English
"Why don't I go there and worship the Great Bodhi Tree of victory of the Buddha?" Thinking thus, having many silver and gold garlands made, one day, mounting the horse, going through the sky, standing near the Bodhi Tree enclosure, she announced, "Let the noble ones who are coming, worship with golden garlands!" Hence this: 4. "Since I, with a pure mind, Am devoted to the Buddha's teaching, By that truth, with a mind to favor me, 5. Let them come, let them pay homage, Let them worship the Bodhi Tree well; With golden garlands, the Buddha's Sons, the noble disciples." 6. Hearing that word, noble ones, Many residents of Sri Lanka; Coming through the sky there, Paid homage and greatly revered. From then on, that maiden, greatly devoted to the Buddha's teaching, always mounting the horse, coming and worshiping the Great Bodhi Tree with golden garlands together with the noble ones, would depart. Then, forest dwellers in the park of Pataliputta city, seeing her beauty as she frequently came and went, told the king, "O Great King, such a maiden, mounting a horse, comes and constantly pays homage and departs. She would be a suitable chief queen for the king." The king, hearing that, said, "Then, good sirs, seize that maiden; I will make her my chief queen." He made an effort, so those men employed, thinking, "We will seize her as she comes after worshipping the Bodhi tree," lay hidden there, ready to seize her. Then that maiden, mounting her horse, went to the great Bodhi-mandala, performed flower offerings with those free from disease, paid homage, and returned. Then one of them, named Dhammarakkhita Thera, said to her, "Sister, thieves are standing in wait to seize you on the road; having reached such-and-such a place, go quickly, being heedful." She too, going and reaching that place, being pursued by the thieves, gave a signal with the horse's heel and departed. The thieves pursued her from behind. The horse, generating speed, leaped into the sky. The maiden, unable to maintain the speed, slipped from the horse's back and, falling, said, "Remember the help I did, my son!" He, seeing her falling, went swiftly, seated her on his back, and, carrying her through the sky, set her down in her own place. Therefore, 7. Even those gone to the animal realm, Remembering a benefactor thus, Do not forsake them, thinking, "Let beings be grateful." Then that maiden, having given up wealth of seventy crores to the Buddha's dispensation, having kept the precepts for as long as she lived, having performed the Uposatha observance, having passed away from there, was reborn in the deva-world, like one awakened from sleep. 8. Even young women like this, Having done various meritorious deeds, go to heaven; Considering the great fruit of merit, How can you be indifferent to giving, honor, and the like? The fourth story, "Buddhena's." 5. In the story of Ahituṇḍika, this is the sequential narrative: It is said that in this auspicious aeon, before our Blessed One, a teacher named Kassapa arose in the world, having ferried the world with its devas across the ocean of samsara, having completed all the Buddha-duties, he passed away into the Nibbana-element without remainder, like the sun setting in the west. Then all the inhabitants of Jambudipa, having gathered together, each offered a golden brick, worth a crore, adorned with various jewels, to the outside. They made a stupa a league wide, using a crore and a half to fill the interior with red arsenic and clay work, making a great offering. Then a snake charmer, making a living playing snakes in villages, towns, and cities, arrived at a village. Having played snakes there, and having eaten and enjoyed the various gifts of food and delicacies given by the satisfied villagers, he took up residence there and sat down. It seems that in that village, most people were devoted to the Triple Gem. Therefore, as they lay down at night, they would say, "Namo Buddhāya," and so on. But that snake charmer, being of wrong view, did not know the virtues of the Triple Gem. Therefore, hearing their words, he himself, playing around, would say "Namo Buddhāya" in jest. Then one day, he was wandering around, searching for a snake suitable for his playing. Then a Nāga king, having gone to the stupa of Kassapa the Ten-Powered One and worshipped, entered an anthill. Seeing him, the snake charmer quickly went and chanted a mantra to catch the Nāga king. Hearing the mantra, he became angry and chased after him, intending to kill him. Seeing him, the snake charmer, fleeing quickly, slipped on a stone and, falling, due to his previous habit of jesting, said "Namo Buddhāya" as he fell. That word fell like nectar into the ear of the Nāga king who was chasing him. Then, out of reverence for the Triple Gem, he extinguished his anger towards him, saying, "Do not fear. I am bound by the noose of the power of the Triple Gem mantra. Therefore, it is not fitting for me to bite you. Today I am pleased with you, I will give you a gift." He gave three golden flowers, saying, "Take them." Thus, the Triple Gem pleases the minds even of snakes with terrible venom. Here are the verses: 1. "Buddha" is the best word, "Buddha" is the supreme phrase; There is nothing equal to it in the world, another elixir for the ear. 2. Dhamma is the best word, Dhamma is the supreme term; There is nothing equal to it in the world, another elixir for the ear. 3. Sangha is the best word, Sangha is the supreme term; There is nothing equal to it in the world, another elixir for the ear. 4. That mouth is truly a mouth, which always speaks; The Buddha's word is rare, bestowing all prosperity. 