I love the fact that cakkavattī (wheel-turning monarchs) are also worthy of monument. A wheel-turning monarch is literally the king of the world. Imagine how much good kamma someone would need to accumulate to rule the entire world(including 3 other continents that people from Earth can’t travel without psychic powers).
Persons Worthy of Monument
Ānanda, these four are worthy of a monument. What four? A Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha; an independent Buddha; a disciple of a Realized One; and a wheel-turning monarch.
And for what reason is a Realized One worthy of a monument? So that many people will inspire confidence in their hearts, thinking: ‘This is the monument for that Blessed One, perfected and fully awakened!’ And having done so, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is for this reason that a Realized One is worthy of a monument.
And for what reason is an independent Buddha worthy of a monument? So that many people will inspire confidence in their hearts, thinking: ‘This is the monument for that independent Buddha!’ And having done so, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is for this reason that an independent Buddha is worthy of a monument.
And for what reason is a Realized One’s disciple worthy of a monument? So that many people will inspire confidence in their hearts, thinking: ‘This is the monument for that Blessed One’s disciple!’ And having done so, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is for this reason that a Realized One’s disciple is worthy of a monument.
And for what reason is a wheel-turning monarch worthy of a monument? So that many people will inspire confidence in their hearts, thinking: ‘This is the monument for that just and principled king!’ And having done so, when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It is for this reason that a wheel-turning monarch is worthy of a monument.
These four are worthy of a monument.”
Thūpārahapuggala
Cattārome, ānanda, thūpārahā. Katame cattāro? Tathāgato arahaṁ sammāsambuddho thūpāraho, paccekasambuddho thūpāraho, tathāgatassa sāvako thūpāraho, rājā cakkavattī thūpārahoti. Variant: cakkavattī → cakkavatti (sya-all, km, mr)
Kiñcānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca tathāgato arahaṁ sammāsambuddho thūpāraho? ‘Ayaṁ tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa thūpo’ti, ānanda, bahujanā cittaṁ pasādenti. Te tattha cittaṁ pasādetvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca tathāgato arahaṁ sammāsambuddho thūpāraho.
Kiñcānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca paccekasambuddho thūpāraho? ‘Ayaṁ tassa bhagavato paccekasambuddhassa thūpo’ti, ānanda, bahujanā cittaṁ pasādenti. Te tattha cittaṁ pasādetvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca paccekasambuddho thūpāraho.
Kiñcānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca tathāgatassa sāvako thūpāraho? ‘Ayaṁ tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa sāvakassa thūpo’ti, ānanda, bahujanā cittaṁ pasādenti. Te tattha cittaṁ pasādetvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca tathāgatassa sāvako thūpāraho.
Kiñcānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca rājā cakkavattī thūpāraho? ‘Ayaṁ tassa dhammikassa dhammarañño thūpo’ti, ānanda, bahujanā cittaṁ pasādenti. Te tattha cittaṁ pasādetvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, atthavasaṁ paṭicca rājā cakkavattī thūpāraho.
Ime kho, ānanda, cattāro thūpārahā”ti.
SuttaCentral