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While eating, heard that sound, and sent someone to the Thera. 37. "Is there any danger?" he asked. "There is no danger; The time for hearing the Buddha's word has been announced." 38. Hearing the novice's sound, the earth deities proclaimed it; Gradually, that sound ascended to the Brahma-world. 39. By that proclamation, there was a great gathering of deities; The Thera taught the Samacitta Sutta at that assembly. 40. For countless deities, there was an understanding of the Dhamma; Many Nāgas and Supaṇṇas established themselves in the refuges. 41. Just as the Sutta of Sāriputta was spoken by the Thera, So too was the assembly of deities for Mahinda Thera. 42. The king sent a chariot, the charioteer went; "Mount the chariot, let us go to the city," he said to them. 43. "We will not mount the chariot, go, we will follow you"; Having said this and sent away the charioteer, Sumana, 44. Having risen into the air, they, with great psychic power, Descended to the east of the city, at the first stupa-site. 45. The stupa built at the place where the Theras first descended, Is still called, for that reason, the First Cetiya. 46. Having heard of the Thera's virtues, all the women of the inner palace, Desired to see the Thera, because they our great king. 47. Inside the royal park, he made a charming pavilion; covered and adorned with white cloths and flowers. 48. Having heard from the Elder about refraining from high seats, he wondered, "Will the Elder sit on a high seat?" 49. Meanwhile, the charioteer, seeing the Elders standing there, donning their robes, was greatly astonished in mind. 50. He went and informed the king; the great king, hearing everything, was certain, "They will not sit on stools." 51. Saying, "Prepare a good ground-covering," he went to meet the Elders, and respectfully saluted them. 52. Taking the bowl from the hand of the Great Elder Mahinda, he led the Elder into the city with rites of honor and worship. 53. Seeing the arrangement of seats, the soothsayers declared thus: "By these, the earth is taken; they will be rulers in this island." 54. The king, honoring them, led the Elders into the inner palace; there they sat on cloth seats as was fitting. 55. The king himself satisfied them with gruel, snacks, and food; when the meal was finished, he himself sat nearby. 56. He sent for Anulā, the wife of the viceroy, Mahānāga, who was living in the royal palace. 57. Queen Anulā arrived, with five hundred women; she worshipped and honored the Elders, and sat down to one side. 58. The Elder taught them the Petavatthu, the Vimāna, and the Saccasaṃyutta; those women attained the first fruit. 59. Having heard many virtues of the Elders, which were seen by people yesterday, the citizens, desiring to see the Elders, gathered together. 60. They made a great noise at the royal gate; the great king, hearing and knowing it, spoke for their benefit. 61. "There is a crowd for everyone here, in the hall of the auspicious elephant; cleanse it there, and these citizens will see the Elders." 62. Having cleansed that elephant stable, and adorned it well with canopies and so on, they arranged beds as was fitting. 63. The Elder went there, the great The Elder sat down; He, the great speaker, taught the Devadūta Sutta. 64. Hearing that, the assembled townsfolk became serene; Among them, a thousand beings attained the first fruit. 65. In the island of Lanka, he, like the Teacher, was incomparable; In the capital of Lanka, in two places, the Elder; Having taught the Dhamma in the island's language thus; Caused the True Dhamma to shine like a lamp for the island. In the Mahāvaṃsa, composed for the serene joy and spiritual urgency of good people, named "Entry into the City," the Fourteenth Chapter. Fifteenth Chapter The Acceptance of the Great Monastery 1. Even the elephant stables were crowded, so they gathered there; Outside the southern gate, in the beautiful Nandanavana. 2. In the royal park, densely shaded, cool, with green grass; Respectful people arranged seats for the Elders. 3. Having exited the southern gate, the Elder sat there; And many women of noble families came there. 4. They sat near the Elder, filling the park; The Elder taught them the Bālapaṇḍita Sutta. 5. A thousand women among them attained the first fruit; Thus, right there in the park, it became evening. 6. Then the Elders departed, saying, "Let us go to that mountain"; They reported to the king, and the king quickly came. 7. Having come, he said to the Elder, "It is evening, and the mountain is far; Dwelling right here in Nandanuyyāna is comfortable." 8. When it was said, "It is unsuitable, being too close to the city"; "The Mahāmeghavana park is not too far, it is near. 9. It is delightful, endowed with shade and water, let residence there be pleasing; Venerable sir, you should turn back." The Elder turned back there. 