Bv 1The Jewel-walk

BUDDHAVAMSA

1. Chapter on the Jewel-walk:

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One!

Inda-bh 1At that time, the Brahmā Sahampati, lord of the world, pressed his palms together and implored the Buddha: "Here there are beings whose nature is little defiled; may you, out of compassion, teach the Dhamma to such beings.

Inda-bh 2You are one who has fully accomplished wisdom and virtue (Vijjācaraṇasampanna) in just that way, the Radiant One in his final existence, the Tathāgata without equal; compassion for all beings has arisen in you."

Inda-bh 3(The Buddha reflected:) "Because these devas and this multitude of people do not know what this Buddha, the Supreme Person, is like, do not know what the power of supernormal ability and the power of wisdom are like, do not know what the Buddha-power of the one who guides beings across is like.

Inda-bh 4Because these devas and this multitude of people do not know what this Buddha, the Supreme Person, is like, do not know what the power of supernormal ability and the power of wisdom are like, do not know what the Buddha-power of the one who guides beings across is like.

Inda-bh 5Thus, I shall manifest the supreme Buddha-power. I shall cause to appear in the sky a walking path adorned with precious jewels."

Inda-bh 6The devas of the earthly realm, of the realm of the Four Great Kings, of the Tāvatiṃsa realm, of the Yāma realm, of the Tusita realm, of the Nimmānarati realm, of the Paranimmitavasavatti realm, together with the retinue of Brahmā as well, rejoiced and raised a great resounding cry.

Inda-bh 7Then, having witnessed this extraordinary marvel, the earth together with the heavenly realms was illuminated, the vast expanses of space between the world-systems were no longer shrouded, and the dense, thick darkness was dispelled.

Inda-bh 8A brilliant, dazzling light appeared below, above, laterally, and longitudinally, among devas, gandhabhas, humans, and spirits in both places: in this world and in the other world.

Inda-bh 9Worshipped by devas and humans, the Teacher, the Supreme One among beings, the Leader unsurpassed, possessed of great majesty, bearing a hundred marks of merit, manifested this extraordinary marvel.

Inda-bh 10Requested by the noble divine being, that One with Eyes, the Supreme Person, the Leader of the World, having reflected on what would be beneficial, caused to appear a walking path skillfully accomplished and fashioned entirely of all manner of precious jewels.

Inda-bh 11The Blessed One, accomplished in the three marvels — supernormal power, the ability to teach, and the work of instruction — the Leader of the World caused to appear a walking path skillfully accomplished and fashioned entirely of all manner of precious jewels.

Inda-bh 12Throughout ten thousand world-systems, he manifested in succession walking paths made of jewels, like the pillars of the supreme Mount Sineru.

Inda-bh 13Having spanned ten thousand world-systems, the Victorious One created a walking path made entirely of gold alongside the jewel walking path.

Inda-bh 14Both paths were equal, laid with a floor of gold ingots. Railings made entirely of gold were fashioned on both sides.

Inda-bh 15Fashioned of various precious jewels, strewn with a layer of sand made of maṇi gems and pearls, the path illuminated all directions like the risen sun.

Inda-bh 16In that walking, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Victorious One, radiant and resplendent with the thirty-two noble marks, walked upon the jewel-walk.

Inda-bh 17All the devas assembled and scattered down māndārava flowers, lotuses, and heavenly coral blossoms in honour of the walking (of the Buddha).

Inda-bh 18The assembly of devas from the ten thousand world-systems joyfully gazed upon the Buddha. While paying homage, they were elated, delighted, joyful, and prostrated themselves.

Inda-bh 19The devas of the Tāvatiṃsa realm, of the Yāma realm, and of the Tusita realm as well, the devas of the Nimmānarati realm and the devas of the Paranimmitavasavatti realm gazed upon the Leader of the World with minds uplifted and exultant.

Inda-bh 20Together with the devas, the gandhabhas, humans, spirits, nāgas, supaṇṇas, and kinnares as well, and the garuḍas — all beheld that compassionate one who guides beings across, like the full moon risen in the very sky.

