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was watering a mango grove. 1152. Then a monk came that way, known as Sāriputta. Weary in body, but unwearied in mind. 1153. And seeing him coming, the mango-waterer said: "Good, Venerable Sir, I will bathe you, which would be a comfort to me." I. 1154. “Out of compassion for me, he laid down his bowl and robe; He sat at the root of a tree, in the shade, with a single robe. 1155. “And that man, with a serene mind, with clear water, Bathed him at the root of a tree, in the shade, with a single robe. 1156. “The mango tree was watered, the ascetic was bathed, and no small merit was accumulated by me; Thus, he pervades his whole body with joy. 1157. “That much work, I did in that life; Abandoning the human body, I was reborn in Nandana. 1158. “In the delightful Nandana forest, filled with various flocks of birds; I rejoice with dances and songs, surrounded by nymphs.” The Vimāna of the Mango Tree, the fifth. 6. The Story of the Cowherd’s Vimāna 1159. “Seeing the deva, the bhikkhu asked, in the high, long-standing mansion; Adorned with bracelets, glorious, in the divine mansion, like the moon. 1160. “Adorned, wearing garlands, well-dressed, with fine earrings, hair and beard trimmed; Adorned with bracelets, glorious, in the divine mansion, like the moon. 161. “And divine lutes play sweetly, eight by eight, skilled and beautiful; And noble divine maidens, celestial wanderers, dance, sing, and delight. 162. “You have attained divine power, of great might, what merit did you do when you were human? By what are you thus shining with power, and your radiance illuminates all directions?” 163. That deva The son, delighted… …this is the fruit of which kamma. 1164. I, a human among humans, gathered and guarded others' cows; Then a recluse came near me, and the cows went to eat the beans. 1165. "Two tasks today, both to be done," thus, Venerable Sir, I then reflected; Then, having properly regained my senses, "I give it, Venerable Sir!" I threw the endless (rope). 1166. I quickly descended to the bean field, before this one, whose wealth it is, breaks it; Then a black, highly venomous snake, bit my foot as I was hurrying. 1167. So I was afflicted, oppressed by pain, and the monk, having himself released that endless (rope); Gave me a handful of meal, out of compassion for me, then, having passed away, I became a deity. 1168. That same wholesome deed done by me, that pleasant deed, I myself experience; Indeed, Venerable Sir, greatly compassionated by you, out of gratitude, I salute you. 1169. In the world with its deities and Māra, there is no other sage as compassionate as you; Indeed, Venerable Sir, greatly compassionated by you, out of gratitude, I revere you. 1170. In this world or in the next, there is no other sage as compassionate as you; Indeed, Venerable Sir, greatly compassionated by you, out of gratitude, I revere you. The Sixth Vimāna of the Cowherd. 7. The Story of the Kaṇḍaka Vimāna. 1. As the moon on the full moon night, surrounded by constellations; Goes around on all sides, the lord of stars, the moon. 1172. So too this mansion, divine in the city of devas; Outshines in splendor, like the rising sun. 1173. Of beryl and gold, of crystal and silver; With masāragalla gems and pearls, and red coral jewels. 1174. The ground is varied and lovely, spread with beryl; Beautiful and charming pinnacled houses, your palace is well-made. 1175. And your charming ponds, frequented by many hairy creatures; Clear-watered and serene, spread with golden sand. 1176. Covered with various lotuses, overspread with white water lilies; They waft a sweet fragrance, stirred by the pleasant breeze. 1177. On both sides of it, well-made groves; Endowed with flowering trees, and fruit trees too. 1178. On a golden-footed couch, soft and covered with a rug; Apsaras attend you, like a king of devas seated. 1179. Adorned with all ornaments, decorated with various garlands; They delight you, the greatly powerful one, you rejoice as if under their sway. 1180. With drums, conches, and mudiṅgas, with lutes and paṇavas; You delight, full of joy, with dancing and well-played music. 1181. Your divine forms are varied, divine sounds and also tastes; And your desired fragrances, and pleasant touches. 1182. In that excellent mansion, O great-shining son of devas; You outshine in splendor, u the shining sun. 1183. “Is this the fruit of your giving, or of your virtue? Or of your anjali-salutation? Tell me, as I ask you.” 1184. That deva-son, delighted… …the fruit of which deed this is. 1185. “I was in Kapilavatthu, the chief city of the Sakyas; Of Suddhodana’s son, I was Kaṇḍaka, his co-born. 1186. “When he, at midnight, set forth for awakening; He, with soft hands, and with red, webbed fingers, 1187. “Tapped my flank, and said, ‘Carry me well!’ ‘I will ferry the world across, having attained supreme perfect awakening.’ 