[133] "Bhikkhus, even a wheel-turning monarch (rājā cakkavattī), a righteous king of the Dhamma (dhammiko dhammarājā) — even he does not set the wheel rolling without a king."
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu addressed the Blessed One thus: "But who, venerable sir, is the king of the wheel-turning monarch, the righteous king of the Dhamma?"
"It is the Dhamma, bhikkhu," the Blessed One said. "Here, bhikkhu, a wheel-turning monarch, a righteous king of the Dhamma, relying just on the Dhamma, honoring the Dhamma, respecting the Dhamma, venerating the Dhamma, having the Dhamma as his banner, having the Dhamma as his standard, having the Dhamma as sovereign (dhammādhipateyya), provides righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the people within his own domain.
"Again, bhikkhu, a wheel-turning monarch, a righteous king of the Dhamma … having the Dhamma as sovereign, provides righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the khattiyas who are his vassals, for his army, for brahmins and householders, for the people of town and countryside, for ascetics and brahmins, for beasts and birds. That wheel-turning monarch, bhikkhu, a righteous king of the Dhamma … having the Dhamma as sovereign, having provided righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the people within his own domain, having provided righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the khattiyas who are his vassals, for his army, for brahmins and householders, for the people of town and countryside, for ascetics and brahmins, for beasts and birds, sets the wheel rolling solely by the Dhamma — a wheel that cannot be turned back by any hostile human being.
"Even so, bhikkhu, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, righteous, a king of the Dhamma, relying just on the Dhamma, honoring the Dhamma, respecting the Dhamma, venerating the Dhamma, having the Dhamma as his banner, having the Dhamma as his standard, having the Dhamma as sovereign, provides righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the bhikkhus, thus: 'Such bodily action should be cultivated; such bodily action should not be cultivated. Such verbal action should be cultivated; such verbal action should not be cultivated. Such mental action should be cultivated; such mental action should not be cultivated. Such a livelihood should be followed; such a livelihood should not be followed. Such a village or town should be resorted to; such a village or town should not be resorted to.'
"Again, bhikkhu, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, righteous, a king of the Dhamma … having the Dhamma as sovereign, provides righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the bhikkhunīs … for the laymen (upāsaka) … for the laywomen (upāsikā), thus: 'Such bodily action should be cultivated; such bodily action should not be cultivated … Such a village or town should be resorted to; such a village or town should not be resorted to.' That Tathāgata, bhikkhu, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, righteous, a king of the Dhamma … having the Dhamma as sovereign, having provided righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the bhikkhus, having provided righteous protection, shelter, and guard for the bhikkhunīs … for the laymen … for the laywomen, sets rolling the unsurpassed wheel of the Dhamma solely by the Dhamma — a wheel that cannot be turned back by any ascetic or brahmin, by any deva or Māra or Brahmā, or by anyone in the world."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.