Digha Nikaya

DN30: Lakkhaṇa Sutta - The Marks of a Great Man

A Saddhamma Study Group translation from the Pāḷi text (coming sooner or later).

(1) The three good conducts result in firmly planted feet, which prognosticates unshakeability

(2) Duties of a wheel turning monarch result in wheel underneath the soles of his feet, which prognosticates great retinue

(3-5) Abstinence from killing results in high heels, long fingers and brahma-like straight [body], which prognosticates long life

(6) Giver of excellent food and drinks results in seven muscular features, which prognosticates being a recipient of exquisite and delicious hard and soft foods

(7-8) Four grounds for sustaining favorable relations results in soft and tender palms and feet with net-like finger and toe prints, which prognosticates harmonious retinue

(9-10) Dhamma offering results in arched feet and curly body hair, which prognosticates becoming foremost among all beings

(11) Respectful teacher of craft, science, practice, or work results in calves like antelope, which prognosticates quick attainments

(12) Approaching samanas and brahmanas to ask questions results in delicate skin, which prognosticates great wisdom

(13) Non-anger and giver of fine materials result in good colored golden sheen complexion, which prognosticates recipient of fine, soft spreads and coverings

(14) Reuniter of long separated relatives results in the genitals concealed in a sheath, which prognosticates numerous sons obedient to his word

(15-16) Distinguisher of the needs of persons results in circumference of a banyan tree and just standing without bending, he grabs and strokes both knees with his palms, which prognosticates unsurpassed mental wealth

(17-19) Desiring the benefit, welfare, comfort, security from bondage of the many, and acting for their increase in faith, virtue, learning, generosity and wisdom result in torso of a lion, muscular between the neck and shoulders and evenly-rounded stomach and back, which prognosticates non-decline in faith, virtue, learning, generosity and wisdom

(20) Non-harming of beings by fists, stones, sticks or knives results in foremost taste buds, which prognosticates few illnesses and few afflictions

(21-22) Abstinence from insulting with eyes results in having extremely blue eyes and eyelashes like that of a cow, which prognosticates being dear to behold

(23) Good bodily, verbal and mental conduct, generosity, self-discipline, uposatha observance, honouring parents, samanas, bramanas and family elders result in back of the head elongated at the top, which prognosticates being a good friend of the great multitude, of bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, etc

(24-25) Abstinence from falsehood results in one body hair per pore and hair between the eyebrows resembling soft cotton wool, which prognosticates attracting the great multitude, bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, etc

(26-27) Abstinence from divisive speech results in forty teeth and gapless teeth, which prognosticates indivisible assembly

(28-29) Abstinence from harsh speech results in large tongue and a voice of Brahma, which prognosticates one whose words are to be heeded

(30) Abstinence from senseless prattle results in a lion-like jaw, which prognosticates unconquerability

(31-32) Abstinence from wrong livelihood and violence result in even teeth and extremely white teeth, which prognosticates pure assembly

suppatiṭṭhitapādalakkhaṇaṃ (1)

pādatalesu cakkalakkhaṇaṃ (2)

āyatapaṇhitādīni tīṇi lakkhaṇāni (3-5)

sattussadatālakkhaṇaṃ (6)

karacaraṇamudujālatālakkhaṇāni (7-8)

ussaṅkhapādauddhaggalomatālakkhaṇāni (9-10)

eṇījaṅghalakkhaṇaṃ (11)

sukhumacchavilakkhaṇaṃ (12)

suvaṇṇavaṇṇatālakkhaṇaṃ (13)

kosohitavatthaguyhatālakkhaṇaṃ (14)

parimaṇḍala-anonama-ja’ṇṇuparimasanalakkhaṇāni (15,16)

sīhapubbaddhakāyādīni tīṇi lakkhaṇāni (17-19)

rasaggasaggitālakkhaṇaṃ (20)

abhinīlanetta - gopakhumalakkhaṇāni (21, 22)

uṇhīsasīsalakkhaṇaṃ (23)

ekekalomatāuṇṇālakkhaṇādīni. (24, 25)

cattāḷīsadanta - aviraladanta - lakkhaṇādīni (26, 27)

pahūtajivhā - brahmassara lakkhaṇāni (28, 29)

sīhahanulakkhaṇaṃ (30)

samadanta - susukkadāṭhā - lakkhaṇāni (31, 32)