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B0102051001buddhavaggo (buddha chapter)

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Wheels with a thousand spokes, were seen on his supreme feet; Having seen his marks, I became certain in the Tathāgata. 215. Taking a broom, having swept then; Then gathering flowers, I worshipped the foremost Buddha. 216. Having worshipped that Buddha, who had crossed the flood, taintless; Making my deer-skin robe over one shoulder, I saluted the leader of the world. 217. By which knowledge the Fully Awakened One, taintless, dwells; That knowledge I will praise, listen to my words. 218. 'You uplift this world, self-born, of immeasurable arising; Having come to your sight, they cross the stream of doubt. 219. 'You are the teacher and the banner, the flag and the sacrificial post for beings; The refuge and the support, and the lamp, supreme among bipeds. 220. 'It is possible to measure the water in the ocean, even with an āḷhaka; But never is your knowledge, O Omniscient One, possible to measure. 221. 'To hold The earth can be placed on a scale; But your omniscience, cannot be contained. 222. ‘‘‘Space can be measured with a rope or a finger; But your omniscience, cannot be measured. 223. ‘‘‘The water in the great ocean, and the entire earth; Compared to the Buddha's knowledge, are not suitable as similes. 224. ‘‘‘The minds of the world with its deities, wherever they may be; These are caught within the net, of your knowledge, O Seer. 225. ‘‘‘By the knowledge with which you attained, the supreme and perfect enlightenment; By that knowledge, O Omniscient One, you saw the other sectarians.’ 226. Having praised with these verses, the ascetic named Suruci; He spread out his deer-skin, and sat on the ground. 227. Eighty-four thousand, plunged into the great ocean; So high it is, the king of mountains is called. 228. So exceedingly high is Meru, and so broad and wide; Crushed into tiny particles, hundreds of thousands of crores. 229. If placed on a scale, it would come to an end; But your omniscience, cannot be measured. 230. With a fine-meshed net, whoever encloses water; Whatever creatures are in the water, they would be caught within the net. 231. Just so, O Great Hero, whatever other sectarians there are; Plunged into the thicket of views, deluded by clinging. 232. By your pure knowledge, which sees without obstruction; These are caught within the net, they cannot overcome your knowledge. 233. The Blessed One at that time, Anomadassī, of great fame; Having arisen from meditation, the Conqueror surveyed the direction. 234. Of the sage Anomadassī, a disciple named Nisabha; Surrounded by a hundred thousand, of tranquil-minded, steadfast ones. 235. Arahants, pure, with six supernormal powers, meditators; Understanding the Buddha's mind, he approached the leader of the world. 236. Standing in the air there, they circumambulated; Bowing down with reverence. Jālikā descended to the Buddha's presence. 237. The Blessed One Anomadassī, chief of the world, a bull among men, having sat in the assembly of monks, the Conqueror revealed a smile. 238. A server named Varuṇa, of the Teacher Anomadassī, having made his robe over one shoulder, asked the leader of the world. 239. "What indeed, Blessed One, is the cause of the Teacher's smile? For Buddhas do not, without cause, reveal a smile." 240. The Blessed One Anomadassī, chief of the world, a bull among men, having sat in the midst of the monks, spoke this verse. 241. "He who honored me with flowers and also praised knowledge, him I shall extol; listen to my words. 242. Understanding the Buddha's words, all the devas assembled; desirous of hearing the True Dhamma, they approached the Fully Awakened One. 243. In ten world-systems, mighty hosts of devas, desirous of hearing the True Dhamma, they approached the Fully Awakened One. 244. Elephants, horses, chariots, infantry, and a four-fold army will always surround him; this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 245. Sixty thousand musical instruments, adorned with drums, will always attend him; this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 246. Sixteen thousand women, adorned with ornaments, with varied clothes and jewelry, wearing jeweled earrings. 247. With charming eyelashes, smiling, well-formed, slender-waisted, will always surround him; this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 248. For a hundred thousand aeons he will delight in the deva world; a thousand times a Wheel-turning Monarch he will be king in the land. 249. A thousand times a lord of devas he will rule the deva kingdom; vast regional rule, beyond counting. 250. In his last existence, he will attain human state; a brahmin woman named Sāri will bear him in her womb. 251. By his mother's name and clan, this man will be known by the name Sāriputta. He will be sharp-witted. 252. “Having abandoned eighty crores, He will go forth, having nothing; Seeking the state of peace, He will wander this earth. 