59. The Thirty-two Marks （五九）三十二相经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the bhikṣus gathered in the Dharma hall after the midday meal and discussed this matter: "Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! If a person with the thirty-two marks of a great being accomplishes them, there are only two true and non-false paths. If he stays at home, he will definitely become a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with a fourfold army, ruling the world, freely as he wishes. As a Dharma king, he will accomplish the seven treasures. Those seven treasures are the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, woman treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure. These are the seven. He will have a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue the armies of others. He will definitely rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. If he shaves his head and beard, puts on the monastic robes, leaves home out of true faith, becomes a homeless monk, and studies the path, he will definitely attain the state of a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, with his fame spreading and being heard in the ten directions."

At that time, the World-Honored One was sitting in meditation. With his pure divine ear surpassing that of human beings, he heard the bhikṣus gathered in the Dharma hall after the midday meal discussing this matter: "Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! If a person with the thirty-two marks of a great being accomplishes them, there are only two true and non-false paths. If he stays at home, he will definitely become a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with a fourfold army, ruling the world, freely as he wishes. As a Dharma king, he will accomplish the seven treasures. Those seven treasures are the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, woman treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure. These are the seven. He will have a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue the armies of others. He will definitely rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. If he shaves his head and beard, puts on the monastic robes, leaves home out of true faith, becomes a homeless monk, and studies the path, he will definitely attain the state of a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, with his fame spreading and being heard in the ten directions."

The World-Honored One, having heard this, then rose from his meditation in the afternoon, went to the Dharma hall, sat before the assembly of bhikṣus, and asked, "What were you discussing when you gathered in the Dharma hall today?"

At that time, the bhikṣus said, "World-Honored One! Today we gathered in the Dharma hall to discuss this matter: 'Virtuous ones! It is truly amazing! If a person with the thirty-two marks of a great being accomplishes them, there are only two true and non-false paths. If he stays at home, he will definitely become a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with a fourfold army, ruling the world, freely as he wishes. As a Dharma king, he will accomplish the seven treasures. Those seven treasures are the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, woman treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure. These are the seven. He will have a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue the armies of others. He will definitely rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. If he shaves his head and beard, puts on the monastic robes, leaves home out of true faith, becomes a homeless monk, and studies the path, he will definitely attain the state of a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, with his fame spreading and being heard in the ten directions.' World-Honored One! This is why we gathered in the Dharma hall to discuss this matter."

Then the World-Honored One said, "Bhikṣus! Do you wish to hear from the Tathāgata about the thirty-two marks of a great being? That is to say, if a person accomplishes them, there are only two true and non-false paths. If he stays at home, he will definitely become a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with a fourfold army, ruling the world, freely as he wishes. As a Dharma king, he will accomplish the seven treasures. Those seven treasures are the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, woman treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure. These are the seven. He will have a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue the armies of others. He will definitely rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. If he shaves his head and beard, puts on the monastic robes, leaves home out of true faith, becomes a homeless monk, and studies the path, he will definitely attain the state of a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, with his fame spreading and being heard in the ten directions."

Then the bhikṣus said, "World-Honored One! Now is the time. Sugata! Now is the time. If the World-Honored One would explain the thirty-two marks to the bhikṣus, the bhikṣus would listen and remember them well."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhikṣus! Listen carefully, listen carefully! Consider it well, and I will explain it to you in detail." The bhikṣus accepted the teaching and listened.

The Buddha said, "Bhikṣus! The feet of a great person are stable and upright, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a wheel with a thousand spokes growing on the soles of their feet, complete in all aspects, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the toes of a great person are slender and long, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the feet of a great person are straight and upright, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the heels and ankles of a great person are full and even on both sides, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the ankles of a great person are rounded, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the body hair of a great person grows upward, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the hands and feet of a great person have webbed fingers, like a king goose, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the hands and feet of a great person are extremely delicate and soft, like a cotton flower, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, the skin of a great person is soft and fine, dust and water do not adhere to it, this is called a mark of a great person.

Furthermore, a great person has one hair growing from each pore, the color of the hair is like a blue-green conch shell, growing to the right, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has intestines like a deer king, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a hidden male organ like a fine horse king, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a well-proportioned body, like a nyagrodha tree, the upper and lower parts are well-proportioned, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has an unbent body, standing upright, stretching the arms to touch the knees, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a body the color of yellow gold, like refined gold, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has seven parts of the body that are full, the two hands, two feet, two shoulders, and neck, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a large upper body, like a lion, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has lion-like cheeks, this is called a mark of a great person.

Furthermore, a great person has a straight back, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has well-connected shoulders and a full neck, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has forty teeth, even teeth, no gaps between the teeth, white teeth, and the first taste of flavor, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a pleasant voice like a kalavinka bird, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a broad and long tongue, the tongue can come out of the mouth and cover the face, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has full tear ducts, like an ox king, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has eyes the color of blue-green, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has a flesh-covered crown on the head, round and well-proportioned, with hair growing to the right, this is called a mark of a great person. Furthermore, a great person has hair growing between the eyebrows, pure and white, growing to the right, this is called a mark of a great person.

"Bhikṣus! If a great person possesses these thirty-two marks, there are two true and non-false places. If he stays at home, he will definitely become a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with four kinds of armies, ruling the world, self-reliant; as a Dharma king, he will accomplish the seven treasures. Those seven treasures are the wheel treasure, elephant treasure, horse treasure, jewel treasure, woman treasure, householder treasure, and general treasure, these are the seven. He will have a thousand sons, with handsome appearances, brave and fearless, able to subdue other armies. He will definitely rule over all these lands up to the great ocean, without using weapons, but by teaching with the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. If he shaves his beard and hair, puts on the monastic robe, with utmost faith, leaves home, becomes homeless, and studies the path, he will definitely attain the state of Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, with his fame spreading and being heard in the ten directions."

The Buddha spoke thus. Those bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.