The Book of Fours

Sutta 70

In the Days of Unrighteous Kings

I HEAR TELL:

In the days of unrighteous kings, beggars,
the ministers of kings also are unrighteous,
 
the ministers of kings being unrighteous,
spiritual leaders and powerful individuals also are unrighteous,
 
spiritual leaders and powerful individuals being unrighteous,
the people of the country also are unrighteous,
 
the people of the country being unrighteous,
the moon and sun deviate from their courses,
 
the moon and sun deviating from their courses,
the night sky and sparkling stars deviate from their courses,
 
the night sky and sparkling stars deviating from their courses,
night and day deviate from their courses,
 
night and day deviating from their courses,
the moon's phases deviate from their courses
 
the moon's phases deviating from their courses
the seasonal cycles deviate from their courses
 
the seasonal cycles deviating from their courses,
the winds deviate from their usual order in their weaving to and fro
 
the winds deviating from their usual order in their weaving to and fro,
the gods become agitated
 
the gods becoming agitated
the rain-god is insufficiently generous
 
The rain-god being insufficiently generous
the corn ripens abnormally
 
when the corn ripens abnormally, beggars,
men sustained by such are short lived, ugly, powerless and suffer much illness.

§

But, beggars, in the days of righteous kings,
the ministers of kings also are righteous,
 
the ministers of kings being righteous,
spiritual leaders and powerful individuals also are righteous,
 
spiritual leaders and powerful individuals being righteous,
the people of the country also are righteous,
 
the people of the country being righteous,
the moon and sun are steady in their courses,
 
the moon and sun being steady in their courses,
the night sky and sparkling stars are steady in their courses,
 
the night sky and sparkling stars being steady in their courses,
night and day are steady in their courses,
 
night and day being steady in their courses,
the moon's phases are steady in their courses
 
the moon's phases being steady in their courses
the seasonal cycles are steady in their courses
 
the seasonal cycles being steady in their courses,
the winds are steady, weaving to and fro in their usual order
 
the winds being steady, weaving to and fro in their usual order,
the gods do not become agitated
 
the gods not becoming agitated
the rain-god is sufficiently generous
 
The rain-god being sufficiently generous
the corn ripens normally
 
when the corn ripens normally, beggars,
men sustained by such are long lived, handsome, powerful and suffer little illness.

§

As cattle when the lead bull swerves,
All of a mind to follow, swerve as well,
So with men, if he who is the leader be corrupt,
so much the more will those who follow be.
 
Th'unrighteous king to all the realm brings pain.
 
As cattle when the lead bull's course is straight
All of a mind to follow, go straight as well,
So with men, if he who is the leader live wholesomely,
so much the more will those who follow be.
 
The righteous king to all the realm brings peace.