English
Homage to that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. Minor Collection Chronicle of the Buddhas 1. The Chapter of the Jewel Walk 1. Brahmā Sahampati, lord of the world, with joined palms, implored the peerless one: “There are beings here with little dust in their eyes, teach the Dhamma, out of compassion for this generation.” 2. For that steadfast one, perfect in knowledge and conduct, the radiant one, the last body-bearer, For the Tathāgata, the incomparable person, compassion arose for all beings. 3. “These gods and humans do not know what kind of supreme man this Buddha is; What kind of power of psychic might and power of wisdom, what kind of Buddha-power for the welfare of the world. 4. “These gods and humans do not know that this Buddha is such a supreme man; Such is the power of psychic might and the power of wisdom, such is the Buddha-power for the welfare of the world. 5. “Come now, I will display the unsurpassed Buddha-power; I will create a walk, adorned with jewels, in the sky.” 6. The terrestrial devas, the Great Royal devas, the Tāvatiṃsa, the Yāma devas, and the Tusita, The Nimmanaratī, and the Paranimmitavasavattī, and those of the Brahma-world, rejoiced and made a great sound. 7. The earth, with its devas, was illuminated, and the vast inter-world spaces were uncovered; And the dense darkness was then dispelled, seeing the wondrous miracle. 8. Among devas, gandhabbas, humans, and rākkhasas, a great and vast radiance arose; In this world and the other, and in both, below and above, and across, it spread. 9. The supreme being, the peerless leader, the Teacher, was honored by devas and humans; Of great might, with a hundred marks of merit, he displayed a wondrous miracle. 10. Implored by the chief of devas, the Seer, the supreme man, then considering the welfare, The leader of the world created a walk, perfectly made, constructed of all jewels. 11. In psychic power, in mind-reading, and in instruction, the Blessed One was master of the three miracles; The leader of the world created a walk, perfectly made, constructed of all jewels. aṃ. 12. In the ten-thousand world system, on the highest Sineru mountain; He showed the pillars in order, on a jeweled promenade. 13. Beyond the ten-thousand, the Conqueror made a promenade; With all-golden sides, on a jeweled promenade. 14. With crossbeams and rafters, covered with golden planks; Golden railings all around, built on both sides. 15. Strewn with jewels and pearls, made of jewels; It illuminates all directions, like a risen sun. 16. On that promenade, the wise one, with thirty-two excellent marks; The resplendent Fully Awakened One, the Conqueror walked on the promenade. 17. Divine Mandārava flowers, lotuses, Pārichattaka flowers; All the assembled devas scatter them on the promenade. 18. The hosts of devas, in the ten-thousand, see him, delighted; Bowing down, they prostrate, joyful and elated. 19. The Tāvatiṃsa and Yāma devas, and also the Tusita devas; The Nimmānaratī devas, and the Vasavattī devas; With uplifted hearts, joyful, they see the leader of the world. 20. Devas and Gandharvas, humans and Rakkhasas, Nāgas, Supaṇṇas, and also Kinnaras; They see him, compassionate for the welfare of the world, like the greatly risen moon in the sky. 21. The Ābhassara, Subhakiṇha, Vehapphala, and Akaniṭṭha devas; Clad in pure white garments, stand with joined palms. 22. They release five-colored flowers, Mandārava mixed with sandalwood powder; And they wave their clothes in the sky then, "Oh, the Conqueror is compassionate for the welfare of the world. 23. "You are the teacher and the banner, the flag and the sacrificial post for beings; The refuge and the support, the lamp and the best of bipeds. 24. "In the ten-thousand world system, the devas of great power; Surround and bow down, joyful and elated. 25. "Devas and deva maidens, with clear and joyful minds; With five-colored flowers, they worship the bull among men. 26. "The hosts of devas see him, with clear and joyful minds; With five-colored flowers they worship the best of men. 27. “Oh, how wondrous in the world, how amazing, hair-raising; Never before has such a thing existed, a wonder, hair-raising.” 28. In their own abodes, the deities sat; They laughed a great laugh, seeing the wonder in the sky. 29. Those in the sky and on the earth, those dwelling in grass and on paths; With joined palms, they bowed, delighted and joyful. 30. Even the long-lived nāgas, meritorious and mighty; Delighted, they bowed, they worshipped the supreme man. 31. They performed concerts, in the sky, in the windless space; They played hide-covered instruments, seeing the wonder in the sky. 32. Conches and drums, and many other small drums; They resounded in the atmosphere, seeing the wonder in the sky. 33. “Truly, today a wonder, a hair-raising event has arisen for us; Surely we shall attain success, the moment has been prepared for us.” 34. Hearing “Buddha,” joy arose in them at once; Saying “Buddha, Buddha,” they stood with joined palms. 