1188. “Hearing that speech of his, great joy arose in me; With uplifted heart, delighted, I neighed then. 1189. “Knowing that the Sakya-son, the greatly renowned, had mounted me; With uplifted heart, joyful, I carried the best of men. 1190. “Having gone to another’s domain, when the sun had risen; Leaving me and Channa, he departed without looking back. 1191. “His red-nailed feet, I licked with my tongue; And watched the great hero departing, weeping. 1192. “From not seeing him, that glorious Sakya-son; I got a severe illness, and my death came quickly. 1193. “By his power alone, I dwell in this mansion; Endowed with all sense-pleasures, divine, in the city of devas. 1194. “And the joy that was mine, having heard the sound…” to enlightenment. By that wholesome root, I shall touch the destruction of defilements. 1195. “If, venerable sir, you should go, to the Teacher, the Buddha; By my word too, bow your head in veneration. 1196. “I too shall go to see, the Victor, the unequalled person; Rare is the sight, of such World-Protectors.” 1197. He, grateful and knowing gratitude, approached the Teacher; Having heard the words of the One with Vision, he purified his Dhamma-eye. 1198. Having purified his view, his doubt and his observances; Having bowed at the Teacher's feet, he vanished right there. The Seventh, the Kaṇḍaka Vimāna. 8. The Anekavaṇṇa Vimāna Story 1199. “Having ascended a multi-colored vimāna, dispelling fear and sorrow, of varied design; Surrounded by a host of nymphs, you rejoice like a well-formed lord of spirits. 1200. “There is no one equal, how then superior, in glory, merit, and power; All the gods, the hosts of the thirty-three, having assembled, venerate you as the gods venerate the moon; And these nymphs around you, dance, sing, and delight. 1201. “You have attained divine power, of great might, what merit did you do as a human? By what are you thus of blazing power, and your radiance illuminates all directions?” 1202. That deva-son, delighted… (as before) …of what kamma this is the fruit. 1203. “I, venerable sir, was formerly, a disciple of the Victor named Sumedha; An ordinary person, not yet enlightened, I was ignorant, so I will wander for seven years. 1204. I, having worshipped the Ratana-shrine, covered with a golden net, of the Buddha, the Teacher Sumedha, who was fully extinguished, who had crossed over the flood, the steadfast one, made my mind serene in the stupa. 1205. I had no alms, nor was I able to give; but I exhorted others there: "Worship the relic of the worshipful one; thus, it is said, you will go to heaven from here." 1206. That same wholesome deed done by me, I myself experience divine happiness. I rejoice among the host of devas; I have not found the end of that merit. The Eighth: The Vimāna of Many Colors. 9. The Story of Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī's Vimāna 1207. "Adorned, Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī, wearing garlands, anointed with yellow sandalwood; you raise your arms and weep, what troubles you in the midst of the forest?" 1208. "A golden, shining chariot-frame has arisen for me; I do not find its pair of wheels, with that sorrow I will give up my life." 1209. "Golden, jewel-made, red-gem-made, or silver-made; tell me, good youth, I will provide you with a pair of wheels." 1210. That young man said to him, "The moon and sun are seen together here; My chariot is made of gold, It shines with those two wheels." "Indeed, you are a fool, young man, who desires what cannot be desired; I think you will die, for you will not obtain the moon and sun." "Coming and going are seen, the elements of form are seen on both sides of the path; But the dead one is not seen, Who among those who weep here is more foolish?" "Indeed, you speak the truth, young man, I am the most foolish among those who weep; Weeping like a child for the moon, I desired the one who has passed away." "Me, who was burning, like fire sprinkled with ghee; You, as if sprinkling with water, have extinguished all my sorrow." "Indeed, you have drawn out my dart, the sorrow lodged in my heart; You, who for me, overcome by sorrow, have removed the sorrow for my son." "So I, with dart drawn out, am cooled, am extinguished; I do not grieve, I do not weep, having heard your words, young man." "Are you a deity or a gandhabba, or Sakka, the giver of gifts; Who are you, or whose son, How are we to know you?" "He for whom you weep and for whom you cry, having yourself burned your son in the charnel ground; I, having performed wholesome deeds, have gone to the company of the thirty-three (devas)." "Little or much we did not see, a gift in his own home, or such an Uposatha observance, by what deed have you gone to the deva world?” “I was sick, suffering, ill, a distressed person in my own dwelling. I saw the Buddha, free from defilements, whose doubts were cut off, the Fortunate One, of incomparable wisdom. Then I, with a joyful mind, with a serene heart, made an añjali to the Tathāgata. Having done that wholesome deed,