English
The Third Story of the Poor Woman. 34. In the story of the Elder Indagutta, this is the order of events: After the passing away of our Blessed One, in Jambudīpa, in the lower region, there was a city named Pāṭaliputta. There, a king named Dhammāsoka, powerful, mighty, a wheel-turning monarch, ruled the kingdom. His command extended one yojana upwards into the sky and one yojana downwards into the earth, throughout the entire Jambudīpa. At that time, the entire Jambudīpa And eighty-four thousand kings dwelling there, taking their own forces and vehicles, came to attend upon King Dhammāsoka. At that time, in Devaputtanagara, a great king named Devaputta, taking his forces and vehicles, went to attend upon the king. Dhammāsoka, seeing King Devaputta, made a sweet greeting and asked, "Are there in your kingdom learned, erudite, greatly virtuous elders?" Hearing that, King Devaputta said, "Yes, Lord, in that city is a great monastery named Sīhakumbhaka. There dwell many thousands of monks, virtuous, desiring little, content, seeking solitude. Among them was an elder named Indagutta, a master of the commentaries and the three baskets, their chief. He, in many ways, praises the Dhamma to monks and beings with gods. He is virtuous, his virtue is known in the world." Hearing that, the king, with a delighted mind, wishing to see the elder, said, "Go yourself and ask the elder to come here." Hearing that, King Devaputta, surrounded by a great army with his elephant forces, went to the presence of Elder Indagutta, paid homage, and said, "Venerable Sir, King Dhammāsoka wishes to see the Venerable One." When the Elder agreed, the king sent word to King Dhammāsoka that the Elder had agreed. Then King Dhammāsoka, filled with joy, sent a message to the kings in the territory under his command, "Let all adorn the path for the Elder's arrival." Then those kings, delighted and pleased, having a drum paraded in their own cities, adorned the fifty-five yojanas of the road between Devaputtanagara and Pāṭaliputtanagara, making the uneven even, like a divine street for the gods, and sent this message to the great king Dhammāsoka: 1. "For the journey of the master, Indagutta the great elder, We adorn the path," Sent by the great king. 2. Then they, having removed, Stones, thorns, and such, Making the uneven even, Sweeping it well. 3. Scattering sand, Like washed pearls in brightness; Raising rows of cloth banners, Here and there. 4. Various rows of banners, Of gold, silver, plantain, and so on; Likewise, many floral, Banners upon banners. 5. In those various places, Piles of flowers were arranged; Likewise, with scented oils, Rows of lamps were lit. 6. Lotus, water lily, and water-filled, Flower and leaf adorned; Rows of pots were placed, Filled with fragrant water. 7. Blue and yellow, various, With flags and banners; On both sides of the road, It was like a dense forest. 8. Flags were raised there, With gentle breezes; Seeming to invite, Brahmas, serpents, and gods. 9. With nāga champak, punnaga, Ketaki, vakula, and so on; Lotus, water lily, and land-born, Mālatī flowers, and so on. 10. With many garlands, The road was made beautiful; Spreading cloths on the ground, On the sprinkled and leveled earth. 11. Scattering lovely, Fried rice and five kinds of flowers; Adorning their hands, With flowers, ornaments, and so on. 12. For the road's adornment, They were placed here and there; In those various places, Drums were in the middle of the circle. 13. Dancing, skilled women, Constantly filled with emotion; Holding cymbals, flutes, and so on, Playing various instruments. 14. Singing sweet songs, Singing there with rhythm; The road echoed with approval, With drums, strings, and bodies. 15. With the trumpeting of elephants, And the neighing of horses; With various shops, It was crowded with elephants. 16. On both sides of the road, Beautiful, like divine maidens; Holding bouquets of flowers, They stood with joyful minds. 17. Likewise, holding full pots, Filled with lotuses and water lilies, Holding the eight auspicious things, Women stood there. 18. Complete with cool water, Water pavilions were well adorned; For bathing, they dug, Ponds here and there. 19. Here and there were made, Beautiful alms halls; Filled with many, Gifts of charity. No action taken there. 20. Thus, various offerings, We have performed; Having established the great Ganges, May the king know this. Having heard that, King Asoka sent sixteen Yakkhas, saying, "Adorn the Ganges!" They, with their retinues, went there and, by their power, placed (the relics) in the Ganges, three gāvutas deep, on a stone mortar. Having placed (them), raised pillars, gave crossbeams, brought red sandalwood essence from the Himalayas, spread it on the platform, adorned (it) with various offerings, and sent this message to the king: "Your Majesty!" 