English
with a mind imbued with equanimity... with his mind pervading one direction, he dwelt, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world, with a mind accompanied by equanimity, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill-will, pervading, he dwelt. And indeed, Ananda, the son of King Maghadeva played as a prince for eighty-four thousand years, he ruled as viceroy for eighty-four thousand years, he reigned as king for eighty-four thousand years, for eighty-four thousand years, in this very Maghadeva Mango Grove, having gone forth from home to homelessness, he lived the holy life. He, having developed the four divine abodes, after the breaking up of the body, after death, became one bound for the Brahma world. 311. "And indeed, Ananda, the sons and grandsons of King Maghadeva, his lineage, eighty-four thousand kings, in this very Maghadeva Mango Grove, having shaved off their hair and beard, having put on saffron robes, having gone forth from home to homelessness, they dwelt. They, with a mind accompanied by loving-kindness, pervading one direction, dwelt, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world, with a mind accompanied by loving-kindness, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill-will, pervading, they dwelt. With a mind accompanied by compassion… with a mind accompanied by appreciative joy… with a mind accompanied by equanimity, pervading one direction, they dwelt, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world, with a mind accompanied by equanimity, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill-will, pervading, they dwelt. For eighty-four thousand years they played as princes, for eighty-four thousand years they ruled as viceroys, for eighty-four thousand years they reigned as kings, eighty-four thousand years Six thousand in this very Maghadeva Mango Grove, having gone forth from home to homelessness, lived the holy life. They, having developed the four divine abodes, at the breaking up of the body, after death, became reborn in the Brahma world. Nimi was their last king, righteous, a king of righteousness, a great king established in righteousness; he practiced righteousness among brahmins and householders, in towns and in the countryside; and he observed the Uposatha on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth days of the fortnight. 312. "Formerly, Ananda, among the Tāvatiṃsa gods in the Sudhammā assembly hall, as they sat together, gathered together, this conversation arose: 'Indeed, fortunate are the Videhans, sirs, well-gained indeed for the Videhans, sirs, for whom King Nimi is a righteous king, a king of righteousness, a great king established in righteousness; he practices righteousness among brahmins and householders, in towns and in the countryside; and he observes the Uposatha on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth days of the fortnight.' Then, Ananda, Sakka, king of the gods, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa gods: 'Would you wish, sirs, to see King Nimi?' 'We wish, sir, to see King Nimi.' Now, Ananda, at that time, King Nimi, on that Uposatha day, the fifteenth, having bathed his head, observing the Uposatha, was seated on the top of his excellent palace. Then, Ananda, Sakka, king of the gods – just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm, or flex an extended arm, even so – having vanished from among the Tāvatiṃsa gods, appeared before King Nimi. Then, Ananda, Sakka, king of the gods, said this to King Nimi: 'Fortunate are you, great king, well-gained for you, great king. The Tāvatiṃsa gods, great king, in the Sudhammā assembly hall, are seated, praising you, saying: "Indeed, fortunate are the Videhans, sirs, well-gained indeed for the Videhans, sirs, for whom King Nimi is a righteous king, a king of righteousness..." the great king, established in Dhamma, the great king; he practices Dhamma among brahmins and householders, among townspeople and country folk; and he observes the Uposatha on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth day of the fortnight.” “The Tāvatiṃsa gods, great king, wish to see you. Therefore, great king, I will send you a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds; ascend, great king, the divine vehicle without wavering.” King Nimi, Ānanda, assented by his silence. 