5. That mind is truly a mind, which dwells in mindfulness; The Buddha's word is rare, bestowing all prosperity. 6. That alone is armor on the body, that alone is a wish-fulfilling gem; That alone is a fragrant cow, that alone is a wish-granting tree. 7. That ear is truly an ear, which hears this; The Buddha's word is rare, bestowing all prosperity. 8. Such a terrible poison, always a deadly poison; Hearing the word "Buddha," the slave rejoiced in life. 9. He gave three golden flowers, precious and abundant; See the great power, of the word "Buddha." Then the Nāga king gave him those golden flowers and said: "Good sir, offer one of these for your merit and one for my merit. With the other, live happily for as long as you live, supporting your children and wife, not neglecting generosity and other virtues. Do not engage in base deeds, and abandon wrong views," he advised and departed. The snake charmer, filled with joy, worshiped the shrine with two flowers in the manner described, and with one he obtained a thousand, supporting his children and wife with them, giving alms to the poor, beggars, merchants, and others, abandoning the snake-charming profession, accumulating only merit, and at the end of his life, he was destined for heaven. 10. Thus, an ignorant being, through the Buddha's power, Obtains special wealth by merely uttering his name; What then of those who know, what is the Buddha's power, Why not speak the name of the Conqueror, abandoning other tasks? The story of the snake charmer is the fifth. 6. In the story of Sarana Thera, this is the sequence of events: In Savatthi, there was a householder named Sumana. He was. His wife was named Sujampatikā. Living in their house, later they had a son and a daughter. Then, when they were young, their parents passed away, calling the elder brother and saying, "Son, we were unable to settle you in a suitable place, take all the wealth we have in the house. And you yourself should see to the growth of your younger sister," and placing the younger sister's hand in the elder brother's hand, they passed away. Then, after performing the cremation rites for his parents, he lived, and in time, he connected his younger sister with a suitable family, and he himself took a wife. Then, later, his younger sister became pregnant and one day said to her husband, "Husband, I wish to see my brother." He replied, "Good, my dear," and with suitable gifts, he set out with her. At that time, the Blessed One, well-clothed and well-robed, surrounded by the Sangha of monks, entered the city for alms, emitting rays of six-colored dense Buddhahood. Seeing the Blessed One, with minds full of joy, they bowed with the five-point prostration and stood aside. Then, seeing the potential of those Jayampatika, he established them in the refuges and the precepts and said this: "Whenever suffering arises for you, the Tathagata should be remembered." Thus: 1. Whatever fear arises, born of kings, thieves, or the like; Then remember the Fully Awakened One, surely escaping that trouble. 2. Whatever harm there is, born of spirits, ghosts, or the directions; Then remember the Fully Awakened One, surely escaping that harm. 3. Lions, tigers, bears, or born of white lotuses or the like; Then remember the Fully Awakened One, surely escaping that harm. 4. Heat, fire, wind, or born of water, lightning, or the like; Then remember the Fully Awakened One, surely escaping that harm. 5. Diseases like fever, poison, or born of frost; Then remember the Fully Awakened One, surely escaping that harm. 6. When one fights with death, even then... For beings. Then the Buddha should be remembered, wishing for one's own victory. Then they, rejoicing in the Blessed One's words, paid homage and departed. Then Jeṭṭhaka, seeing them arrived, paid due respect. Her husband, having stayed there a few days, entrusting his wife to Jeṭṭhaka, departed saying, "I have business in my village." Then her brother, summoning his wife, said, "Dear, do everything that needs to be done for her." From then on, she, attending to her with water, food, and drink, developing a craving for the ornaments on her hands, feet, neck, and body, and unable to suppress it, stopped eating and lay down on the bed as if ill.