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B0102050601itthivimānaṃ (female heavenly palace)

English

I strewed him with sāla flowers. 695. "And a well-made garland, made of sāla flowers, I; Offered to the Buddha, with my own hands, full of faith. 696. "Having performed that action, wholesome, praised by the Buddha; I am free from sorrow, happy, rejoicing, free from illness." The Mañjiṭṭhaka Mansion, the first. 2. The Story of the Pabhassara Mansion 697. "With a radiant, excellent, and beautiful complexion, wearing bright red garments; Of great power, with a body radiant with sandalwood, who are you, beautiful deity, who bows to me? 698. "And your couch is very valuable, adorned with various jewels, beautiful; Where you, seated, shine, like the king of gods in the Nandana grove. 699. "What good conduct did you practice before, O blessed one, the result of what action; Do you experience in the divine realm, O deity, tell us when asked?" O, knowing one, Of what deed is this the fruit? To you, going for alms, I gave a garland and molasses, venerable sir; This is the result of that deed, I experience in the world of devas. And regret arises in me, I erred, and it was a bad deed for me, venerable sir; I did not listen to the Dhamma, well-taught by the King of Dhamma. Therefore, I tell you, good sir, 'Whoever is dear to me, Encourage them in the Dhamma,' well-taught by the King of Dhamma. Those who have faith in the Buddha, and in the Dhamma and the jewel of the Saṅgha; They outshine me, in life, fame, and glory. Superior in splendor and beauty, Other devas are more powerful than I. Adorned with gems and gold, covered with a great golden net; Having mounted a well-prepared excellent elephant, she came here through the sky, in the air. On the two tusks of the elephant, created, are clear-watered lotus ponds, fully bloomed; And from the lotuses, musical groups emerge, and these charming ones dance. You have attained divine power, great in might, what merit did you do when you were human? By what are you thus blazing with power, and your beauty shines in all directions? Having approached in Bārāṇasī, I gave a pair of robes to the Buddha; Having worshipped his feet, I sat on the ground, and delighted, I made an añjali. And the Buddha, whose skin was like gold, taught me the impermanence of the origin of suffering; The unconditioned, the eternal cessation of suffering, he taught the path, by which I understood. Short-lived, having died and passed away from there, I was reborn into the host of the thirty-three devas, glorious; I am one of Sakka's consorts, named Yasuttarā, renowned in all directions. By your surpassing beauty Ah, you who stand, O deity, Illuminating all directions, like the star of healing herbs. 712. “What is the cause of your such beauty… And your beauty illuminates all directions?” 714. That deity, delighted… of what karma this is the fruit. 715. “I, in Bārāṇasī, to the Buddha, kinsman of the sun, Gave dry rice gruel, with a clear mind, with my own hands. 716. “Of dry and unsalted, see the fruit of a lump of rice gruel! Seeing Aloma happy, who would not do merit? 717. “Therefore, such is my beauty… and my beauty illuminates all directions.” The Vimāna of Aloma, the fourth. 5. The Story of the Vimāna of the Porridge Giver 719. “With surpassing beauty… like the star of healing herbs. 720. “What is the cause of your such beauty… and your beauty illuminates all directions?” 722. That deity, delighted… of what karma this is the fruit. 723. “I, in Andhakavinda, to the Buddha, kinsman of the sun, Gave a preparation of jujubes, porridge flavored with oil. 724. “With long pepper and garlic, mixed with ginger, I gave it to the upright one, with a very clear mind. 725. “She who would be chief queen, of a universal monarch, A woman beautiful in all limbs, and respectful to her husband; Does not equal a sixteenth part of a single gift of porridge. 726. “A hundred gold coins, a hundred horses, a hundred mule-drawn chariots, A hundred thousand maidens, adorned with jeweled earrings; Do not equal a sixteenth part of a single gift of porridge. 727. “A hundred Himalayan elephants, with tusks like ploughshares, with long trunks, Elephants with golden trappings, wearing golden coverings; Do not equal a sixteenth part of a single gift of porridge. 728. “He who would rule over all four continents, Does not equal a sixteenth part of a single gift of porridge.” The Vimāna of the Porridge Giver, the fifth. 6. The Story of the Vimāna of the Monastery 729. “With surpassing beauty… like the star of healing herbs. 730. “While you are dancing… from your limbs, divine sounds emerge, delightful and charming. 731. As you dance, from your limbs, divine scents waft, pure and charming. 732. As your body sways, the ornaments in your braids, their sound is heard, like a five-part orchestra. 733. Your head-ornaments, shaken by the wind, stirred by the breeze, their sound is heard, like a five-part orchestra. 