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Like Brahmā in the Brahma world with his forefathers, Like the moon surrounded by a host of stars in the sky; 614. Then the great Nāga named Maṇi Akkhika came, From Laṅkā to the Jina's feet, and spoke these words: 615. "Enlightened Buddhas in the world, for the increase of the world's welfare, Are born, O Lord, compassionate, we are without greed; 616. Therefore, for me, your servant, the round of rebirths is firmly established, If you desire liberation for me, this invitation should be accepted." 617. Having heard that invitation of the great Nāga, He accepted it in silence, out of compassion. 618. Knowing that, the Nāga Sumana quickly came to Sīhala, To a delightful spot on the Kaḷyāṇāpagga shore; 619. With a suitable great pillar made of crystal, gems, pearls, coral, and diamonds, He placed a water pot and other things; 620. Giving the balance and other things, and likewise in the temple's courtyard, Rows of balconies, gargoyles, and lions, and so on, were also placed; 621. Making gopānasiyo and eaves and cornices, Well adorned with various paintings made of clay; 622. And a pinnacle with a golden finial and canopies of sapphire gems, And rows of golden bells, and ear ornaments were made; 623. Having hung painted canopies, with strings of pearls here and there, Making it crowded with garlands of scents and garlands of flowers; 624. In the middle, a great seat of priceless value made of sapphire, He made, and around it, suitable seats for the other monks; 625. With railings made of jewels, and walls made of bricks, A delightful courtyard strewn with pearl sand; 626. Gateways upon gateways made of seven jewels, Crowded with water pots of gold and other materials filled with flowers; 627. Various colored flags. Adorned with canopies of cloth, Filled with rows of lamps and incense, and a profusion of fragrant flowers; 628. Adorned with many such decorations, Having built a fine pavilion, resembling a deva-pavilion; 629. Covered with cool sand, soft to the feet, Having thus constructed a great and beautiful road, delightful and well-arranged; 630. Those nāgas, having gathered various foods, hard and soft, fruits and non-fruits, And abundant divine food and drink, then went to meet him on the road; 631. Then the compassionate Lord, awakened in the eighth year, On the Vesākha full-moon day, having convened his disciples; 632. "Come, bhikkhus, today to Laṅkā, for the sake of the nāgas, Maṇiakkhika invites us, pleased with the Buddha's dispensation;" 633. Having heard the words of that glorious Sambuddha, The docile bhikkhus, free from defilements, replied in assent, composed; 634. Then the elder Sāriputta, foremost in wisdom, Taking his bowl and robe, went to the presence of the Conqueror; 635. The great elder Moggallāna, the second chief disciple, Taking his bowl and robe, approached the Conqueror; 636. Mahākassapa by name, who shook off defilements, foremost in ascetic practices, Taking his bowl and robe, came to the presence of the Conqueror; 637. The disciplined one, skilled in the dispensation, foremost in knowledge, named Upāli, Taking his bowl and robe, approached the Conqueror; 638. He who had the divine eye, who crushed the pride of evil-doers, The elder Anuruddha, the giver of boons, approached the Sage; 639. Maṇiva, the fulfiller of desires, famed as Upavāṇa, The wise one, the leader, worthy of offerings, the elder approached the Conqueror; 640. Bakkula, the stainless one, a mine of virtues such as morality and concentration, Came with his requisites to the assembly of bhikkhus then; 641. The mainstay of the Buddha's dispensation, the elder Aṅgulimāla, Eager to go with the Lord, quickly departed; 642. He who shines like the sun on the peak of the mountain of the dispensation, That elder Rāhula also quickly went to his Father's presence; 643. Of good conduct, named Bhaddiya, the elder, like a blessed pot, Famous in the world, he also went to the Sambuddha's presence; 644. Like a deva-tree, l He who gives what he desires, Jinorasa and Selavha went to the Sambuddha's presence; 645. Like the moon shining in the sky, the lord of the night, The great elder Mahānāma approached the Sage; 646. Like a lion playfully on a rock of red arsenic, The great elder Subhūti came to the Buddha's side; 647. Like a swan in a lake of the Buddha's teaching, like Chaddanta, The renowned elder Tissa went to the assembly of monks; 648. Like a bee in the middle of a lotus blooming in the Buddha's teaching, The elder Rādha quickly went; 649. Bhagu, Dabba, Upasena, Koṇḍañña, Assaji, Sīvali, These elders, born of the Conqueror, went to the Sage's presence; 650. Kumārakassapa, Puṇṇa, Soṇa, Sobhita, Revata, These well-known elders went to the Teacher's presence; 651. Vaṅgīsa, Sāgata, Nanda, Bhāradvāja, Gavampati, Taking their robes and bowls, they went to the Conqueror's