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Jinavaṃsadīpaṃ - (Victor Lamp)(English | 中文 | བོད་ཡིག)

English

A handful of hair, like the glory of a Sevāli lotus petal, he gave; 6. Reaching their country, those two, casting those relics, While the Blessed One was still alive, established a great stupa, Astonishing the forest deities, where the Ajapāla Banyan tree was, there the Victor went from that handful; 7. "This Dhamma is self-attained, hard to understand, hard to see," Thus he reflected on the depth of the Dhamma, He became disinclined, knowing the Blessed One's mind, great Brahmā came and requested him to teach what he had attained; 8. Accepting the request of Brahmā, the world's refuge, "I should teach this incomparable Dhamma, hard to see, But to whom?" remembering, Āḷāra and Uddaka, He saw their passing away, unable to comprehend; 9. Turning his mind, the wise sage, to those five... May it be well with you. Where do those monks, skilled in the Dhamma, now dwell? Having known it was at Isipatana in Bārāṇasī, in the month of Āsāḷha, On the fifteenth day, the Unequalled One entered Bārāṇasī. 10. Seeing the ascetic Upaka coming, on the road, during his journey, Declaring his Buddhahood, he dispelled his doubt from afar with a sign, Having turned him away, the disciplined one made a group, united. 11. Knowing the disturbance in their minds, he radiated loving-kindness, The Lion of Men, dwelt touching them, as it were. Having bowed to the Lord, with hands joined, nails aligned, They went to greet him, spread out a seat, and honored him there. 12. "Do not trouble yourself, come, friend," with such words, Having made the monks understand his own omniscience, He adorned the Buddha's seat, established at Isipatana in Bārāṇasī, With eighteen crores and ninety brahmās. 13. Having set in motion the Dhamma-wheel, the benefactor, the Conqueror, In Koṇḍañña and other monks, he established eighteen crores, Of brahmās in the first fruit; the earth trembled greatly, This earth-maiden, at the end of the discourse. 14. The Elder Vappa on the second day, thus in the order of days, Became stream-enterers, others disciplined, following zeal, All the elders, at the time of the spoken, expanded emptiness, In that discourse, free from fear, were those who had abandoned defilements. 15. Having become disgusted with all things, having left his dwelling, Seeing the son of a noble family, Yasa, having summoned him, On that night, the first fruit, at the end of the night, on that day, He ordained him, causing him to attain the higher fruits of the path. 16. Having ordained Yasa, son of a noble family, and his intimate friends, He caused an additional fifty-four to attain the fruit of the path, Thus, when a group of sixty arahants had arisen on earth, At the end of the rains, the Sage sent those monks out on pilgrimage. 17. Going like a lion, the Great Hero himself to Uruvelā, Seeing thirty people in a cotton-field grove, He ordained those well-disciplined thirty youths, The Bhaddavaggiyas, Following the path, tasting the fruit of the path, They wandered on. 18. The leader, the conqueror, with matted hair unbound, Then reached Uruvela, Showing the removal of doubt, That excellent miracle, Having ordained the chief ascetics, The three brothers, in various ways, Cutting off the inner and outer tangles, He made them disciplined. 19. Having ordained many ascetics, Making others tangle-free, With them, eleven hundred great arahants, Unequalled, Emitting in every direction intensely, Six-hued rays, beautiful, Remembering the king's words, He entered Rājagaha, the city. 20. There, while the Buddha was dwelling In the Laṭṭhivana grove, That story, delightful to hear, Spoken by the park-keeper, Having heard, with lotus-like hands joined, He honored the footstool, The lord, with twelve myriads, Came, that Magadhan. 21. Breaking the view long held, Those headed by Kassapa lived, Seeing the Buddha then Practicing the Dhamma there, Without doubt, he drank The Dhamma-nectar, most sweet, With eleven myriads, He attained the fruit of the path. 22. Having gained assurance, with sorrow gone, Becoming a great lay follower, "Tomorrow, may the Sangha headed by the Buddha Accept alms from me," Having requested, bowing to the pair of lotus feet, He arose and went with his retinue, He, Bimbisāra by name. 23. In the morning, from the city of Rājagaha, Eighteen crores To see the Buddha, of unequaled glory, In Laṭṭhivana, the citizens, Heaped together, on the second day, Even for one monk, Because of the crowding, there was no space To enter, even for a long time. 24. Considering what was not pleasing, Sakka, the newly-made youth, Generated a warm seat, Thinking, "Let the Blessed One, The path crossed, be in front, Describing the three objects with verses, Accept food without interruption." 25. Having given alms to the Sangha headed by the Buddha, To Rājagaha, Having arrived, bowing to the city, Except for the three objects, "Venerable sir, how can I, At any time, Desire to live here?" Thus he announced, wishing to approach. 