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due to the clarity of his faculties. Surely, venerable sir, the Blessed One has dwelt today in a peaceful dwelling?" "Just when you, Ānanda, having made that remark concerning the Magadhan attendants in my presence, rose from your seat and departed, I..." Having gone for alms nearby, after the meal, having returned from the alms-round, having washed my feet, having entered the brick hall, concerning the Magadhan attendants, having fixed my attention and reflected, having gathered all with my mind, I sat down on the prepared seat – ‘I will know their destination in the future, what their destination is, what their future is.’ I saw, Ananda, the Magadhan attendants, ‘what their destination is, what their future is.’ Janavasabha the Yakka 280. Then, Ananda, a vanished yakka made a sound heard – ‘I am Janavasabha, O Blessed One; I am Janavasabha, O Fortunate One.’ ‘Do you recall, Ananda, having heard such a name before, namely Janavasabha?’ ‘Indeed, Venerable Sir, I do not recall having heard such a name before, namely Janavasabha, but, Venerable Sir, my hairs stood on end upon hearing the name ‘Janavasabha’. It occurred to me, Venerable Sir, ‘Surely, he will not be an ordinary yakka, given such a well-established name as Janavasabha.’ Immediately, Ananda, after the sound appeared, a yakka of splendid appearance manifested before me. Again he made a sound heard – ‘I am Bimbisāra, O Blessed One; I am Bimbisāra, O Fortunate One.’ ‘This is the seventh time, Venerable Sir, that I have attained companionship with King Vessavaṇa, and having fallen from there, I am able to become a human king. Seven from here, seven from there, fourteen existences; I recall my former abodes, where I dwelt before. 281. ‘For a long time, Venerable Sir, I have known myself to be free from the lower realms, free from the lower realms, and the hope of once-returning remains for me.’ ‘This is wonderful, of the venerable yakka Janavasabha, this is amazing, of the venerable yakka Janavasabha. ‘For a long time, Venerable Sir, I... Sir, you say: 'I recognize non-fall, non-fall,' and you say: 'And hope stands for me for once-returning.' From what source, then, Venerable Janavasabha, the yakkha, do you recognize such a sublime special attainment? Not apart from, Blessed One, your teaching, not apart from, Sugata, your teaching. From the time, venerable sir, I became absolutely devoted to the Blessed One, from that time, venerable sir, for a long time, I recognize non-fall, non-fall, and hope stands for me for once-returning. Here, venerable sir, sent by King Vessavaṇa to King Virūḷhaka for some business, I saw the Blessed One on the road, having entered the brick hall, sitting, having made the Magadhan attendants the object of attention, having fixed the mind, having gathered everything with the mind, thinking: 'I will know their destination, their future state, what destination these sirs have, what future state.' And it is no wonder, venerable sir, that what was heard directly, received directly, from King Vessavaṇa speaking in that assembly, was: 'What destination these sirs have, what future state.' Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: 'I will see the Blessed One, and I will report this to the Blessed One.' These, venerable sir, are my two reasons for coming to see the Blessed One. The Assembly of Devas Earlier, venerable sir, even earlier days, on that Uposatha day, the fifteenth day, on the full moon night of the rainy season's beginning, all the Tāvatiṃsa devas were gathered and assembled in the Sudhammā assembly hall. And a great divine assembly was seated all around. And the four Great Kings were seated in the four directions. In the eastern direction, King Dhataraṭṭha was facing west facing east, having the gods in front; In the southern direction, King Virūḷhaka sits facing north, having the gods in front; In the western direction, King Virūpakkha sits facing east, having the gods in front; In the northern direction, King Vessavaṇa sits facing south, having the gods in front. When, venerable sir, all the Tāvatiṃsa gods are assembled and gathered in the Sudhammā assembly hall, and a great divine assembly is seated all around, and the four great kings are seated in the four directions, this is their seat; then afterwards is our seat. Those gods, venerable sir, who, having lived the holy life under the Blessed One, have recently arisen in the Tāvatiṃsa realm, they outshine the other gods in both beauty and glory. Because of this, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa gods are joyful, delighted, filled with rapture and happiness: “Indeed, divine bodies are increasing, asura bodies are decreasing!” Then, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the gods, knowing the delight of the Tāvatiṃsa gods, approved with these verses: “Indeed, the gods rejoice, the Tāvatiṃsas with Indra; Saluting the Tathāgata, and the well-taught nature of the Dhamma. And seeing the new gods, resplendent and glorious; Who, having lived the holy life under the Sugata, have come here. They outshine the others