Numbered Discourses 4.15

1. Walking

Regarded as Foremost

“Mendicants, these four are regarded as foremost.

What four?

The foremost in size of incarnation is

Rāhu, lord of titans.

The foremost pleasure seeker is

King Mandhātā.

The foremost in sovereignty is

Māra the Wicked.

In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—a Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha is said to be the best.

These are the four regarded as foremost.

Rāhu is foremost in size of incarnation,

Mandhātā in enjoying sensual pleasures,

Māra in sovereignty,

shining with power and glory.

Above, below, all round,

as far as the planet extends;

in all the world with its gods,

the Buddha is declared foremost.”