10. At that place of turning back, near the Kadamba river; A cetiya called Nivattacetiya was built, it is said. 11. The chief of chariots, leading the Elder south from Nandanavana; Led him to the eastern gate of Mahāmeghavana park. 12. There, in the delightful royal residence, beds and chairs properly; Having had them spread well, [he said] "Dwell here happily." The king, having greeted the Elder, surrounded by his ministers, entered the city. The Elders, however, stayed there that night. As soon as it was dawn, the lord of the earth took flowers, approached the Elders and worshipped them, and honored them with blossoms. He asked, "Have you rested well? Is the park comfortable?" "We have rested well, great king, the park is indeed comfortable." "Is this park suitable, Venerable Sir, for the Saṅgha?" he asked. "It is suitable," said the Elder, skilled in what is suitable and unsuitable. The Elder spoke of the acceptance of the Veḷuvana Park. Hearing that, he was delighted, and the great multitude rejoiced. The queen Anulā came to pay homage to the Elders. With five hundred women, she attained the second fruit. That queen Anulā, with five hundred, said to the lord of the earth, "We wish to go forth, O King!" The king then spoke to the Elder. "Ordain these women!" The Elder said to the lord of the earth, "It is not suitable, great king, for us to ordain women. There is in Pāṭaliputta my younger sister, a bhikkhunī. Saṅghamittā by name, she is renowned and very learned. From the great Bodhi tree of the Lord of men, the Lord of ascetics, taking the southern branch, and also excellent bhikkhunīs. Send word to our father, the king, that she should come. That Elderess, when she arrives, will ordain these women." Saying "Good!", the king took an excellent golden pitcher. "I give this Mahāmeghavana park to the Saṅgha," he said. Into the hand of Mahinda Thera, he poured the water of donation. As the water fell to the earth, the great earth trembled. "Why does the earth tremble?" the lord of the earth asked him. "Because the Dispensation is established on this island," he said. The noble one presented jasmine flowers to the Elder. The Elder went to the royal palace, and stood to its south. Upon a Picula tree, he scattered eight handfuls of flowers. There too the earth trembled. When asked, he told the reason. It was the time of three Buddhas... This is also a pavilion here; For the king's Sangha-work, it will be so even now. 30. North of the royal palace, he went to a beautiful pond; Just as many flowers, the Elder scattered there too. 31. There too the earth quaked, asked, he told its reason; "This will be a bath-house pond, O king." 32. Going to the gatehouse of that very royal palace; With just as many flowers, the sage honored that place. 33. There too the earth quaked, with hair standing on end, greatly pleased; The king asked its reason, the Elder told its reason. 34. In this eon, from the Bodhi trees of three Buddhas; Bringing the right branch, it was planted here, O king. 35. Of our Tathāgata, the right Bodhi branch; In this very place, it will be established, O king. 36. Then the Great Elder went to the Mahāmucala pavilion; Just as many flowers, he scattered in that place. 37. There too the earth quaked, asked, he told its reason; "For the Sangha, a Uposatha hall, will be here, O king." 38. To the place of the Five Mangoes pavilion, then went the king; A well-ripened mango fruit, excellent in color, scent, and taste. 39. A large one was offered by the king's gardener; That, to the Elder, the king offered, most delightful. 40. The Elder, for the good of the people, showed a way of sitting; The king had a fine mat spread there. 41. To the Elder seated there, the king gave the mango; The Elder, having eaten it, for the king to plant. 42. Gave the mango stone, the king himself planted it there; Above it, with his hands, the Elder washed for its growth. 43. At that very moment, from that seed, a sprout emerged; Gradually it became a great tree, bearing leaves and fruit. 44. Seeing that miracle, that assembly with the king; Stood revering, with hands joined to the Elder. 45. The Elder then, a handful of flowers, scattered there; There too the earth quaked, asked o, the reason for that. 46. For the Sangha, for those who have obtained gains, for many, O king, this place will be a gathering and sharing place. 47. Then, going to the four-hall place, he scattered flowers there; the earth trembled there too, with just as many flowers. 48. The king asked the reason for the tremor, the Elder explained: In the royal park, at the reception of three past Buddhas. 49. Offerings brought from all over by the island dwellers, were placed here, and the three Sugatas with their Sangha were fed. 50. Now, right here, a four-hall will be built; this will be the refectory for the Sangha, O king. 51. To the place suitable for a great stupa, the Elder Mahinda, illuminator of the island, went, knowing suitable and unsuitable places. 52.