English
They carried the Blessed One's body to the middle of the city, to the Mallans' shrine called Makutabandhana. There, just as with the body of a universal monarch, they wrapped it in a new cloth, then wrapped it in teased cotton, and thus wrapped it in five hundred layers of cloth. They placed it in an iron oil trough, covered it with another iron trough, and built a pyre of all kinds of fragrant woods. They placed the Blessed One's body on the pyre. Then, when the Venerable Mahakassapa had bowed to the Blessed One's feet with his head, by the power of the deities, the pyre blazed up on all sides with a single burst. When the Blessed One's body had been cremated, relics resembling jasmine buds remained. It is said that in that In the Kosala king's realm, a village woman, when the Blessed One had passed away, was coming to the Sādhukīḷha festival. Afflicted on the road by a wind disease arisen in her body, unable to reach Sādhukīḷha, going to the shrine of the Teacher, she offered three branch-flowers to the Blessed One's relics, with a gladdened mind, venerating with the five-point prostration, she departed. In that very night, in the middle watch, dying, she was reborn in a thirty-yojana golden mansion in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. To reveal her past deed, wheel-sized branch-flowers hung here and there. With those, the entire mansion became exceedingly radiant. It was like a fragrant casket. Seeing her own form attained to beauty, the mansion's splendor, and the abundance of attendants, with a bewildered mind, "By what meritorious deed of mine was this obtained?" she looked around. Seeing the three branch-flowers offered to the Blessed One's relics, with a gladdened mind, holding a branch-garland the size of a great wheel in her hand, she went to honor the relics. Then, the people gathered there, seeing her beauty and the large branch-garland in her hand, with bewildered minds, asked, "Lady, where do you dwell? Where did you obtain this flower?" Hearing that, the goddess, showing them all the wealth obtained through the power of the three branch-garlands offered to the Blessed One's relics, the divine mansion, and her former dead body, at the end of the Dhamma talk, said: 1. Come together, good sirs, behold my wealth; by a deed so small, to the relics of the truly awakened Buddha. 2. Just three branch-garlands, I offered to the Sage's relics; having worshipped, content, I returned that night. 3. Dying from the harsh wind, I remembered that good deed; by that meritorious act, I have gone to Tāvatiṃsa. 4. There, I... There was a palace, thirty yojanas high; Crowded with excellent pinnacled buildings, well-known as Sākhamāla. As a casket is permeated, with all kinds of fragrances; So was my mansion, perfumed with divine scents. Flower-sprays the size of wheels, were to be found here and there; Divine scents wafted, frequented by intoxicated bees. From a single flower, dust particles the size of gourds burst forth; With them the gods were sprinkled, playing and sporting. Wearing garlands and necklaces, of exquisite divine ornaments; The sons of gods, together with nymphs, were engaged in dance and song. Behold this, O serpents, beings veiled by delusion; Yesterday my corpse, was cast away dead, become foul. Swarming with worms, played upon by swarms of flies; A great meal for crows, jackals, and other beings, a charnel ground. Men formerly desired it, by various means; Now they do not even wish to look at it, alas for the blindness of craving. Of the lamp of the world, the stainless, the glorious; Yesterday my relic was duly honored on earth, today it is established in heaven. Having abandoned such a body, now I have obtained this; Behold me shining, with divine splendor. Listen to my words, as I speak, gathered here; For one who has not done good deeds, there is not even a particle of happiness. Even a drop of a seed of merit, which one plants in the Dispensation; It does not become fruitless, until the attainment of Nibbāna. Thus that goddess, having shown the divine glory she had regained, having exhorted the people, having honored the relic of the Conqueror with divine flower-sprays, even as the people were looking on, together with her celestial mansion, departed to the world of the gods. Having seen that, the great multitude, having performed meritorious deeds such as giving, filled the world of the gods. Thus she, with a mere flower, Having honored the relic, obtained prosperity among the gods; You too, good sirs, if you desire happiness in the triple heaven, Do likewise. Merit is good. The Story of Sākhamālapūjikā, the Fifth. 