<p>Not exactly from the Pali canon but hope it helps, since it contains comparable references to the Pali canon literature. (fyi. the Pali canon has suttas, Mahayana has Sutras)</p>
<p>The following dialogue provides a nice overview of the differences between them. It is an extract of the 2nd-century Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra, a key text of the Prajnaparamita literature (which was allegedly practiced by all past Buddhas and Bodhisattvas):</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/maha-prajnaparamita-sastra/d/doc225017.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chapter IV part 1: Why is the Buddha called Bhagavat?</a></p>
<p>...</p>
<p>Furthermore, bhāga means glory (yaśas-) and vat indicates its possession. Thus this word means “the one who possesses glory”. No-one else has as much glory as the Buddha.</p>
<p>The noble cakravartin kings, Indra, Brahmā, the lokapālas, are inferior to the Buddha. What then could be said of ordinary men (pṛthagjana)? Why? The noble cakravartin kings are fettered by bonds (bandhanasaṃyukta): the Buddha has broken the bonds.</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings are sunk in the mire of birth (jāti), old age (jarā), sickness (vyādhi) and death (maraṇa); the Buddha has transcended them.</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings are enslaved (dāsa) by their passions (anunaya); the Buddha has eliminated them.</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings dwell in the womb of the calamities of the human jungle (lokakāntāra); the Buddha has escaped from it.</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings dwell in the shadows of ignorance (avidyāndhakāra); the Buddha lives in the supreme light.</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings often reign over the four continents (caturdvīpaka); the Buddha reigns over countless universes (apramāṇalokadhātu).</p>
<p>– The cakravartin kings have mastery over wealth (pariṣkāravaśitā); the Buddha has mastery over mind (cetovāśita).</p>
<p>– The noble cakravartin kings covet heavenly bliss (devasukha); the Buddha covets nothing, having reached the well-being of the summit of existence (bhavāgrasukha).</p>
<p>The cakravartin kings seek their happiness from others; the Buddha rejoices in his own heart. This is why the Buddha surpasses (abhibhavati) the noble cakravartin kings.</p>
<p>He also surpasses all the other beings, Indra, Brahmā, the lokapālas who are even inferior to the noble cakravartin kings.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That should be enough right? The note says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Compare the explanations of the Mahāniddesa, p. 142; Cullaniddesa, p. 466; Sumaṅgala, I, p. 33–34; Visuddhimagga, I, p. 210–212; Hôbôgirin, Bagabu, p. 46.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-18T07:02:46.527Z
Thanks for this. In that sense, seems the "Cakravartin kings" being referred are humans/mortals? My original concept was that they were Godly beings.
Krizalid_Nest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T12:31:31.777Z
2018-09-14T13:36:25.523Z
2020-06-17T09:56:10.877Z
Gabe Hiemstra
<p>In the story (or tale or legend) of Gautama as a child, in the introduction to the Jataka Tales, it was prophesied that he might either become a Wheel-Turning Monarch, or become a Buddha -- see <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/25624/254">this answer</a> for references.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T14:07:32.393Z
2018-09-14T14:07:32.393Z
ChrisW
<p><a href="http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/read/roman_read.php?B=11&amp;A=1264&amp;eng=accesstoinsight_than&amp;eng=suttacentral" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cakkavatti</a> is a perfect king. Everybody, included Buddha, have been Cakkavatti before uncountable times.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/pitaka_item/roman_read.php?B=10&amp;A=1767&amp;eng=accesstoinsight_than" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Buddha</a> doesn't has next life anymore, but Cakkavatti still reborn.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-18T07:03:28.167Z
As in a human king? Or Godly being ?
Krizalid_Nest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-20T03:10:31.623Z
As in a human king, but Cakkavatti is the greatest king. He is not deva, He use the special tools to be the great such as special-cakka, etc, but his body still be human, such as 3 meals per day, his remains after he died, etc. Deva have the special body than human, such as meal per 7 days, nothing remains after he died, etc.
Bonn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-14T14:17:16.583Z
2018-09-14T14:17:16.583Z
Bonn
<p>Are they the same person? Or a previous incarnation before the Buddha was a human?
Is there any Sutras that mentions/reference about this? (Pali Canon) </p>