26. The mango grove named Veḷudāyavhaya, With dense shade and secluded breeze, My garden, surpassing the Suras' forest, Is not too far from here. Worshiping at the Jina's lotus hands, Adorned with a web of rays, The king poured Hari- Bhiṅkāra water upon it. 27. The earth, adorned with Lokālokācala's slopes, With the Viñjhā forest as its eyes, The Ganges as its eyelashes, and Danaka peak as its arms, Tikuṭa as its breasts, Resounding, clothed in the ocean, As if rejoicing in the merit, "Sādhu, Sādhu!" Thus, the earth trembled at that moment. 28. The Teacher, accepting that most beautiful park, Spoke the Dhamma and departed, surrounded by monks, rising from their seats. At that time, those two steadfast friends, Wandering, searching for their respective villages and towns. 29. Wandering there, for alms in that village, Seeing the tamed and controlled Assaji Thera, The brahmin named Upatissa, finding an opportunity, Following his footsteps, hearing two lines of a verse, Became a Sotāpanna, severing the three fetters. 30. Hearing that verse, the nectar-sweet, Sāriputta, severing the three fetters, And Moggallāna, after that, Having ordained those two people, leading the wanderers, Reaching the park, they pleased the Teacher, the supreme nectar. 31. Within a week, grasping the great elements, Moggallāna attained the three paths and their fruits, In half a month, being energetic, Hearing a verse spoken by another, Hearing the Dhamma, he attained mastery, the general of the Dhamma. 32. The Lord of the Dhamma, at some time, Declared them both to be my disciples, "The foremost, the auspicious, a pair," thus the sage. Knowing their former conduct, he established them in the foremost positions, Delighting the entire assembly, like the moon in a jasmine grove. 33. Hearing, "My son, Suddhodana's royal son, Has now become a Buddha, dwelling for a long time, relying on Rājagaha, Rescuing all beings from the wilderness of Saṃsāra, Turning the wheel of the good Dhamma, bestowing liberation," 34. I am old and aged, Having reached the end of my life. While still alive, I wish, I wish to see my son, he said. Having spoken thus, he sent more than a hundred, One advisor there, "Bring my son into my sight," He ordered. 35. Going, the advisor saw the Buddha, Preaching the Dhamma to a fourfold assembly. With joined palms, with his retinue, He stood to one side there. Hearing the Dhamma, supremely sweet, Attaining the highest path and fruit, Ordaining, he contracted the lotus of the king's heart, Causing it to wither. 36. Eight times again, with his retinue, The king sent other eight advisors. Just as before, the advisors went, But did not return. Having ordained, having attained the fruits, Those too, with sharp intellect, Did not please the king's mind, Cutting the bonds of attachment. 37. "My time of death is uncertain, I am old now, dear ones. Therefore, who is able, To bring my son into my sight?" Having spoken thus, again with his retinue, Causing sorrow, The king, granting permission, Sent an advisor to ordain. 38. Reaching the monastery, surrounded by people, Hearing the truth-seer speak, The advisor, with steadfast mind, Heard the gradual discourse on the four truths. Ordaining, having destroyed the fear of becoming, Becoming a perfected arahant, He attained the highest state, Among those who inspire confidence in their lineage here. 39. From Kesipattana in Bārāṇasī, To Rājagaha, Of the Buddha, more than a few, Five months had passed. With the passing of the cold season, In the peaceful spring, Like a jewel-filled vessel, The garden women adorned themselves with mango shoots. 40. Knowing the time, to Kapilavatthu, For the Buddha, the knower of time, "Now is the time to go," So said Kāḷudāyi, the master of himself. Describing the time for departure, To create a welcome, For his relatives, with a sweet voice, He sang various verses. 41. Slowly, slowly, a fragrant breeze, Now blows, Covered with flowers, the forest branches, Thronged with intoxicated swarms of bees. The Ganges, with clear water, Blooming with lotuses and water lilies, Evening and morning, in the daytime, open, All directions are clear. 42. Venerable sir, on the path, new leaf tips, Shine like flames. O mango blossom! Covered in ashes, with darkness intensified by swarms of bees, Do even a bit of the forest fire of fully bloomed mango trees, Which torments separated lovers, Cause heat in your mind now? 43. Now, those blinded by desire are greatly saddened, By the Asoka trees with branches broken, petals fallen, on the path, Elsewhere, even the tender shoots, That once adorned your hand, are tormented by the footfalls of forest women. 44. Having drunk the juice of ripe mango fruits, intoxicated cuckoos, Sing sweetly and melodiously like heralds in the courtyard, A line of village women, O Sage, To worship at your feet with fresh lotuses, bowed down yesterday, now.