DN 18 · With Janavasabha
DN 18 · Janavasabhasutta
1. Declaring the Rebirths of People From Ñātika and Elsewhere
1. Nātikiyādibyākaraṇa
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Ñātika in the brick house.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā nātike viharati giñjakāvasathe.
Now at that time the Buddha was explaining the rebirths of devotees all over the nations; the Kāsis and Kosalans, Vajjis and Mallas, Cetīs and Vacchas, Kurus and Pañcālas, Macchas and Sūrasenas:
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā parito parito janapadesu paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti kāsikosalesu vajjimallesu cetivaṁsesu kurupañcālesu majjhasūrasenesu:
“This one was reborn here, while that one was reborn there.
“asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno.
Over fifty devotees in Ñātika have passed away having ended the five lower fetters. They’ve been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.
Paropaññāsa nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā.
More than ninety devotees in Ñātika have passed away having ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. They’re once-returners, who will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.
Sādhikā navuti nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmino, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti.
More than five hundred devotees in Ñātika have passed away having ended three fetters. They’re stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”
Sātirekāni pañcasatāni nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti.
When the devotees of Ñātika heard about the Buddha’s answers to those questions, they became uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness.
Assosuṁ kho nātikiyā paricārakā: “bhagavā kira parito parito janapadesu paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti kāsikosalesu vajjimallesu cetivaṁsesu kurupañcālesu majjhasūrasenesu: ‘asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno. Paropaññāsa nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā. Sādhikā navuti nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmino sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti. Sātirekāni pañcasatāni nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā’”ti. Tena ca nātikiyā paricārakā attamanā ahesuṁ pamuditā pītisomanassajātā bhagavato pañhaveyyākaraṇaṁ sutvā.
Venerable Ānanda heard of the Buddha’s statements and the Ñātikans’ happiness.
Assosi kho āyasmā ānando: “bhagavā kira parito parito janapadesu paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti kāsikosalesu vajjimallesu cetivaṁsesu kurupañcālesu majjhasūrasenesu: ‘asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno. Paropaññāsa nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā. Sādhikā navuti nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmino sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti. Sātirekāni pañcasatāni nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā’ti. Tena ca nātikiyā paricārakā attamanā ahesuṁ pamuditā pītisomanassajātā bhagavato pañhaveyyākaraṇaṁ sutvā”ti.
2. Ānanda’s Suggestion
2. Ānandaparikathā
Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “But there were also Magadhan devotees—many, and of long standing too—who have passed away. You’d think that Aṅga and Magadha were empty of devotees who have passed away! But they too had confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and had fulfilled their ethics. The Buddha hasn’t declared their passing. It would be good to do so, for many people would gain confidence, and so be reborn in a good place.
Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “ime kho panāpi ahesuṁ māgadhakā paricārakā bahū ceva rattaññū ca abbhatītā kālaṅkatā. Suññā maññe aṅgamagadhā aṅgamāgadhakehi paricārakehi abbhatītehi kālaṅkatehi. Te kho panāpi ahesuṁ buddhe pasannā dhamme pasannā saṅghe pasannā sīlesu paripūrakārino. Te abbhatītā kālaṅkatā bhagavatā abyākatā; tesampissa sādhu veyyākaraṇaṁ, bahujano pasīdeyya, tato gaccheyya sugatiṁ.
That King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha was a just and principled king who benefited the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. People still sing his praises: ‘That just and principled king, who made us so happy, has passed away. Life was good under his dominion.’ He too had confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and had fulfilled his ethics. People say: ‘Until his dying day, King Bimbisāra sang the Buddha’s praises!’ The Buddha hasn’t declared his passing. It would be good to do so, for many people would gain confidence, and so be reborn in a good place.
Ayaṁ kho panāpi ahosi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro dhammiko dhammarājā hito brāhmaṇagahapatikānaṁ negamānañceva jānapadānañca. Apissudaṁ manussā kittayamānarūpā viharanti: ‘evaṁ no so dhammiko dhammarājā sukhāpetvā kālaṅkato, evaṁ mayaṁ tassa dhammikassa dhammarañño vijite phāsu viharimhā’ti. So kho panāpi ahosi buddhe pasanno dhamme pasanno saṅghe pasanno sīlesu paripūrakārī. Apissudaṁ manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yāva maraṇakālāpi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavantaṁ kittayamānarūpo kālaṅkato’ti. So abbhatīto kālaṅkato bhagavatā abyākato. Tassapissa sādhu veyyākaraṇaṁ bahujano pasīdeyya, tato gaccheyya sugatiṁ.
