is it possible to exercise rulership without killing or causing others to kill, without confiscating or causing others to confiscate, without sorrowing or causing others sorrow -- righteously?"

Then Mara, the Evil One, knowing with his awareness the train of thought in the Blessed One's awareness, went to him and on arrival said to him: "Exercise rulership, Blessed One! Exercise rulership, O One Well-gone! -- without killing or causing others to kill, without confiscating or causing others to confiscate, without sorrowing or causing others sorrow -- righteously!"

"But what do you see in me, Evil One, that you say to me, 'Exercise rulership, Blessed One! Exercise rulership, O One Well-gone! -- without killing or causing others to kill, without confiscating or causing others to confiscate, without sorrowing or causing others sorrow -- righteously!'?"

"Lord, the Blessed One has developed the four bases of power, pursued them, given them a means of transport, given them a grounding, steadied them, consolidated them, and undertaken them well. If he wanted to, he could resolve on the Himalayas, king of mountains, as gold, and it would become a mountain of gold."

[The Buddha:]

> The entirety
> of a mountain of gold,
> of solid bullion:
> even twice that
> wouldn't suffice
> for one person.
> Knowing this,
> live evenly,
> in tune with the contemplative life.

> When you see stress,
> and from where it comes,
> how can you incline
> to sensual pleasures?
> Knowing acquisition
> to be a bond in the world,
> train for
> its subduing.

Then Mara the Evil One -- sad & dejected at realizing, "The Blessed One knows me; the One Well-gone knows me" -- vanished right there.

Revised: Wed 16 May 2001