English
45. Clinging to the roots, with split branches, a handful of flowers now, They seem to point out and honor you as you approach, Tossed by the wind, buzzing with bees, a heap of pollen, Spreads a golden conch-like splendor before your face. 46. O Venerable One, having spent a long time dwelling in cool, clear water, Like lotuses whose buds are opening, slightly curled, They seem to come now for refuge at your blessed feet, Rising up, abandoning mental anguish, the heat of spring. 47. Provisions, lotus and water lily, adorned beaks, melodiously, Chirping, flying in the path of the wind now, Like a canopy covered with blooming flowers, The sound of anklets fills the air as a line of swans goes over your head. 48. Adorned with jewels and gold, offering handfuls, Forest women, who have not trod the path, shower you with parched grain, Your pair of feet are adorned with pollen, Creepers swaying gently, branches adorned with bees and tender shoots. 49. Having mounted the horse of the wind, desire's arrow-maker, Now fitting arrows of bees to his quiver of mango blossoms, With the arrogance of a collection of campaka and other flower buds, The world is lost, striking the minds of many people with arrows of delusion. 50. Since your father, King Suddhodana, the banner of the Solar Dynasty, Old and aged, has sent me here, wishing to see you, Therefore, O Venerable One, to Kapil A homeless one, a mine of men to be trained, Having cut the king's heart, distraught with grief, to awaken him; 51. "Well, I will go, without doubt, having reached the king, I will lift my father and other relatives from the sea of sorrow," Thus speaking, with lips like a beryl adorned with rays of teeth, Surrounded by the Dhamma's essence, he left the royal palace. 52. Having reached the king's upper chamber, Udāyi, distraught with grief, by his power, Having eaten, approaching him, announced, "For the Buddha, a meal brought by your father, having taken it as alms, Comforting, he goes through the sky, that family distraught with grief." 53. Eating that daily, day by day, a league a league, Shortening it, urged by supreme compassion, to the park, Having led twenty thousand perfected ones, the conqueror, The abode of prosperity, descended at Kapilavatthu in two months. 54. "When the Blessed One arrives, where shall we, the best of kinsmen, See him?" with minds not abandoning curiosity, the Sakyans, "A park, a pleasant grove, a wind-sheltered place," for the Sakyan, Like him, there they built a new dwelling. 55. Going forth to meet him, with hands full of fragrant flowers, The conqueror coming, adorned with royal splendor, Having made young boys the standard-bearers in front, The king and ministers led him to the most beautiful park. 56. Like the moon on the peak of the sunrise mountain, surrounded by stars, Seated on the Buddha's seat prepared, surrounded by perfected ones, He, the dispeller of sorrow, caused the lotus-like minds of the Sakyans to bloom, That sage dispelled the darkness of sorrow from his father. 57. "This Siddhattha is very young, we are old, This is a son-in-law, he is our son, our grandson," Proud with conceit, the Sakyan boys spoke, "You go and bow to the conqueror, we will stand behind you." 58. Having considered the entire assembly, knowing their intention, "These Khattiyas are intoxicated with the pride of wealth and power, Since they do not bow to me with hands joined at the forehead, I am able to make them bow," therefore, he entered into meditation. With feet known by attainment, their dust kissed by the diadems Of those crest-jewel mountains, the Buddha, divine, shone, Revealing the unequaled Twin Miracle, dispelling the darkness of pride, Awakening them like a lotus in full bloom at the foot of the Gandamba tree. Seeing that excellent miracle, King Suddhodana, Bowed his head to the lotus feet, heavy with joy, His cupped hands, adorned with the wheel-marked dust of the feet, Declared the glory of the royal family, a cluster of lotus buds. Like the setting sun, surrounded by a line of evening clouds, The golden-hued Victor descended from the sky to the auspicious seat, With beautiful arms, his eyes raining down a shower of delight, He radiated his own nail-light among them in that assembly. Having heard the former life story, known as Vessantara, And having touched their heads with the crest-jewel of his feet as they departed, "Venerable Sir, may the Sangha, headed by the Sugata, accept our invitation for alms," Not even one made such a request on that first day. Surrounded by various arahants, compassionate to the world, The Lord of the World, worthy of the custom observed by Buddhas, Entered Kapilavatthu early in the morning, as is their nature, Not abandoning the lowliest or highest family for alms. Wandering there from house to house for alms, with senses controlled, They revered the Teacher, of incomparable glory, blazing with six-hued