English
I have reached a lower body. How is it that you, having given less, have attained such great distinction? O deity, being asked, explain, of what action is this the fruit? A monk, delightful to the mind, was seen by me before. I invited him with food, Revata, the eighth for myself. He, having my welfare at heart, Revata, out of compassion, said to me, "Give to the Sangha." I followed his word. That offering, given to the Sangha, was established in the immeasurable. What was given by you to individuals, that was not of great fruit for you. Now I know, that what is given to the Sangha is of great fruit. Having gone to human existence, generous, free from envy, I will give gifts to the Sangha, diligently, again and again. Who is this deity, good lady, who converses with you? All the gods in Tāvatiṃsa, she surpasses them in splendor. Having been human, O king of gods, in a former human existence, she was my co-wife, and my younger sister. Having given gifts to the Sangha, having done merit, she shines. Rightly, the former sister, shines, O good lady, more than you, because in the immeasurable Sangha, she established her offering. Indeed, the Buddha was asked by me, on Vulture Peak mountain, about the result of sharing, where what is given is of great fruit. For humans who make offerings, for beings seeking merit, who perform meritorious deeds leading to rebirth, where what is given is of great fruit. That the Buddha explained to me, knowing his own karma's fruit, the result of sharing, where what is given is of great fruit. Four are on the path, four are established in the fruits. This Sangha is upright, endowed with wisdom and virtue. For humans who make offerings, for beings seeking merit, who perform meritorious deeds leading to rebirth... given to the Saṅgha is of great fruit. 643. For this Saṅgha is vast and great, It is immeasurable, like the ocean, the sea; These are indeed the best, the disciples of the hero of men, They are illuminators, proclaiming the Dhamma. 644. Well-given, well-offered, well-sacrificed it is to them, who give gifts dedicating them to the Saṅgha; That offering, established in the Saṅgha, is of great fruit, praised by those who know the world. 645. Remembering such a sacrifice, those who are born of wisdom wander in the world; Having removed the defilement of stinginess with its root, unblamed, they go to the heavenly abode. The Sixth, Daddalla Vimāna. 7. The Story of Pesavatī's Mansion 646. Covered with nets of crystal, silver, and gold, with various painted floors, exceedingly delightful; A mansion well-built, adorned with archways, this beautiful mansion is strewn with jewels. 647. It shines in the ten directions like the sun in the sky, the dispeller of darkness in autumn, with a thousand rays; So too shines this mansion of yours, like a smokeless flame at night in the sky. 648. It seems to steal the eye with its hundred-fold radiance, this delightful thing placed in the sky; Resounding with lutes, drums, and cymbals, it is prosperous like Indra's city, this of yours. 649. Lotuses, water lilies, blue lotuses, and water lilies, yodhika, bandhuka, and nojaka flowers are there; Sāla trees in bloom, asoka trees in flower, this is served by the sweet fragrance of various tree-tops. 650. Connected with sāla, labuja, and bhujaka trees, with flowering creepers hanging down; Resembling a net of jewels, glorious, a delightful pond is prepared for you. 651. And the flowers born in water that are there, and the trees born on land that are there; Both human and non-human, and divine, all are born in your abode. "Of what self-restraint and taming is this the fruit? By what karma's result have you attained this? And how you obtained this mansion, Tell us that, step by step, O beautiful one." "How I obtained this mansion, Where cranes, peacocks, and chakor birds wander, Where divine ducks and king-geese roam, Where various birds, karandavas, and cuckoos resound. "With various trees bearing diverse flowers and creepers, With trumpet-flower, rose-apple, and ashoka trees. How I obtained this mansion, That I will tell you, listen, venerable sir. "To the east of the excellent city of Magadha, There is a village named Nāḷaka, venerable sir. There I was formerly a daughter-in-law, They knew me there as Pesavatī. "I, having honored the skilled in the ultimate Dhamma, The great one revered by gods and humans, Upatissa, the immeasurable, the extinguished, With a joyful mind, I showered with flowers. "And having honored the one who reached the highest state, The noble sage bearing his last body, Having abandoned the human existence, I, gone to the thirty-three gods, dwell in this place." Pesavatī's Mansion, the Seventh. 