253. “In an incalculable eon from now, Born in the Okkāka clan, By clan named Gotama, A Teacher will be in the world. 254. “His heir in the Dhamma, True-born, created by Dhamma, By name Sāriputta, Will be the chief disciple. 255. “This Bhagirathi Ganga, Flowing forth from the Himalayas, Reaches the great ocean, Filling the great ocean. 256. “Just so this Sāriputta, Skilled in his three (knowledges), Having reached perfection by wisdom, Will satisfy beings. 257. “Starting from the Himalayas, And the ocean, the great ocean; Whatever sand is in between, Is incalculable by count. 258. “Even that can be completely Counted as a calculation; But Sāriputta’s wisdom Will not be (countable). 259. “When placed in a hundred thousand, The sand of the Ganga would be exhausted; But Sāriputta’s wisdom Will not be (countable). 260. “The waves in the great ocean, Are incalculable by count; Just so Sāriputta’s wisdom Will not be (countable). 261. “Having pleased the Fully Awakened One, Gotama, the best of the Sakyas; Having reached perfection by wisdom, He will be the chief disciple. 262. “The Wheel of Dhamma set in motion, By the Sakya’s son, the Such One; He will follow it rightly, Raining down showers of Dhamma. 263. “Having fully known all this, Gotama, the best of the Sakyas; Having sat in the assembly of monks, Will place him in the foremost position.” 264. “Oh, my well-done deed, For the Peerless Seer, the Teacher; For whom I made a resolution, And reached perfection in all (perfections). 265. “The deed done in incalculable (eons), Showed its fruit to me here; Like the speed of a well-released arrow, I burned away the defilements. 266. “Seeking the unconditioned, Nibbana, the unmoving state; Examining other teachers— all, I have wandered in existence. Just as a sick person, would seek medicine; Would search all the forest, for release from sickness. Seeking the unconditioned, Nibbāna, the deathless state; Five hundred times, without interruption, I went forth as a sage. Burdened with matted hair, wearing a deer-skin as an upper garment; Having reached the perfection of supernormal powers, I went to the Brahma-world. There is no purity in external doctrines, except for the teaching of the Victor; Whatever intelligent beings there are, they are purified in the teaching of the Victor. This is my own doing, not mere hearsay; Seeking the unconditioned, I wandered among false doctrines. Just as a person seeking essence, having cut down a plantain tree, would split it; Would find no essence there, for it is empty of essence. So too are sectarians in the world, many people with various views; They are empty of the unconditioned, like a plantain tree of essence. In my last existence, I was a kinsman of Brahmā; Having abandoned great wealth, I went forth into homelessness. First Recitation Section. A reciter, a mantra-holder, one who had mastered the three Vedas; A brahmin named Sañcaya, at his feet I dwelt. Your disciple, great hero, a brahmin named Assaji; Unapproachable, of fierce splendor, was then walking for alms. I saw him, wise, a sage composed in silence; With a calm mind, a great elephant, like a fully bloomed lotus. Seeing him, my mind arose, well-tamed, with a pure heart; This bull, this excellent hero, will be an Arahant. He moves gracefully, handsome, well-restrained; Tamed in the highest taming, he will see the Deathless. Why don't I ask him the highest meaning, with a joyful mind; He, being asked by me, will tell it, I will question him then. Alms-round... as he was walking, I followed behind; Waiting for an opportunity, to ask about the deathless state. 282. Having reached him in the street, I approached and asked; “What is your lineage, brave one, whose disciple are you, good sir?” 283. Being asked, he answered me, fearless like a lion; “A Buddha has arisen in the world, I am his disciple, friend.” 284. “What kind of teaching, great hero, noble one; Is the Buddha’s doctrine, please tell me, sir.” 285. Being asked, he told me everything, a deep and subtle statement; The destroyer of the dart of craving, the remover of all suffering. 286. “Whatever phenomena arise from a cause, their cause the Tathāgata has declared; And also their cessation, such is the teaching of the Great Ascetic.” 287. When the questions were answered, I attained the first fruit; I became stainless and pure, having heard the teaching of the Conqueror. 288. Having heard the words of the sage, having seen the supreme Dhamma; Deeply immersed in the true Dhamma, I spoke this verse. 289. “This is the Dhamma, if it is indeed, the sorrowless state of peace; Unseen, unheard of, for many tens of thousands of eons.” 290. So I, seeking the Dhamma, wandered among false doctrines; That purpose has been achieved by me, it is time for me not to be negligent. 291. Pleased by Assaji, having attained the unmoving state; Seeking my companion, I went to the hermitage. 292. Seeing me from afar, my well-trained companion; Endowed with proper deportment, spoke these words. 293.