English
6. The Great Govinda Sutta 293. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Gijjhakūṭa mountain. Then, Pañcasikha, the gandhabba son, when the night was far advanced, with his surpassing beauty illuminating the entire Gijjhakūṭa mountain, approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Pañcasikha, the gandhabba son, said to the Blessed One: "What I have heard directly, lord, and received directly from the Tāvatiṃsa devas, that I will report to the Blessed One." "Report it to me, Pañcasikha," said the Blessed One. The Assembly of Devas 294. "On former days, lord, on earlier days, on that Uposatha day, the fifteenth, on the full moon night of Pavāraṇā, all the Tāvatiṃsa devas were assembled and gathered in the Sudhammā assembly hall. A great divine assembly was seated all around, and the four Great Kings were seated in the four directions. In the eastern direction, Dhataraṭṭha, the Great King, was seated facing west, with the devas in front of him. In the southern direction, Virūḷhaka, the Great King, was seated facing north, with the devas in front of him. In the western direction, Virūpakkha, the Great King, was seated facing east, with the devas in front of him. In the northern direction, Vessavaṇa, the Great King, was seated facing south, with the devas in front of him. When, lord, all the Tāvatiṃsa devas were assembled and gathered 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, that was their seating arrangement. Then afterwards, our seating was arranged. "Those devas, lord, who having lived the holy life in the Blessed One's presence, have newly arisen in the Tāvatiṃsa realm, they outshine the other devas in both beauty and glory. Therefore, lord, the Tāvatiṃsa devas were delighted and joyful." arose joy and happiness: 'Indeed, divine bodies are increasing, while asura bodies are decreasing!' 295. "Then, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the devas, knowing the delight of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, approved with these verses: 'Indeed, the devas rejoice, the Tāvatiṃsas with Sakka, saluting the Tathāgata, and the well-taught Dhamma. And seeing new devas, radiant and glorious, who, having lived the holy life in the Fortunate One, have come here. They outshine others, in radiance, glory, and life; disciples of the greatly wise one, who have attained distinction here. Seeing this, they delight, the Tāvatiṃsas with Sakka, saluting the Tathāgata, and the well-taught Dhamma.' "Because of this, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa devas became even more pleased, joyful, and filled with joy and happiness: 'Indeed, divine bodies are increasing, while asura bodies are decreasing!'" Eight True Descriptions 296. "Then, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the devas, knowing the delight of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa devas: 'Would you like, sirs, to hear eight true descriptions of that Blessed One?' 'We would like, sir, to hear eight true descriptions of that Blessed One.' Then, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the devas, recited to the Tāvatiṃsa devas the eight true descriptions of the Blessed One: 'What do you think, sirs, Tāvatiṃsa devas? That Blessed One is devoted to the welfare of many people, to the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, for the happiness of devas and humans. A teacher endowed with this quality, devoted to the welfare of many people, to the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, for the happiness of devas and humans—we do not perceive such a one in the past, nor indeed at present, apart from that Blessed One. "And the Dhamma taught by that Blessed One is well-expounded, visible here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading inwards, to be personally experienced by the wise. Thus leading inwards A teacher of a single dhamma, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, except for that Blessed One. Indeed, by that Blessed One, it has been well declared: "This is wholesome," "This is unwholesome." "This is blameworthy, this is blameless." "This is to be practiced, this is not to be practiced." "This is inferior, this is superior." "This is dark with a bright counterpart." A teacher who declares such dhammas: wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, to be practiced and not to be practiced, inferior and superior, dark with a bright counterpart, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, except for that Blessed One. Indeed, by that Blessed One, the path leading to Nibbana for his disciples has been well declared. Nibbana and the path are in harmony. Just as the water of the Ganges and the water of the Yamuna flow together and meet, even so, by that Blessed One, the path leading to Nibbana for his disciples has been well declared, and Nibbana and the path are in harmony. A teacher who declares such a path leading to Nibbana, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, except for that Blessed One. Indeed, for that Blessed One, gain has been achieved, fame has been achieved. Even, I think, kings live appearing to be fond of him. Indeed, that Blessed One partakes of food without conceit. A teacher partaking of food in such a way, without conceit, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, except for that Blessed One. Indeed, that Blessed One has companions: both those on the path of training, and those whose defilements are destroyed, who have lived the holy life. That Blessed One, having dismissed them, lives devoted to solitude. A teacher devoted to solitude in such a way, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, except for that Blessed One. Indeed, as he speaks, But that Blessed One acted as he spoke, as he acted, so he spoke, thus as he spoke, so he acted, as he acted, so he spoke. Such a Teacher, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, apart from that Blessed One. Indeed, that Blessed One has crossed over doubt, is free from perplexity, has completed his resolve, his intention is the foremost holy life. Such a Teacher, who has crossed over doubt, is free from perplexity, has completed his resolve, his intention is the foremost holy life, endowed with this quality, we do not see in the past, nor in the present, apart from that Blessed One. 297. "Indeed, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the devas, to the Tāvatiṃsa devas, declared these eight true praises of the Blessed One. Then, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa devas, became exceedingly pleased, joyful, filled with delight and happiness, upon hearing the eight true praises of the Blessed One. There, venerable sir, some devas said this: ‘Oh, sirs, if only four Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones would arise in the world, and teach the Dhamma just like the Blessed One! That would be for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans.’ Some devas said this: ‘Let the four Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones stand aside, sirs! Oh, sirs, if only three Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones would arise in the world, and teach the Dhamma just like the Blessed One! That would be for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans.’ Some devas said this: ‘Let the three Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones stand aside, sirs! Oh, sirs, if only two Perfectly Self-Enlightened Ones would arise in the world, and teach the Dhamma just like the Blessed One! That would be for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans.’ 298. When this was said, venerable sir, Sakka, king of the devas, spoke to the Tāvatiṃsa devas thus: ‘It is impossible...’ This, sirs, is an impossibility, that in one world-system two Arahants, Fully Self-Awakened Ones, should arise simultaneously, without one preceding the other. This is not a situation that exists. Oh, sirs, may that Blessed One be free from illness, free from affliction, and remain for a long, extended time. That would be for the welfare of many, for the happiness of many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the benefit, for the happiness of gods and humans. Then, venerable sir, the four Great Kings, having thought about that matter, having deliberated on that matter, for which the Tāvatiṃsa gods were assembled and gathered in the Sudhammā assembly hall, were also of the same spoken word regarding that matter. The four Great Kings were also of the same instructed word regarding that matter, standing in their respective seats, not having departed. Those kings, having spoken their words, having accepted the instruction, with minds serene and calm, stood in their seats. 299. Then, venerable sir, from the northern direction a splendid light arose, a radiance appeared, surpassing even the divine power of the gods. Then, venerable sir, Sakka, lord of the gods, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa gods: ‘Just as, sirs, the signs are seen, a splendid light arises, a radiance appears, Brahmā will appear; for this is the prior sign of Brahmā’s appearance, namely, that a light arises and a radiance appears.’ ‘As the signs are seen, Brahmā will appear; This is Brahmā’s sign, a vast, great radiance.’ The Story of Sanaṅkumāra 300. Then, venerable sir, the Tāvatiṃsa gods sat down in their respective seats, thinking: ‘We shall know this radiance, what its result will be; we shall go having directly experienced it.’ The four Great Kings also sat down in their respective seats, thinking: ‘We shall know this radiance,