Aṅguttara Nikāya — Discursos Numerados — 7.62 — Don’t Fear Good Deeds

1“Mendicants, don’t fear good deeds. For ‘good deeds’ is a term for happiness. I recall undergoing for a long time the likable, desirable, and agreeable results of good deeds performed over a long time. I developed a mind of love for seven years. As a result, for seven eons of the cosmos contracting and expanding I didn’t return to this world again. As the cosmos contracted I went to the realm of sublime luminosity. As it expanded I was reborn in an empty mansion of divinity.

2There I was the Divinity, the Great Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. I was Sakka, lord of gods, thirty-six times. Many hundreds of times I was a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. My dominion extended to all four sides, I achieved stability in the country, and I possessed the seven treasures. These were my seven treasures: the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure. I had over a thousand sons who were valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of my enemies. After conquering this land girt by sea, I reigned by principle, without rod or sword.

3See the result of good deeds,
of skillful deeds, for one seeking happiness.
I developed a mind of love
for seven years, mendicants.
For seven eons of expansion and contraction
I didn’t return to this world again.

4As the world contracted
I went to the realm of sublime luminosity.
And when it expanded
I went to an empty mansion of divinity.

5Seven times I was a Great Divinity,
and at that time I was the wielder of power.
Thirty-six times I was lord of gods,
acting as ruler of the gods.

6Then I was king, a wheel-turning monarch,
lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.
An anointed aristocrat,
I was sovereign of all humans.

7Without rod or sword,
I conquered this land.
Through non-violent action
I guided it justly.

8After ruling this vast territory
by means of principle,
I was born in a rich family,
affluent and wealthy.

9It was replete with all sense pleasures,
and the seven treasures.
This was well taught by the Buddhas,
who bring the world together.

10This is the cause of greatness
by which one is called a lord of the land.
I was a majestic king,
with lots of property and assets;

11successful and glorious,
lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.
Who would not be inspired by this,
even someone of dark birth.

12Therefore someone who desires self-knowledge,
and aspires to greatness themselves,
should respect the true teaching,
remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.”