<pali-canon>
Lord Buddha and Chakravartin
# Lord Buddha and Chakravartin

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-14)

Are they the same person? Or a previous incarnation before the Buddha was a human?
Is there any Sutras that mentions/reference about this? (Pali Canon)

**Tags:** pali-canon


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-09-14. Score: 1

Not exactly from the Pali canon but hope it helps, since it contains comparable references to the Pali canon literature. (fyi. the Pali canon has suttas, Mahayana has Sutras)

The following dialogue provides a nice overview of the differences between them. It is an extract of the 2nd-century Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra, a key text of the Prajnaparamita literature (which was allegedly practiced by all past Buddhas and Bodhisattvas):

> [Chapter IV part 1: Why is the Buddha called Bhagavat?](https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/maha-prajnaparamita-sastra/d/doc225017.html)
>
> ...
>
> Furthermore, bhāga means glory (yaśas-) and vat indicates its possession. Thus this word means “the one who possesses glory”. No-one else has as much glory as the Buddha.
>
> The noble cakravartin kings, Indra, Brahmā, the lokapālas, are inferior to the Buddha. What then could be said of ordinary men (pṛthagjana)? Why? The noble cakravartin kings are fettered by bonds (bandhanasaṃyukta): the Buddha has broken the bonds.
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings are sunk in the mire of birth (jāti), old age (jarā), sickness (vyādhi) and death (maraṇa); the Buddha has transcended them.
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings are enslaved (dāsa) by their passions (anunaya); the Buddha has eliminated them.
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings dwell in the womb of the calamities of the human jungle (lokakāntāra); the Buddha has escaped from it.
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings dwell in the shadows of ignorance (avidyāndhakāra); the Buddha lives in the supreme light.
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings often reign over the four continents (caturdvīpaka); the Buddha reigns over countless universes (apramāṇalokadhātu).
>
> – The cakravartin kings have mastery over wealth (pariṣkāravaśitā); the Buddha has mastery over mind (cetovāśita).
>
> – The noble cakravartin kings covet heavenly bliss (devasukha); the Buddha covets nothing, having reached the well-being of the summit of existence (bhavāgrasukha).
>
> The cakravartin kings seek their happiness from others; the Buddha rejoices in his own heart. This is why the Buddha surpasses (abhibhavati) the noble cakravartin kings.
>
> He also surpasses all the other beings, Indra, Brahmā, the lokapālas who are even inferior to the noble cakravartin kings.

That should be enough right? The note says:

> Compare the explanations of the Mahāniddesa, p. 142; Cullaniddesa, p. 466; Sumaṅgala, I, p. 33–34; Visuddhimagga, I, p. 210–212; Hôbôgirin, Bagabu, p. 46.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for this. In that sense, seems the "Cakravartin kings" being referred are humans/mortals? My original concept was that they were Godly beings.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-14. Score: 0

In the story (or tale or legend) of Gautama as a child, in the introduction to the Jataka Tales, it was prophesied that he might either become a Wheel-Turning Monarch, or become a Buddha -- see [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/25624/254) for references.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-09-14. Score: 0

[Cakkavatti](http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/read/roman_read.php?B=11&A=1264&eng=accesstoinsight_than&eng=suttacentral) is a perfect king. Everybody, included Buddha, have been Cakkavatti before uncountable times.

[Buddha](http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/pitaka_item/roman_read.php?B=10&A=1767&eng=accesstoinsight_than) doesn't has next life anymore, but Cakkavatti still reborn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: As in a human king? Or Godly being ?  
> **username_3**: As in a human king, but Cakkavatti is the greatest king. He is not deva, He use the special tools to be the great such as special-cakka, etc, but his body still be human, such as 3 meals per day, his remains after he died, etc. Deva have the special body than human, such as meal per 7 days, nothing remains after he died, etc.  

---

