[140] "Bhikkhus, whereas the Tathāgata, in a former birth (jāti), a former existence, a former abode, being then a human being, was one who brought the people together by the four bases of sympathy (saṅgahavatthu) — by giving (dāna), by endearing speech (piyavācā), by beneficent conduct (atthacariyā), and by impartiality (samānattatā) — then, because of having performed, accumulated, heaped up, and amassed that deed (kamma), on the breaking up of the body, after death, he is reborn in a happy destination (sugati), in a heavenly world. Passing away from there and coming to this state of being, he obtains these two marks of a Great Man (mahāpurisalakkhaṇa): he has hands and feet that are soft and tender (mudutalahatthapāda), and he has hands and feet that are net-like (jālahatthapāda). Endowed with those marks, if he dwells in the home, he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti) … Being a king, what does he obtain? He has a retinue that is well won over: well won over by him are the brahmins and householders, the townsfolk and the countryfolk, the finance ministers, the officers of the army, the gatekeepers, the ministers, the councillors, the kings, the wealthy magnates, and the princes. Being a king, this is what he obtains. … Being a Buddha, what does he obtain? He has a retinue that is well won over: well won over by him are the bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, the laymen (upāsaka) and laywomen (upāsikā), the devas and human beings, the asuras, the nāgas, and the gandhabbas. Being a Buddha, this is what he obtains." The Blessed One spoke this matter. Concerning this it is said:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.