in beauty, glory, and lifespan; Disciples of the greatly wise one, who have attained distinction here. Seeing this, they rejoice, the Tāvatiṃsas with Indra; Saluting the Tathāgata, and the well-taught nature of the Dhamma.” Because of this, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa gods are even more joyful, delighted, filled with rapture and happiness: “Indeed, divine bodies are increasing, asura bodies are decreasing!” Then, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa gods, having reflected on the matter for which they were assembled and gathered in the Sudhammā assembly hall, that matter Having consulted on the matter, and having spoken about it, the four great kings were present for that matter. And having been instructed again about it, the four great kings were present for that matter, standing in their respective seats, not having departed. Those kings, having spoken, having received the instruction; With minds serene and clear, they stood in their seats. 283. ‘Then, venerable sir, from the northern direction a splendid light arose, a radiance appeared, surpassing even the divine power of the devas. Then, venerable sir, Sakka, lord of devas, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa devas: “Indeed, friends, signs are seen, a splendid light arises, a radiance appears, Brahmā will appear. This is a prior sign for Brahmā’s appearance, namely, that a light arises, a radiance appears.” “As signs are seen, Brahmā will appear; This is Brahmā’s sign, a vast, great radiance.” The Story of Sanaṅkumāra 284. ‘Then, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa devas sat down in their respective seats, thinking: “We shall know this radiance, what its outcome will be, and having realized it, we shall go.” The four great kings also sat down in their respective seats, thinking: “We shall know this radiance, what its outcome will be, and having realized it, we shall go.” Having heard this, the Tāvatiṃsa devas became unified in mind, thinking: “We shall know this radiance, what its outcome will be, and having realized it, we shall go.” ‘When, venerable sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the Tāvatiṃsa devas, he appears having created a gross body. But indeed, venerable sir, Brahmā’s natural form is unattainable for the Tāvatiṃsa devas’ range of sight. When, venerable sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the Tāvatiṃsa devas, he surpasses other devas in both beauty and glory. Just as, venerable sir... Sir, a golden body surpasses a human body; Even so, Sir, when Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the Tāvatiṃsa gods, he surpasses other gods in beauty and in glory. When, Sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the Tāvatiṃsa gods, no god in that assembly salutes him, or rises for him, or invites him to a seat. All remain silent, with clasped hands, seated cross-legged— "On whose seat now Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra will wish to sit, on that god's seat he will sit." "And that god, Sir, on whose seat Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra sits, that god obtains great gain of joy; that god obtains great gain of happiness. Just as, Sir, a king, a khattiya, consecrated, newly anointed with sovereignty, obtains great gain of joy, obtains great gain of happiness. Even so, Sir, that god on whose seat Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra sits, that god obtains great gain of joy, that god obtains great gain of happiness. Then, Sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, having created a gross body, becoming youthful in appearance, with five topknots, appeared to the Tāvatiṃsa gods. He rose into the air, and sat cross-legged in the sky, in space. Just as, Sir, a strong man might sit cross-legged on a well-spread couch, or on level ground; Even so, Sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, having risen into the air, sat cross-legged in the sky, in space, and knowing the devotion of the Tāvatiṃsa gods, he rejoiced with these verses— "Indeed, the Tāvatiṃsa gods, with Indra, rejoice; Saluting the Tathāgata, and the well-taught Dhamma. And seeing new gods, beautiful and glorious; Having lived the holy life in the Fortunate One, they have come here." they. “They outshine others, in beauty, fame, and life; The disciples of the greatly wise, have attained distinction here. “Seeing this, they rejoice, the Tāvatiṃsa gods with Sakka; Revering the Tathāgata, and the well-taught nature of the Dhamma.” 285. “This matter, Venerable Sir, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra spoke; when Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra spoke this matter, Venerable Sir, his voice was endowed with eight qualities: it was clear, intelligible, sweet, audible, distinct, not scattered, deep, and resonant. And Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, Venerable Sir, made himself understood to the assembly with his voice; and his voice did not go outside the assembly. Whoever, Venerable Sir, has a voice endowed with these eight qualities, is called ‘Brahmā-voiced.’