Besides, the Buddha was awakened in Magadha; so why hasn’t he declared the rebirth of the Magadhan devotees? If he fails to do so, they will be disheartened.”
Bhagavato kho pana sambodhi magadhesu. Yattha kho pana bhagavato sambodhi magadhesu, kathaṁ tatra bhagavā māgadhake paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu na byākareyya. Bhagavā ce kho pana māgadhake paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu na byākareyya, dīnamanā tenassu māgadhakā paricārakā; yena kho panassu dīnamanā māgadhakā paricārakā kathaṁ te bhagavā na byākareyyā”ti?
After pondering the fate of the Magadhan devotees alone in private, Ānanda rose at the crack of dawn and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha of his concerns, finishing by saying, “Why hasn’t the Buddha declared the rebirth of the Magadhan devotees? If he fails to do so, they will be disheartened.” Then Ānanda, after making this suggestion regarding the Magadhan devotees, rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
Idamāyasmā ānando māgadhake paricārake ārabbha eko raho anuvicintetvā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘bhagavā kira parito parito janapadesu paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti kāsikosalesu vajjimallesu cetivaṁsesu kurupañcālesu majjhasūrasenesu: “asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno. Paropaññāsa nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā. Sādhikā navuti nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmino, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti. Sātirekāni pañcasatāni nātikiyā paricārakā abbhatītā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇāti. Tena ca nātikiyā paricārakā attamanā ahesuṁ pamuditā pītisomanassajātā bhagavato pañhaveyyākaraṇaṁ sutvā”’ti. Ime kho panāpi, bhante, ahesuṁ māgadhakā paricārakā bahū ceva rattaññū ca abbhatītā kālaṅkatā. Suññā maññe aṅgamagadhā aṅgamāgadhakehi paricārakehi abbhatītehi kālaṅkatehi. Te kho panāpi, bhante, ahesuṁ buddhe pasannā dhamme pasannā saṅghe pasannā sīlesu paripūrakārino, te abbhatītā kālaṅkatā bhagavatā abyākatā. Tesampissa sādhu veyyākaraṇaṁ, bahujano pasīdeyya, tato gaccheyya sugatiṁ. Ayaṁ kho panāpi, bhante, ahosi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro dhammiko dhammarājā hito brāhmaṇagahapatikānaṁ negamānañceva jānapadānañca. Apissudaṁ manussā kittayamānarūpā viharanti: ‘evaṁ no so dhammiko dhammarājā sukhāpetvā kālaṅkato. Evaṁ mayaṁ tassa dhammikassa dhammarañño vijite phāsu viharimhā’ti. So kho panāpi, bhante, ahosi buddhe pasanno dhamme pasanno saṅghe pasanno sīlesu paripūrakārī. Apissudaṁ manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yāva maraṇakālāpi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro bhagavantaṁ kittayamānarūpo kālaṅkato’ti. So abbhatīto kālaṅkato bhagavatā abyākato; tassapissa sādhu veyyākaraṇaṁ, bahujano pasīdeyya, tato gaccheyya sugatiṁ. Bhagavato kho pana, bhante, sambodhi magadhesu. Yattha kho pana, bhante, bhagavato sambodhi magadhesu, kathaṁ tatra bhagavā māgadhake paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu na byākareyya? Bhagavā ce kho pana, bhante, māgadhake paricārake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu na byākareyya, dīnamanā tenassu māgadhakā paricārakā; yena kho panassu dīnamanā māgadhakā paricārakā kathaṁ te bhagavā na byākareyyā”ti. Idamāyasmā ānando māgadhake paricārake ārabbha bhagavato sammukhā parikathaṁ katvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
Soon after Ānanda had left, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Ñātika for alms. He wandered for alms in Ñātika. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he washed his feet and entered the brick house. He paid attention, applied the mind, and concentrated wholeheartedly on the fate of Magadhan devotees, and sat down on the seat spread out, thinking, “I shall know their destiny, where they are reborn in the next life.” And he saw where they had been reborn.
Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya nātikaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Nātike piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā giñjakāvasathaṁ pavisitvā māgadhake paricārake ārabbha aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasikatvā sabbaṁ cetasā samannāharitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi: “gatiṁ nesaṁ jānissāmi abhisamparāyaṁ, yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā”ti. Addasā kho bhagavā māgadhake paricārake: “yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā”ti.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat. Emerging from the brick house, he sat down on the seat spread out in the shade of the porch.
Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito giñjakāvasathā nikkhamitvā vihārapacchāyāyaṁ paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, you look so serene; your face seems to shine owing to the clarity of your faculties. Have you been abiding in a peaceful meditation today, sir?”
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “upasantapadisso, bhante, bhagavā bhātiriva bhagavato mukhavaṇṇo vippasannattā indriyānaṁ. Santena nūnajja, bhante, bhagavā vihārena vihāsī”ti?
The Buddha then recounted what had happened since speaking to Ānanda, revealing that he had seen the destiny of the Magadhan devotees. He continued:
“Yadeva kho me tvaṁ, ānanda, māgadhake paricārake ārabbha sammukhā parikathaṁ katvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto, tadevāhaṁ nātike piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā giñjakāvasathaṁ pavisitvā māgadhake paricārake ārabbha aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasikatvā sabbaṁ cetasā samannāharitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ: ‘gatiṁ nesaṁ jānissāmi abhisamparāyaṁ, yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā’ti. Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, ānanda, māgadhake paricārake ‘yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā’ti.
3. Janavasabha the Spirit
3. Janavasabhayakkha
“Then, Ānanda, an invisible spirit called out: ‘I am Janavasabha, Blessed One! I am Janavasabha, Holy One!’ Ānanda, do you recall having previously heard such a name as Janavasabha?”
Atha kho, ānanda, antarahito yakkho saddamanussāvesi: ‘janavasabho ahaṁ, bhagavā; janavasabho ahaṁ, sugatā’ti. Abhijānāsi no tvaṁ, ānanda, ito pubbe evarūpaṁ nāmadheyyaṁ sutaṁ yadidaṁ janavasabho”ti?
“No, worthy sir. But when I heard the word, I got goosebumps! I thought, ‘This must be no ordinary spirit to bear such an exalted name as Janavasabha.’”
“Na kho ahaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi ito pubbe evarūpaṁ nāmadheyyaṁ sutaṁ yadidaṁ janavasabhoti, api ca me, bhante, lomāni haṭṭhāni ‘janavasabho’ti nāmadheyyaṁ sutvā. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘na hi nūna so orako yakkho bhavissati yadidaṁ evarūpaṁ nāmadheyyaṁ supaññattaṁ yadidaṁ janavasabho’”ti.
“After making himself heard while invisible, Ānanda, an exceptionally beautiful spirit appeared in front of me. And for a second time he called out: ‘I am Bimbisāra, Blessed One! I am Bimbisāra, Holy One! This is the seventh time I am reborn in the company of the Great King Vessavaṇa. When I pass away from here, I can become a king of men.
“Anantarā kho, ānanda, saddapātubhāvā uḷāravaṇṇo me yakkho sammukhe pāturahosi. Dutiyakampi saddamanussāvesi: ‘bimbisāro ahaṁ, bhagavā; bimbisāro ahaṁ, sugatāti. Idaṁ sattamaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, vessavaṇassa mahārājassa sahabyataṁ upapajjāmi, so tato cuto manussarājā bhavituṁ pahomi.
Seven from here, seven from there—fourteen transmigrations in all.I remember these liveswhere I lived before.
Ito satta tato satta,saṁsārāni catuddasa;Nivāsamabhijānāmi,yattha me vusitaṁ pure.
For a long time I’ve known that I won’t be reborn in the underworld, but that I still hope to become a once-returner.’
Dīgharattaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, avinipāto avinipātaṁ sañjānāmi, āsā ca pana me santiṭṭhati sakadāgāmitāyā’”ti.
‘It’s incredible and amazing that you, the venerable spirit Janavasabha, should say:
“Acchariyamidaṁ āyasmato janavasabhassa yakkhassa, abbhutamidaṁ āyasmato janavasabhassa yakkhassa.
“For a long time I’ve been aware that I won’t be reborn in the underworld” and also “But I still hope to become a once-returner.” But from what source do you know that you’ve achieved such a high distinction?’
‘Dīgharattaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, avinipāto avinipātaṁ sañjānāmī’ti ca vadesi, ‘āsā ca pana me santiṭṭhati sakadāgāmitāyā’ti ca vadesi, kutonidānaṁ panāyasmā janavasabho yakkho evarūpaṁ uḷāraṁ visesādhigamaṁ sañjānātī”ti?
