“The portends troubled, till his dream readers
Augured a prince of earthly dominance,
A Chakravartin, such as rise to rule
Once in a thousand years.”
—The Light of Asia. Sir Edwin Arnold.
“A king who rules the world, and causes the wheel of doctrine everywhere to revolve. The great Asoka (King of Central India, who reigned near Patna, about 150–200 years after the demise of Buddha) was a ‘wheel king.’ The word is Chakravarti in Sanscrit, from Chakra ‘wheel,’ the symbol of activity, whether of Buddha in preaching, or of kings like Asoka in ruling.”—Chinese Buddhism. Edkins.
“Those of the Bikkhus who carry in their hearts the words of excellent knowledge that is immeasurable, who are free from bonds, whose fame and power and glory no man can weigh, who (in imitation of their master) keep the royal chariot wheel of the kingdom of righteousness rolling on, who have reached perfection in knowledge.”—Questions of King Milinda. T. W. Rhys Davids.
[4] The following Gatha, translated by Max Müller, and concluding the twenty-sixth section of The Vagrakkhedika, is not incorporated in the Chinese text.
“A Buddha is to be seen (known) from the Law;