The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Righteousness. These are the 2 gatis of such a being, as described at var. places of the Canon (e. g. Sn p.
106; Sn 1002, 1003; D iii.142; A i.76). His power is absolute, and is described in the standard phrase "c.
dhammiko dhamma -- r!j! c!turanto vijit!v" janapadatth!variya -- ppatto satta -- ratana -- samann!gato," e.
g. D iii.59. Dhammap!la gives the dignity of a C. as the first "human sovereign powers" (PvA 117).
The four iddhi's of a C. are given (quite crudely) at M iii.176: he is beautiful, lives longer than others, is of
a healthier constitution than others, he is beloved by the brahmins and householders. Other qualities: how
his remains should be treated=D ii.141; deserves a th(pa D ii.142 sq.; his four qualities D ii.145 (the 4
assemblies of khattiyas, br!hma*as, gahapatis & sama*as are pleased with him). See under cakkavatti &
ratana. -- In a similar sense the term dhamma -- r!j! is used as Ep. of the Buddha Sn 554 (r!j' âham asmi dh
-- .r. anuttaro); J i.262; and a reflection of the higher sphere is seen in the title of politeness (only used in
voc.) mah!r!ja, e. g. Sn 416 (addressed to Bimbis!ra) PvA 22 (id.); J vi.515. -- (b) [in a larger
constitutional state] the crowned (muddhâvasitta) monarch (i. e. khattiya) as the head of the principality or
kingdom. The defn of this (general) r!j! at Nd2 542 is significant of the idea of a king prevalent in early
Buddhist times. It is: "khattiyo muddh' âbhisitto vijita -- sang!mo nihata -- pacc!mitto laddh' adhipp!yo
paripu**a -- ko&th!g!ro," i. e. "a crowned noble, victorious in battle, slaying his foes, fulfilling his desires,
having his storehouses full." This king is "the top of men" (mukha' manuss!na') Vin i.246=Sn 568. Cp. D
i.7; Sn 46 (ra&&ha' vijitam pah!ya); J v.448 and passim. See also below 3. 4 & 6. -- In similes: see J.P.T.S.
1907, 128; & cp. Vism 152 (r. va saddh' antagato), 336 (wishing to become an artisan). Here belongs the
title of the king of the devas (Sakka) "deva -- r!j! ," e. g. DhA iii.269, 441; PvA 62. -- (c) [in an oligarchic
sense] member of a kula of khattiyas, e. g. the kum!ras of the Sakiyans and Koliyans are all called r!j!no of
the r!jakul!na' in J. v.413 sq., or at least the heads of those kulas. Cp. B. Ind. p. 19. -- (d) [in a smaller,
autocratic state] a chieftain, prince, ruler; usually (collectively) as a group: r!j!no, thus indicating their
lesser importance, e. g. A v.22 (ku..a -- r!j!no rañño cakkavattissa anuyutt! bhavanti: so read for
anuyant!); Sn 553 (bhoja˚ similar to r!ja -- bhogg! or bhogiy! as given at SnA 453); A ii.74 sq. (dhammik!
& a˚); J iv.495. Similarly at Vin i.228 we find the division into the 3 ranks: mahesakkh! r!j!no, majjhim!
r., n"c! r. Here also belongs the designation of the 4 lokap!l! (or Guardians of the World) at catt!ro mah! --
r!j!no, the mah!˚ being added for sake of politeness (cp. Note A on mah!), e. g. A iv.242. See also pa&ir!j!
& cp. below 4 c. -- (e) A wider range of meaning is attached to several sub -- divisions (with r!j! or
without): officials and men who occasionally take the place of the king (royal functionaries), but are by
public opinion considered almost equal to the king. Here belongs the defn of what is termed "r!j!no" (pl.
like d) at Vin iii.47, viz. r!j!, padesa -- r!j!, ma*.alik!, antarabhogik!, akkhadass!, mah!matt!, ye v! pana
chejjabhejja' anus!santi (i. e. those who have juridical power). See also below 4 b, and ˚putta, ˚bhogga [&
other cpds.]. -- 2. It would fill a separate book, if we were to give a full monograph of kingship in and after
the Buddha's time; we therefore content ourselves with a few principal remarks. The office of king was
hereditary: kula -- santaka' rajja' J i.395; ii.116; iv.124; but we sometimes read of a king being elected
with great pomp: J i.470; PvA 74. He had the political and military power in his hand, also the jurisdiction,
although in this he is often represented by the mah!matta, the active head of the state. His 10 duties are
-- 569 --
mentioned at several places (see below under ˚dhamm!). Others are mentioned e. g. at D i.135, where it is
said he gives food and seed -- corn to the farmer, capital to the trader, wages to the people in government
service. His qualifications are 8 fold (see D i.137): well -- born ("gentleman," khattiya), handsome,
wealthy, powerful (with his army), a believer, learned, clever, intelligent. His wealth is proverbial and
is characterized in a stock phrase, which is also used of other ranks, like se&&hi's & br!hma*a's, viz. "a..ha
mahaddhana mah!bhoga pah(ta -- j!tar(pa -- rajata pah(ta -- vitt' ûpakara*a pah(tadhana -- dhañña
paripu**a -- kosa -- ko&&h!g!ra," e. g. D i.134. For a late description of a king's quality and distinction see
Miln 226, 227. -- His disciplinary authority is emphasized; he spares no tortures in punishing adversaries or
malefactors, esp. the cora (see below 4 c). A summary example of these punishments inflicted on criminals
is the long passage illustrating dukkha (bodily pain) at Nd2 304iii; cp. M iii.163 (here also on a cora). -- 3.
The king (r!j! or khattiya) in the popular opinion, as reflected in language, heads several lists, which have
often been taken as enumerating "castes," but which are simply inclusive statements of var. prominent
ranks as playing a rôle in the social life of the state, and which were formulated according to diff.
occasions. Thus some show a more political, some a more religious aspect. E. g. khattiya amacca br!hma*a
gahapati D i.136; r!j! br!hma*a gahapatika A i.68, where another formula has khattiya br. g. A i.66; J