35. Cheers and acclamations, shouts of joy and delight; Various beings in the sky, uttered with joined palms. 36. They sang and praised and played, they clapped their arms and danced; They scattered five-colored flowers, mandārava mixed with sandalwood powder. 37. “Just as on your feet, Great Hero, are the marks of wheels; Banners, thunderbolts, flags, and the increasing goad. 38. “In form, in virtue, in concentration, and in wisdom, you are unequalled; In liberation, you are incomparable, in setting the Wheel of Dhamma in motion. 39. “The strength of ten elephants in your body, is your natural strength; In power of psychic might, you are unequalled, in setting the Wheel of Dhamma in motion. 40. “Thus endowed with all virtues, possessed of all excellent qualities; Worship the Great Sage, the compassionate one, the Lord of the world. 41. “Homage and praise, veneration and commendation; Bowing and worship and all, you are worthy. 42. Whoever in the world are worthy of veneration, whoever deserve homage; Great Hero, best of all, your equal is not found. 43. Sāriputta, greatly wise, skilled in concentration and meditation; Standing on Gijjhakūṭa, he sees the world's leader. 44. Like a fully bloomed royal sāla tree, like the moon in the sky; Like the sun at midday, he beheld the bull among men. 45. Like a blazing lamp-tree, like the rising young sun; Adorned with a fathom-long aura, he sees the steadfast world's leader. 46. Of five hundred monks, who had done their duty, the steadfast ones; Destroyers of defilements, pure ones, he gathered them in an instant. 47. He displayed a wonder called 'Gladdening the World'; We too, going there, will venerate the Conqueror. 48. "Come all, let us go, let us question the Conqueror; Let us dispel our doubts, having seen the world's leader." 49. "So be it!" they assented, prudent, with senses restrained; Taking their bowls and robes, they quickly approached. 50. Surrounded by pure ones, destroyers of defilements, by the tamed, supreme in self-control; Sāriputta, greatly wise, approached by psychic power. 51. Surrounded by those monks, Sāriputta, the great leader; Playing like a god in the sky, approached by psychic power. 52. Having disregarded coughing and spitting, the good ones; Respectful and reverent, they approached the Fully Awakened One. 53. Having approached, they saw the self-existent, the world's leader; The steadfast one, high in the sky, like the moon in the sky. 54. Like a blazing lamp-tree, like lightning in the sky; Like the sun at midday, they saw the world's leader. 55. All five hundred monks saw the world's leader; Like a perfectly clear lake, like a fully bloomed lotus. 56. Raising their joined hands, delighted, overjoyed; Bowing down, they prostrated at the Teacher's feet, marked with the wheel. 57. Sāriputta, greatly wise, like a koraṇḍa flower. Skilled in concentration and jhāna, he reveres the Leader of the World. 58. Roaring like a dark cloud, like a blue lotus, unequalled in power of psychic might, is Moggallāna, the greatly powerful. 59. And the elder Mahākassapa, like refined gold, foremost among those with ascetic practices, praised and extolled by the Teacher. 60. Foremost in divine vision, Anuruddha, the great leader, the Buddha’s noble kinsman, stands not far away. 61. Skilled in offenses and non-offenses, and in their remedies, foremost in Vinaya, Upāli, extolled by the Teacher. 62. Penetrating subtle and profound meanings, the chief of speakers, the leader, the son of the sage Mantāṇī, is renowned as Puṇṇa. 63. Understanding their minds, the Muni, skilled in similes, the Great Hero, dispeller of doubt, spoke of his own qualities. 64. “Those four are immeasurable, whose extent is not known: the mass of beings, and space, and the infinite world-systems; the Buddha’s knowledge is immeasurable, these cannot be fully known. 65. “What is this wonder in the world, this display of my psychic power? There are many other wonders, marvels that cause hair to stand on end. 66. “When I was in the Tusita realm, then I was named Santusita; ten thousand [world-systems] gathered, and implored me with clasped hands. 67. “‘It is time for you, Great Hero, to be born in a mother’s womb; saving the world with its gods, awaken to the deathless state.’ 68. “When I descended from the Tusita realm, and entered the womb, the ten-thousand-world-system earth then trembled. 69. “When I emerged from my mother’s womb, fully conscious, the ten thousand [world-systems] trembled, uttering words of approval. 70. “There is none equal to my descent, nor to my birth and renunciation; I am supreme in enlightenment, and in the turning of the Wheel of Dhamma. 71. “Oh, how wonderful in the world, the greatness of the Buddhas’ qualities! The ten-thousand-world-system