presence; 652. Thus, these great nāgas, five hundred born of the Conqueror, Gathered to go with the Sage, the Lord of the World; 653. Then that Joy of the World, moved by compassion, Like lightning circling Mount Meru with countless flashes; 654. Having put on the inner garment, emitting pure rays, The Conqueror then tied a red girdle over it; 655. As if covering a lofty great stupa, beautiful with golden light, With a red woolen blanket; 656. Having made the upper robe, like the color of a ripe banyan fruit, Deep red, of rags, and well-folded; 657. Having become well-covered, having properly put it on, He extended his lotus-like hand with a web of lines for the bowl; 658. By the power of the Lord of the World, then the bee of the bowl, Came into the lotus-like hand, and he took it; 659. Then the Lord with his disciples, rising into the sky, Began to move, crushing the clouds of various colors there; 660. Then six rays issued from the body of the Sambuddha, Like a golden earring falling from a jeweled staircase; 661. With arrows, blue lotuses, and clouds... And with gems, They seem to cover the blue rays from the Sage's body; 662. With campaka, uddālaka garlands, and golden powder, They seem to fill the yellow rays from the Conqueror's body; 663. With bhaṇḍī flowers, kadamba, and red gems, Red rays fill the directions from the Sage's body; 664. With necklaces, jasmine garlands, and moon-like crystal, They seem to fill the white rays from the Sage's body; 665. With madder heaps, and lotus-like gems, Covering the directions, madder-colored rays from the Conqueror's body; 666. Like a rainbow adorned with stars, or a day with jewels, Mixed rays releasing like a painted cloth from the Conqueror's body; 667. Mountain peaks, summit houses, intoxicated six-colored rays, Run wave upon wave, shining one after another; 668. Going, not striking the circle-mountain's rocky height, Rising beyond, they go, like a stream of water; 669. Face to face, those rays, trees, mountains, and so on, Making their own color, even running rivers; 670. Dyed by the upward-rising rays, the clouds then, In various colors, again, a new sun's orb; 671. Submerged in the streams of the Conqueror's light, the deities went, As if to worship with their own forms, they became various colors then; 672. Having entered the space between the Buddha's rays, the daughters of gods, Unrecognized, fainted for a moment, their own hue; 673. Gods, demons, serpents, Brahmās, perfected ones, and those with knowledge, Worshipping with yak-tail fans, parasols, and banners, they followed the Conqueror; 674. Some made rows of offerings, arches upon arches, Rows of pots and lamps they made everywhere around; 675. They spread cloths on the ground, stretched out canopies, And upon them, they scattered many flowers; 676. To which heaven does the Leader of the World go? Does he go to the Brahma world, or to our abode? 677. Where now does the God of Gods go, for whose sake, out of compassion? Thus doubting, some wander here and there; 678. Having made jeweled pavilions on all sides of the path, A bed and seat... Some deities stand making announcements; 679. In various places, setting up well-honed, sweet, cool water, Some stand revering the Conqueror, both small and great; 680. Thus, in this great, incomparable festival, the Lord, Shines like a new sun with the splendor of the Buddha; 681. Surrounded by the Brahma host, like Brahma himself or Sahampati, Surrounded by the deva host, like Sakka, well adorned; 682. Surrounded by the host of stars, like a cluster of jewels, Preceded by a line of swans, like Dhataraṭṭha, the king of birds; 683. Accompanied by disciples free from passion and hatred, Completely devoid of delusion, attained to the powers of discrimination; 684. Whatever doubt exists in the minds of each, Dispelling each of those with his nectar-like teaching; 685. In each place, with a wondrous, conch-like miracle, He immersed the eyes of the world in waves of joy; 686. Having arrived at adorned Lanka, then the serpents, Making a return path, held great festivals in each place; 687. Among the serpents were devas, and among them were Brahmas, Thus, the world was filled with a mixture, overflowing from the Brahma world; 688. Those who see the Conqueror there, shining with his disciples, Well-gained are their eyes, their eyes are truly eyes; 689. Those who hear the Dhamma then, proclaimed by the Lord of the Dhamma, Well-gained are their ears, their ears are truly ears; 690. Those who utter the Buddha's virtues then, adorned with virtues, Well-gained are their tongues, their tongues are truly taste-knowers; 691. Those who venerate the Conqueror, going in the sky with the Sangha, Well-gained are their hands, their arms are truly arms; 692. Having seen the Tathāgata then, those who are pleased with the Tathāgata, May that pleasure of all the Tathāgatas be always; 693.