rays, With unblinking lotus eyes from their palace windows, Having opened the lattice of emerald gems, the citizens. Having removed the fragrant, well-prepared dishes, The hair and beard, the soiled kasaya robe, And having covered himself like a poor man, the noble one took a stone Bowl and wandered through Kapilavatthu for alms. Hearing that news, bitter to the ear, Bimbadhara, Bimbadevi, from the emerald lattice window, Gazing at him wandering, surrounded by his retinue, the victorious one, walking like a majestic elephant, Filled her jewel-like eyes with tears. Kissing her young son Rahula, distracted by showing him, Saying, "With secondary characteristics..." Adorned with dark, radiant arms, A form, a beauty of form, incomparable, he sang eight verses, Describing from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head; 68. Slightly slow in gait, like a royal swan, Lowering her breasts, burdened by their new fullness, Going quickly, stammering, "Your son, great king, Walks for alms in this city," thus she told the king; 69. The king, surrounded by his army, by the power of his radiance, Hearing that, putting on fine garments, a new cloth, Covering himself, setting aside his crown, laying down his sword, greatly Ashamed, quickly, quickly, he went and stood before him; 70. "Are the storehouses in your father's house empty, what do you think? Why do you shame your father, you born of the solar lineage? Venerable one, food for you and the assembly of monks around you I will give daily, do not go for alms," thus he said; 71. "Your lineage is of ignoble conduct, the solar lineage it may be, My lineage is of noble conduct, the lineage of the Buddha it shall be, In this lineage, wandering for alms, seeking sustenance, Is the custom practiced by former Buddhas," thus the Victor spoke; 72. Standing on the road, he spoke the easily understood verse, beginning with "Arise," The king became a Stream-enterer, listening attentively, Hearing the sweet verse-dharma, "Practice the Dhamma," and so on, He attained the second path, practicing the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma; 73. Hearing that, the king practiced another practice, called Dhammapāla, Attaining the third path, shaking all sensual desire, Lying on a bed adorned with a white parasol, without rising, With clear understanding, he contemplated the characteristics of the aggregates; 74. Destroying the net of wrong views, including attachment to rites, Like a hero with a sword in a pleasant grove, Pleased with the nectar of the bliss of the path and its fruit, in that very moment, He conquered the five aggregates, attained the glory of the state of Nibbāna; 75. Raising him to the upper palace, taking the bowl from him, The king served the Saṅgha, headed by the Sugata, with delicacies and food, Having seated himself again with his retinue on a low seat, He spoke words that were pleasing, words that were delightful; 76. The inner chamber, a swan with submerged breasts in the heart-lake, Her lotus-like face withered, as if by the heat of sorrow, She worshiped the Buddha with cupped hands raised to her head, And bowed to him, like a creeper swaying in the wind; 77. Wiping away the tears from her eyes in the inner chamber, Bimbādevī, busied by her retinue, went to pay homage, "Since my lord, a treasure of virtues, has not come himself, Why does he not enter to see me?" she stood thus speaking; 78. With the king, a man unequaled, she entered the inner chamber, The palace of Indra, always dark due to the absence of jewels' light, Taking the foremost pair of ascetics, they sat on the auspicious seat, Prepared like the rising sun on the mountain of dawn; 79. Seeing the Jina, the king's daughter, bent by the weight of her full breasts, Quickly approached, devoid of garlands and golden ornaments, Thinking, "May I rest my head on his feet like a swan in a lotus grove," Kissing and bowing her head, taking hold of both ankles; 80. Plunging into the excellent inner pond of the palace, Where the water was turbulent with the play of her arm-creepers, She found solace in the water of the light of the Buddha's toenails, And dispelled the heat born of long separation; 81. Hearing that she does not wear gold or jewels, That she has given up her modesty and wealth, That she does not delight in improper conduct or high seats, The king said, "You imitate him out of love and affection"; 82. Hearing that she is a foundation of endless virtues, The Jina revealed his past deeds, hidden by existence, Leading her by the hand into the house, like an anointing ceremony, The next day, the royal prince named Nanda was ordained; 83. Even as he went with the Blessed One, she, with her five beauties, Quickly opened the lattice, looking at the street with longing, Her mind drawn inward by the hook of her sidelong glances and arm-creepers, "Bhante, take the bowl." She did not answer him with affection. 84.