21. For what purpose we all, Were sent by the great king; Now all that by us, Has been done, hear that. 22. Three gāvutas deep, The Ganges, a yojana wide; Having established pillars, Priceless red sandalwood. 23. Having brought from the Himalayas, A bridge there well-made; Arches on both sides, Beautifully crafted with jewels. 24. Full pots and flags, And rows of lamps as well; On both sides, jewels, Made and hung. 25. With gold, gems, pearls, etc., Adorned with garlands; Strewn with sand, Washed pearls, radiant. 26. In those various places, Great jewels were placed; With canopies of various colors, The bridge was adorned all around. 27. There were hung, Divine flowers and the like; The work here is finished, Our offering is fitting; May the god accept it, Having said thus, they sent (the message)." Having heard that too, King Asoka sent back a message to them, saying, "You yourselves bring the Elder here." They went to the presence of Elder Indagutta, paid homage, and said, "Venerable Sir, it is time to go to the city of Pāṭaliputta." Then the Elder, surrounded by a Saṅgha of about sixty thousand monks, set out on the journey of fifty-five yojanas. Then the residents of Devaputtanagara, worshiping with various garlands, perfumes, fragrant powders, flags, banners, and various musical instruments, dances, songs, and music, went along. Then the Elder, in great Not being worshipped with offerings by those dwelling in Jambudīpa, gradually reaching the bridge over the Gaṅgā, the Candabhāgā, observing the great offerings there, he thought thus: "Such splendid offerings are not now made for anyone else in Jambudīpa; this has been done for me alone. I alone am the best, without equal," thus producing pride, thinking, "I am better than the best," he stood. At that moment, a monk, a destroyer of defilements, seeing him standing there with his mind supported by pride, approached, paid homage, and advising the elder, spoke thus: Therefore, 28. Do not be under the power of pride, pride, O venerable one, having come under control, Is always the giver of harm, casting down into the round of existence. 29. A being fondled by pride, associated with craving and aversion, Becoming a monkey, snake, dog, etc., is born in various births. 30. Do not fill up pride, O master, purify yourself; An impure monk does not please the giver. 31. To those who are giving, remembering, offering, if you Are of great fruit, great prosperity, be without conceit. Having heard that, the elder, disgusted with saṃsāra, standing right there, establishing the three characteristics, contemplating the repulsive body, attained arahantship together with the discriminations, and then departed. Then, King Dhammāsoka, surrounded by a strong army, coming to meet him with great offerings, paying homage, making twice as much offering and honor, together with the great Saṅgha of monks, taking the elder to his city, hearing his Dhamma talk, with a pleased mind, established in the five precepts, having a great monastery built, supported the sixty thousand monks who had come with the elder with the four requisites. Then the elder, revealing the three baskets of the Piṭaka together with the commentary, having lived there for a long time, passed away right there. Then the king, with his retinue, having performed the disposal of his body, taking the relics, had a great shrine built. 32. Of ancient meritorious deeds on earth Thus, they greatly honor him through the power of his virtues; Gods and humans alike, keeping him in mind, Always strive to perform meritorious deeds with diligence. The Fourth Story about Indagutta Thera. 35. In the Story of the Flower-Offering Woman, this is the sequential account: Our Blessed One, having fulfilled the ten perfections, was reborn in the Tusita heaven in due course. Entreated by the gods, he took rebirth in the Sakya royal family. Emerging from his mother's womb, he attained supreme enlightenment in due course. From then on, having lived for forty-five years, he taught the eighty-four thousand sections of the Dhamma. He ferried countless beings from the wilderness of existence. Having completed all the duties of a Buddha, he lay down in Kusinara, in the Mallans' sal grove, between the twin sal trees, on a prepared couch with his head to the north, mindful and fully aware, on the Vesakha full moon day, on his right side, in the posture of a lion, never to rise again. In the last watch of the night, having exhorted the monks, at the crack of dawn, shaking the great earth, he passed into complete extinction, the element of Nibbana with no residue remaining. When the Blessed One, the Lord of the World, had passed away, the Venerable Ananda informed the Malla kings of this event. Then the people of Kusinara, along with gods, Brahmas, and others, gathered together, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating the Blessed One's body with dances, songs, music, garlands, perfumes, and the like, making canopies of cloth and so on.