8. Mallikā's Mansion Story "In yellow garments, with yellow banners, Adorned with yellow ornaments; With yellow inner parts, with beautiful voices, You shine, as if adorned. "Who are you, wearing conch bracelets, Adorned with golden earrings? Covered with a net of gold, Wearing garlands of various jewels. "Of gold and of coral, Of pearls and of beryl; Of masāragalla and with coral, Adorned with gems like pigeon's eyes. "Here and there, the sweet voice of a peacock, The sweet voice of the king of swans, of a karavīka bird; Their voices are heard, beautiful in form, Like a five-part musical instrument being played. "And your chariot, well O beautiful one, Adorned with many jewels; With diverse-colored elements, It shines well-arranged. 663. "In that chariot, of golden hue, You who stand, illuminate this region; O deity, tell me when asked, Of what deed is this the fruit?" 664. "A golden net, adorned with gems and gold, Studded with pearls, covered with a golden net; When the immeasurable Gotama had attained final Nibbana, With a serene mind, I offered it. 665. "Having done that deed, Skillful, praised by the Buddha; Free from sorrow, happy, I rejoice, free from illness." Mallika's Mansion, the eighth. 9. Visalakkhi's Mansion Story 666. "What is your name, O broad-eyed one, In the charming Cittalata Grove? You wander all around, Surrounded by a retinue of women. 667. "When the Tavatimsa gods, Enter this forest, All with their vehicles and chariots, They become colorful when they come here. 668. "But for you, having arrived here, Wandering in the park, No variegation is seen on your body. By what means is your form like this? O deity, tell me when asked, Of what deed is this the fruit?" 669. "By which deed, O king of gods, My form and my destiny, And my psychic power and might, Hear that, O giver of cities. 670. "I, in charming Rajagaha, Was a female lay follower named Sunanda, Endowed with faith and virtue, Always delighting in sharing. 671. "Clothing and food, Lodging and lamps; I gave to the upright ones, With a very clear mind. 672. "The fourteenth and fifteenth (days), And the eighth day of the fortnight; And the special observance fortnight, Endowed with the eight factors. 673. "I observed the Uposatha, Always restrained in virtues; From self-restraint and sharing, I dwell in this mansion. 674. "Abstaining from taking life, And restrained from false speech; From stealing and sexual misconduct, And intoxicating drinks... And from afar. 675. Delighting in the five training rules, skilled in the Noble Truths; A female lay follower of the One with Vision, of Gotama, the renowned. 676. A slave girl from my family always brought garlands. I, on the stupa of the Blessed One, offered all of them. 677. And on the Uposatha day, having gone, garlands, perfumes, and unguents; I offered on the stupa, with my own hands, full of faith. 678. By that deed, O king of devas, my form and my destiny; And my psychic power and might, because I offered the garland. 679. And that I was virtuous, that has not yet ripened. And my hope, O king of devas, is that I may be a once-returner. The ninth, Visālakkhī's Mansion. 10. The Story of the Pāricchattaka Mansion 680. In the Pāricchattaka, the koviḷāra tree, delightful and charming; Weaving a divine garland, singing, you rejoice greatly. 681. As you dance, from all your limbs; Divine sounds issue forth, pleasant to hear, charming. 682. As you dance, from all your limbs; Divine scents waft forth, pure-scented, charming. 683. As you turn your body, the ornaments in your braids. Their sound is heard, like a five-part orchestra. 684. The ear-ornaments, swayed by the wind, trembling with the wind; Their sound is heard, like a five-part orchestra. 685. And the garland on your head, pure-scented, charming; Its scent wafts in all directions, like the mañjūsaka tree. 686. You smell that pure scent, you see a non-human form; O deity, tell us when asked, of what deed is this the fruit? 687. Radiant, luminous, endowed with color and scent; I offered an Asoka flower garland, to the Buddha. 688. Having done that deed, a wholesome one praised by the Buddha; Free from sorrow, happy, I rejoice greatly, free from illness. The tenth, Pāricchattaka Mansion. Pāricc The third chapter, "Hatthaka," is finished. Its summary: Uḷāra, Ucchu, Pallaṅka, Latā, and Guttila; Daddalla, Pesamallikā, Visālakkhi, Pāricchattaka; Thus is the chapter called. 4. The Mañjiṭṭhaka Chapter 1. The Story of the Mañjiṭṭhaka Mansion 689. "In the Mañjiṭṭhaka mansion, strewn with golden sand; With a five-part orchestra, you delight, well-played. 690. "Descending from that mansion, created, made of jewels; You enter a sāla grove, flowering all the time. 691. "At the root of whichever sāla tree, you stand, O deity; That excellent tree, bending down, releases its flowers. 692. "The sāla grove, stirred by the wind, shaken, frequented by birds; Its fragrance wafts in all directions, like the mañjūsaka tree. 693. "You smell that pure fragrance, you see a superhuman form; O deity, tell us when asked, of what action is this the fruit?" 694. "Among humans, being human, I was a servant in a noble family; Seeing the Buddha seated,