313. Then, Ānanda, Sakka, king of the gods, knowing King Nimi’s assent— just as a strong man might extend his bent arm, or bend his extended arm— even so, having vanished from before King Nimi, he reappeared among the Tāvatiṃsa gods. Then, Ānanda, Sakka, king of the gods, addressed Mātali the charioteer: “Come, friend Mātali, harness a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, approach King Nimi, and say this: ‘This, great king, is a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, sent to you by Sakka, king of the gods; ascend, great king, the divine vehicle without wavering.’” “Yes, venerable sir,” Ānanda, Mātali the charioteer, having assented to Sakka, king of the gods, harnessed a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, approached King Nimi, and said this: “This, great king, is a chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, sent to you by Sakka, king of the gods; ascend, great king, the divine vehicle without wavering. And also, great king, by which path shall I lead you? By the path where evil-doers experience the results of evil deeds, or by the path where good-doers experience the results of good deeds?” “Lead me, Mātali, by both paths.” Then, Ānanda, Mātali the charioteer, brought King Nimi to the Sudhammā assembly hall. Then, Ānanda, Sakka, king of the gods, saw King Nimi approaching from afar. Having seen King Nimi, he said this: ‘Come, O great king. Welcome, O great king. The gods wish to see you, O great king, the Tāvatiṃsa gods in the Sudhammā assembly hall are seated, praising you – "Indeed, it is a gain for the Videhans, indeed, it is well-gained by the Videhans, for whom King Nimi is a righteous king, a king of righteousness, a great king established in righteousness; he practices righteousness among brahmins and householders, among townspeople and country folk; and he observes the Uposatha on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth day of the fortnight." The Tāvatiṃsa gods, O great king, wish to see you. Delight, O great king, among the gods with divine power.’ ‘Enough, sir, take me back to Mithilā. I will practice righteousness among brahmins and householders, among townspeople and country folk; and I will observe the Uposatha on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth day of the fortnight.’ 314. Then, Ananda, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed Mātali the charioteer – ‘Come, friend Mātali, harness the chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds and take King Nimi back to Mithilā.’ ‘Yes, venerable sir,’ Ananda, Mātali the charioteer replied to Sakka, the lord of the gods, and having harnessed the chariot drawn by a thousand thoroughbreds, he took King Nimi back to Mithilā. There, Ananda, King Nimi practiced righteousness among brahmins and householders, among townspeople and country folk, and he observed the Uposatha on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the eighth day of the fortnight. Then, Ananda, King Nimi, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years, addressed his barber – ‘When, friend barber, you see grey hairs grown on my head, then you should inform me.’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ Ananda, the barber replied to King Nimi. Then, Ananda, the barber saw, after many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years, grey hairs grown on King Nimi's head. Having seen King Nimi's said to him: ‘The divine messengers, sire, have appeared; white hairs are seen on your head.’ ‘Then, good barber, carefully pull out those white hairs with tweezers and place them in my cupped hands.’ ‘Yes, sire,’ Ānanda, the barber replied to King Nimi, and carefully pulled out those white hairs with tweezers and placed them in King Nimi’s cupped hands. Then, Ānanda, King Nimi gave the barber a chief village, and sent for his eldest son, the prince, and said to him: ‘My dear prince, the divine messengers have appeared to me; white hairs are seen on my head; I have enjoyed human pleasures; it is time to seek divine pleasures. Come, my dear prince, take up this kingdom. I, for my part, will shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home into homelessness. Therefore, my dear prince, when you too see white hairs on your head, then give the barber a chief village, carefully instruct your eldest son, the prince, in the kingdom, shave off your hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home into homelessness. You should continue this good practice that I have established; do not be the last man in my lineage. For, my dear prince, the man in whose generation such a good practice comes to an end, he is the last man in their lineage. Therefore, my dear prince, I say this to you: ‘You should continue this good practice that I have established; do not be the last man in my lineage.’’ 315. Then, Ānanda, King Nimi, after giving the barber a chief village, and carefully instructing his eldest son, the prince, in the kingdom, shaved off his hair and beard and put on saffron robes and went forth from home into homelessness right here in this Maghadeva mango grove. He dwelled pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, and so the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world, with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, vast, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill-will, pervading, he dwelled. With a mind imbued with compassion… with a mind imbued with appreciative joy… with a mind imbued with equanimity, pervading one direction, he dwelled,