Reading guide
Living in one's own realm, anywhere
An anointed king, this discourse says, lives ‘in his own realm’ no matter what region he happens to be in — a striking image of security that doesn't depend on location.
Four factors, not five parallel qualities
Impeccable birth back seven generations, wealth with full treasuries, military power with an obedient army, and an astute commander are named — but the discourse states explicitly that these four ‘bring his glory to fruition’, rather than simply listing glory as a fifth, equal item.
The mendicant's parallel, quality by quality
Ethical restraint corresponds to noble birth; deep learning corresponds to a full treasury; energy corresponds to military power; wisdom — specifically the wisdom of arising and passing away, noble and penetrative — corresponds to a wise commander. These four are said to bring freedom (vimutti) to fruition.
Why this internal logic matters
Glory and freedom aren't presented as separate achievements alongside the other four; they are what the other four, taken together, actually produce. The structure suggests these qualities aren't a checklist but a genuine causal sequence.
What comes next
AN 5.135 turns to a related but distinct structure: a prince's own first-person reasoning for why he should aspire to the throne, mapped onto a mendicant's reasoning for aspiring to full liberation.
Key terms
The text
The anointed king's four factors, and glory
§1“Mendicants, with five factors an anointed aristocratic king lives in his own realm, no matter what region he lives in. What five? An anointed aristocratic king is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, of pure descent, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. He is rich, affluent, and wealthy, with a full treasury and storehouses. He is powerful, having an army of four divisions that is obedient and carries out instructions. He has a commander who is astute, competent, and intelligent, able to think issues through as they bear upon the past, future, and present. These four things bring his glory to fruition. With these five qualities, including glory, an anointed aristocratic king lives in his own realm, no matter what direction he lives in. Why is that? Because that is how it is for victors.
The mendicant's four qualities, and freedom
§2In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities lives with mind freed, no matter what region they live in. What five? It’s when mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. This is like the anointed aristocratic king’s impeccable birth. They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. This is like the anointed aristocratic king being rich, affluent, and wealthy, with full treasury and storehouses. They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. This is like the anointed aristocratic king having power. They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. This is like the anointed aristocratic king having a commander. These four qualities bring their freedom to fruition. With these five qualities, including freedom, they live in their own realm, no matter what region they live in. Why is that? Because that is how it is for those whose mind is free.”
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