‘None other than the Blessed One’s instruction! None other than the Holy One’s instruction! From the day I had absolute devotion to the Buddha I have known that I won’t be reborn in the underworld, but that I still hope to become a once-returner. Just now, sir, I had been sent out by the great king Vessavaṇa to the great king Virūḷhaka’s presence on some business, and on the way I saw the Buddha giving his attention to the fate of the Magadhan devotees. But it comes as no surprise that I have heard and learned the fate of the Magadhan devotees in the presence of the great king Vessavaṇa as he was speaking to his assembly. It occurred to me, “I shall see the Buddha and inform him of this.” These are the two reasons I’ve come to see the Buddha.
“‘Na aññatra, bhagavā, tava sāsanā, na aññatra, sugata, tava sāsanā; yadagge ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati ekantikato abhippasanno, tadagge ahaṁ, bhante, dīgharattaṁ avinipāto avinipātaṁ sañjānāmi, āsā ca pana me santiṭṭhati sakadāgāmitāya. Idhāhaṁ, bhante, vessavaṇena mahārājena pesito virūḷhakassa mahārājassa santike kenacideva karaṇīyena addasaṁ bhagavantaṁ antarāmagge giñjakāvasathaṁ pavisitvā māgadhake paricārake ārabbha aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasikatvā sabbaṁ cetasā samannāharitvā nisinnaṁ: “gatiṁ nesaṁ jānissāmi abhisamparāyaṁ, yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā”ti. Anacchariyaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhante, yaṁ vessavaṇassa mahārājassa tassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhāsato sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: “yaṅgatikā te bhavanto yaṁabhisamparāyā”ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: “bhagavantañca dakkhāmi, idañca bhagavato ārocessāmī”ti. Ime kho me, bhante, dvepaccayā bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.
4. The Council of the Gods
4. Devasabhā
Sir, it was more than a few days ago—on the fifteenth day sabbath on the full moon day at the entry to the rainy season—when all the gods of the thirty-three were sitting together in the Hall of Clear Right. A large assembly of gods was sitting all around, and the four great kings were seated at the four quarters.
Purimāni, bhante, divasāni purimatarāni tadahuposathe pannarase vassūpanāyikāya puṇṇāya puṇṇamāya rattiyā kevalakappā ca devā tāvatiṁsā sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ sannisinnā honti sannipatitā. Mahatī ca dibbaparisā samantato nisinnā honti, cattāro ca mahārājāno catuddisā nisinnā honti.
The Great King Dhataraṭṭha was seated to the east, facing west, in front of his gods. The Great King Virūḷhaka was seated to the south, facing north, in front of his gods. The Great King Virūpakkha was seated to the west, facing east, in front of his gods. The Great King Vessavaṇa was seated to the north, facing south, in front of his gods. When the gods of the thirty-three have a gathering like this, that is how they are seated. After that come our seats.
Puratthimāya disāya dhataraṭṭho mahārājā pacchimābhimukho nisinno hoti deve purakkhatvā; dakkhiṇāya disāya virūḷhako mahārājā uttarābhimukho nisinno hoti deve purakkhatvā; pacchimāya disāya virūpakkho mahārājā puratthābhimukho nisinno hoti deve purakkhatvā; uttarāya disāya vessavaṇo mahārājā dakkhiṇābhimukho nisinno hoti deve purakkhatvā. Yadā, bhante, kevalakappā ca devā tāvatiṁsā sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ sannisinnā honti sannipatitā, mahatī ca dibbaparisā samantato nisinnā honti, cattāro ca mahārājāno catuddisā nisinnā honti. Idaṁ nesaṁ hoti āsanasmiṁ; atha pacchā amhākaṁ āsanaṁ hoti.
Sir, those gods who had been recently reborn in the company of the thirty-three after leading the spiritual life under the Buddha outshone the other gods in beauty and glory. The gods of the thirty-three became uplifted and overjoyed at that, full of rapture and happiness, saying, “The heavenly hosts swell, while the titan hosts dwindle!”
Ye te, bhante, devā bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ caritvā adhunūpapannā tāvatiṁsakāyaṁ, te aññe deve atirocanti vaṇṇena ceva yasasā ca. Tena sudaṁ, bhante, devā tāvatiṁsā attamanā honti pamuditā pītisomanassajātā: “dibbā vata bho kāyā paripūrenti, hāyanti asurakāyā”ti.