734. And the garland on your head, pure and charming, its scent wafts in all directions, like the mañjūsaka tree. 735. You smell that pure scent, you see an unhuman form; O deity, tell us, being asked, of what karma is this the fruit? 736. In Sāvatthī, my friend, venerable sir, built a great monastery for the Saṅgha; Pleased with that, I rejoiced, seeing that house and my dear one. 737. By that pure rejoicing of mine, I obtained this wondrously beautiful mansion; Sixteen leagues all around, it moves through the air by my power. 738. My peaked-roof houses, divided and measured in sections; Shining brightly, they illuminate a hundred leagues all around. 739. And here are my ponds, frequented by many creatures; Clear-watered and serene, strewn with golden sand. 740. Covered with various lotuses, overspread with white water lilies; Fragrant scents waft forth, pleasant, stirred by the breeze. 741. Rose-apple trees, jackfruit trees, palm trees, and coconut groves; Various trees, not planted, have grown within my dwelling. 742. Resounding with various musical instruments, echoing with groups of celestial nymphs; Even he who sees me in a dream, that person would be delighted. 743. Such a wondrously beautiful mansion, shining in every way; Born of my deeds, it is enough to do good deeds. 744. By that pure rejoicing of yours, you obtained this wondrously beautiful mansion; And that woman who gave the gift, tell us, where is her destiny? That friend of mine, venerable sir, who built a great monastery for the Sangha; She, understanding the Dhamma, gave gifts, and was reborn among the Nimmānarati devas. The lady of the house, of that well-built [monastery], her karma's results are inconceivable; As to where she was reborn, which you ask, I have explained that to you truthfully. Therefore, encourage others as well, and give gifts to the Sangha with joy; And listen to the Dhamma with a clear mind, for human birth is very difficult to obtain. The path that the Lord of the Path taught, with a divine voice, with skin like gold; Give gifts to the Sangha with joy, where offerings yield great fruit. Those eight persons praised by the good, these are four pairs; They are worthy of offerings, disciples of the Sugata, gifts given to them yield great fruit. Four are on the path, four are established in the fruit; This Sangha is upright, endowed with wisdom and virtue. For humans making offerings, for beings seeking merit; Doing meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, what is given to the Sangha yields great fruit. This Sangha is indeed vast and great, it is immeasurable, like the ocean; Among these are the excellent disciples of the Hero of Men, illuminating, they proclaim the Dhamma. Well-given, well-offered, well-sacrificed for them, who give gifts with the Sangha in mind; That offering, established in the Sangha, yields great fruit, praised by those who know the world. Remembering such a sacrifice, those who wander in the world, born of knowledge; Having uprooted the stain of stinginess, blameless, they go to a heavenly abode. The Sixth, the Mansion of the Monastery. The Second Recitation Section is finished. 7. The Story of the Mansion of the Four Women By your excellent by your radiance... and your radiance shines in all directions. 758. That deity, delighted... of which karma this is the fruit. 759. "I gave a handful of blue lotuses, to a bhikkhu wandering for alms; In the elevated Esika, in the delightful, decorated excellent city." 760. "Therefore my radiance is such... and my radiance shines in all directions." 762. "By your surpassing radiance... and your radiance shines in all directions." 765. That deity, delighted... of which karma this is the fruit. 766. "I gave a handful of blue water lilies, to a bhikkhu wandering for alms; In the elevated Esika, in the delightful, decorated excellent city." 767. "Therefore my radiance is such... and my radiance shines in all directions." 769. "By your surpassing radiance... and your radiance shines in all directions." 772. That deity, delighted... of which karma this is the fruit. 773. "A white-rooted, green-leaved plant, born in a lake, I gave; To a bhikkhu wandering for alms, in the elevated Esika; In the delightful, decorated excellent city." 774. "Therefore my radiance is such... and my radiance shines in all directions." 776. "By your surpassing radiance... and your radiance shines in all directions." 779. That deity, delighted... of which karma this is the fruit. 780. "I, Sumanā, gave jasmine buds, white as teeth, I gave; To a bhikkhu wandering for alms, in the elevated Esika; In the delightful, decorated excellent city." 781. "Therefore my radiance is such... and my radiance shines in all directions." The Vimāna of the Four Women, the seventh. 8. The Story of the Mango Vimāna 783. "Your divine mango grove is delightful, and your palace here is grand; It resounds with various musical instruments, and with the sounds of hosts of nymphs. 784. "A lamp here burns,