36. In the story of Moriya the Brahmin, this is the sequential narrative: After our Blessed One had attained Parinibbāna, in the Magadha country, there was a great village named Macala. There dwelt a Brahmin named Moriya, faithful and serene. He had a wife named Senā. She too was faithful and serene towards the Triple Gem. Both of them, united and harmonious, inviting the Sangha of monks, constantly maintained generosity, attending to them with the four requisites such as robes, maintaining virtue, observing the Uposatha, spending their days. Then, in his house, wealth was mostly exhausted in generosity and such. Then the Brahmin's wife announced to her husband, "Our wealth in the house is depleted. How shall we continue generosity?" Then the Brahmin said, "Do not worry, my dear. By some means or other, I will establish generosity," and declaring his own enthusiasm in that very matter, he said: 1. Knowing in the world, that this is the fruit of generosity; Who would not give to the virtuous, even a little, day by day? 2. Generosities are the cause of heavenly worlds, for the wise here; Who indeed in the world, would not give, delighting in welfare? Having said thus, "My dear, entering the forest, bringing various kinds of leaves and fruits, filling his basket, even by selling them, I will not interrupt generosity," he said, and from then on, going to the forest, bringing leaves and fruits, selling them, giving alms, he resided there. Then one day, the Brahmin, entering the forest, filling his basket with leaves and fruits, carrying it on his head, coming home, seeing a beautiful cave, adorned with flowers, fruits, and leaves, filled with various groups of trees, frequented by many cuckoos and quadrupeds, with sandy ground covered with scattered endless flower petals and stamens, with streams of cool, clear water flowing, beautiful with mud-free, low-lying, easily accessible banks, he placed the basket on the bank and descended to bathe. At that moment, a deity dwelling in a certain tree there... Seeing him bathing there, considering with divine eye, whether this being has good intentions or bad, "This is a wonderful man! Even in poverty, fearing the interruption of his tradition of giving, going to the forest, bringing leaves and fruits, living with difficulty and hardship, he does not interrupt the practice of giving." Reflecting on his virtues, he willed that all the leaves and fruits placed in the basket become gold. Then, by his power, everything became gold. Then, having placed a basket full of gold, and on top of the heap of gold, a great jewel that grants all desires, he vanished, stepping back and standing aside. Then the brahmin, having bathed and emerged, saw the basket, filled with pure gold color, and the jewel shining with mingled light. "What is this?" Anxious and suspicious, he went near the basket, unable to stretch out his hand, he stood there. Seeing him, the divine being, standing with a visible body, said, "Do not be afraid, brahmin. These were created by me, take them and go." Then the brahmin, hearing the words of the divine being, "This divine being says, 'These were created by me, take them and go.' I will ask him, whether he gives it by his own power, or by the merit I have made." With hands folded, he asked the divine being, saying: "I ask with folded hands now, divine being of great power, you give me gold, and the excellent jewel that grants desires. You are not a relative of ours, nor a friend, nor a benefactor. Seeing what advantage, would you give me this wealth? By what austerity, by what virtue, by what conduct and quality, would you give to me, divine being? What good deed of mine is accumulated? What ancient deed is it, by what action do you give? Or do you give by your power? Explain that to me, I ask." Then the divine being said, "Indeed, I, brahmin, am not a divine being able to give anything to others. By you, in the past..." Saying that it arose by the power of that utterance, and seeing his past deed with divine vision, he declared it to him: 7. In the time of Kassapa, the light of the world, When the Buddha had passed away, Everywhere was spread, The teaching of that Buddha. 8. Then in a border village, You were a young man of good family; Faithful you were, and serene, A giver, delighting in good deeds. 9. Then a monk, having gone forth, Was walking along an intermediate path; He was pursued by thieves, His robe and bowl were torn. 10. Having arranged a broken branch, And covering himself with it as it was, He entered the village, Seeking alms. 11. Then you, seeing him wandering, With a mind moved with compassion, Gave him a pair of cloths, Believing in the fruit of giving. 12. Having served that monk With choice food to the best of your ability, And having sent him away with reverence, With a mind purified by faith. 13. This merit you performed, This was your conduct; Of that meritorious deed of yours, Such is the chief fruit. And having said this, he said, "This wealth of yours, Brahmin, has been made unseizable by me from kings and others. Take it without hesitation and do as you please. Moreover, this jewel-treasure produces whatever is desired. By that power also, without interrupting your giving, support your children and wife," he instructed.