Seeing the joy of those gods, Sakka, lord of gods, celebrated with these verses:
Atha kho, bhante, sakko devānamindo devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sampasādaṁ viditvā imāhi gāthāhi anumodi:
“The gods rejoice—the thirty-three with their Lord—revering the Realized One,and the clear rightness of the teaching;
“Modanti vata bho devā,tāvatiṁsā sahindakā;Tathāgataṁ namassantā,dhammassa ca sudhammataṁ.
and seeing the new gods,so beautiful and glorious,who have come here after leadingthe spiritual life under the Buddha!
Nave deve ca passantā,vaṇṇavante yasassine;Sugatasmiṁ brahmacariyaṁ,caritvāna idhāgate.
They outshine the othersin beauty, glory, and lifespan.Here are the distinguished disciplesof he whose wisdom is vast.
Te aññe atirocanti,vaṇṇena yasasāyunā;Sāvakā bhūripaññassa,visesūpagatā idha.
Seeing this, they delight—the thirty-three with their Lord—revering the Realized One,and the clear rightness of the teaching.”
Idaṁ disvāna nandanti,tāvatiṁsā sahindakā;Tathāgataṁ namassantā,dhammassa ca sudhammatan”ti.
The gods of the thirty-three became even more uplifted and overjoyed at that, saying: “The heavenly hosts swell, while the titan hosts dwindle!”
Tena sudaṁ, bhante, devā tāvatiṁsā bhiyyoso mattāya attamanā honti pamuditā pītisomanassajātā “dibbā vata, bho, kāyā paripūrenti, hāyanti asurakāyā”ti.
Then the gods of the thirty-three, having considered and deliberated on the matter for which they were seated together in the Hall of Clear Right, advised and instructed the four great kings on the subject. Each one, having been advised, stood at his own seat without leaving.
Atha kho, bhante, yenatthena devā tāvatiṁsā sudhammāyaṁ sabhāyaṁ sannisinnā honti sannipatitā, taṁ atthaṁ cintayitvā taṁ atthaṁ mantayitvā vuttavacanāpi taṁ cattāro mahārājāno tasmiṁ atthe honti. Paccānusiṭṭhavacanāpi taṁ cattāro mahārājāno tasmiṁ atthe honti, sakesu sakesu āsanesu ṭhitā avipakkantā.
The Kings were instructed,and heeded good advice.With clear and peaceful minds,they stood by their own seats.
Te vuttavākyā rājāno,paṭiggayhānusāsaniṁ;Vippasannamanā santā,aṭṭhaṁsu samhi āsaneti.
Then in the northern quarter a magnificent light arose and radiance appeared, surpassing the glory of the gods. Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three, “As indicated by the signs—light arising and radiance appearing—The Divinity will appear. For this is the harbinger for the appearance of the Divinity, namely light arising and radiance appearing.”
Atha kho, bhante, uttarāya disāya uḷāro āloko sañjāyi, obhāso pāturahosi atikkammeva devānaṁ devānubhāvaṁ. Atha kho, bhante, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi: “yathā kho, mārisā, nimittāni dissanti, uḷāro āloko sañjāyati, obhāso pātubhavati, brahmā pātubhavissati. Brahmuno hetaṁ pubbanimittaṁ pātubhāvāya yadidaṁ āloko sañjāyati obhāso pātubhavatī”ti.
As indicated by the signs,The Divinity will appear.For this is the sign of the Divinity:a light vast and great.
Yathā nimittā dissanti,brahmā pātubhavissati;Brahmuno hetaṁ nimittaṁ,obhāso vipulo mahāti.
5. On Sanaṅkumāra
5. Sanaṅkumārakathā
Then the gods of the thirty-three sat in their own seats, saying, “We shall find out what has caused that light, and only when we have realized it shall we go to it.” And the four great kings did likewise.
Atha kho, bhante, devā tāvatiṁsā yathāsakesu āsanesu nisīdiṁsu: “obhāsametaṁ ñassāma, yaṁvipāko bhavissati, sacchikatvāva naṁ gamissāmā”ti. Cattāropi mahārājāno yathāsakesu āsanesu nisīdiṁsu: “obhāsametaṁ ñassāma yaṁvipāko bhavissati, sacchikatvāva naṁ gamissāmā”ti.