[50] Bhikkhus, range in your own resort (gocara), in your own ancestral domain. Bhikkhus, ranging in your own resort, in your own ancestral domain, you will grow in life span, grow in beauty, grow in happiness, grow in wealth, and grow in strength.
And what, bhikkhus, is life span for a bhikkhu? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of spiritual power (iddhipāda) endowed with concentration (samādhi) due to desire and volitional formations of striving; he develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to energy … due to mind (citta) … he develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving. Through having developed and cultivated these four bases of spiritual power, he may, if he so wishes, remain for an eon (kappa) or for the remainder of an eon. This, bhikkhus, is life span for a bhikkhu.
And what, bhikkhus, is beauty for a bhikkhu? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. This, bhikkhus, is beauty for a bhikkhu.
And what, bhikkhus, is happiness for a bhikkhu? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, secluded indeed from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome dhammas, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture (pīti) and happiness born of seclusion. With the stilling of thought and examination … the second jhāna. … the third jhāna. … He enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna. This, bhikkhus, is happiness for a bhikkhu.
And what, bhikkhus, is wealth for a bhikkhu? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness—abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. With a mind imbued with compassion … With a mind imbued with altruistic joy … He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, and to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with equanimity—abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will. This, bhikkhus, is wealth for a bhikkhu.
And what, bhikkhus, is strength for a bhikkhu? Here, bhikkhus, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), a bhikkhu, having realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, enters and dwells therein. This, bhikkhus, is strength for a bhikkhu.
Bhikkhus, I do not see even one other power so hard to overcome as this power of Māra, bhikkhus. It is by reason of undertaking wholesome dhammas that this merit thus increases.
Thus spoke the Blessed One. Elated, those bhikkhus delighted in the Blessed One's words.
The Cakkavatti Sutta, the third, is finished.
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The Aggañña Sutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.