Inda-bh 21The devas of the Ābhassara realm, the Subhakiṇṇa realm, the Vehapphala realm, and the Asaññasatta realm, clad in robes of exceeding purity and whiteness, stood with palms pressed together.

Inda-bh 22Moreover, they scattered down five-coloured māndārava flowers mixed with sandalwood powder, and waved cloths in the sky, exclaiming: "O Victorious One, compassionate one who guides beings across!

Inda-bh 23You are the teacher, the banner, the emblem, the pillar of beings, the place of support, the lamp (the island), the supreme one among those with two feet."

Inda-bh 24Elated, delighted, joyful, the devas of great spiritual power from the ten thousand world-systems gathered round in reverence.

Inda-bh 25With minds of joyful faith, the divine beings and celestial nymphs offered five-coloured flowers to the Bull among Men.

Inda-bh 26Faithful, with minds elated, the assembly of devas gazed upon him and offered five-coloured flowers to the Bull among Men, praising:

Inda-bh 27"Oh, what a marvel, an extraordinary wonder that makes the hair stand on end in the world! A hair-raising marvel such as this has never occurred before!"

Inda-bh 28Having seen the marvel in the sky, those divine beings sat down in their own respective palaces and broke into resounding laughter.

Inda-bh 29Those dwelling in the sky and those dwelling on the ground, those dwelling on blades of grass and on pathways, pressed their palms together and bowed in reverence, elated, delighted, joyful.

Inda-bh 30Even the long-lived nāgas endowed with merit and great spiritual power joyfully made obeisance and offered worship to the Supreme Person.

Inda-bh 31Having seen the marvel in the sky, they raised communal songs in the space of the sky and beat leather drums.

Inda-bh 32Having seen the marvel in the sky, many also played conch-shell trumpets, and there were cymbals as well, and small drums in the sky, praising:

Inda-bh 33"Truly, an extraordinary, hair-raising thing has arisen for us today. We have attained the accomplishment of lasting benefit. Our moment has come."

Inda-bh 34Upon hearing "The Buddha!" rapturous joy instantly arose in them. They stood still, palms pressed together, and cried out: "The Buddha! The Buddha!"

Inda-bh 35And in the sky, many beings pressed their palms together and uttered words of praise, extolling, encouraging, and rejoicing.

Inda-bh 36They sang, shouted, played music, clapped their hands, and danced. Moreover, they scattered down five-coloured flowers and māndārava flowers mixed with sandalwood powder, saying in praise:

Inda-bh 37"O Great Hero, even as the wheel-marks on the soles of your feet are adorned with banners, vajras, emblems, powder-boxes, and goad-hooks;

Inda-bh 38None is equal to you in form, in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom. You are equal to those who are incomparable in liberation and in turning the Wheel of the True Dhamma.

Inda-bh 39The natural strength in your body is the strength of ten elephants. None equals you in the power of supernormal ability in the turning of the Wheel of the True Dhamma.

Inda-bh 40Pay homage to the Great Sage, the Compassionate One, the Lord of the World, who has fulfilled all virtues and has attained all such qualities in their entirety.

Inda-bh 41He is worthy of all veneration, praise, salutation, glorification, obeisance, and offerings.

Inda-bh 42O Great Hero, of all those who ought to be saluted, those worthy of salutation in the world, He stands foremost among them all. There is none equal to Him."

Inda-bh 43Sāriputta of great wisdom, skilled in concentration and meditation, gazed upon the Leader of the World even while standing on Mount Gijjhakūṭa.

Inda-bh 44He saw the Bull among Men, resplendent as a fully flowering Sālā king of trees, like the moon in the sky, like the sun at midday.

Inda-bh 45He saw the wise Leader, blazing with a radiant aura like a burning lamp-post, like the sun that has appeared at dawn.

Inda-bh 46Sāriputta immediately assembled five hundred bhikkhus whose taints were destroyed, who were without defilement, whose duties had been accomplished in such a manner, and said:

Inda-bh 47"The Buddha has made manifest the marvel called 'The Display of the World.' We too shall go there and pay homage to the Victorious One.

Inda-bh 48Come, let us all go. We shall question the Victorious One. We shall dispel our doubts upon beholding the Leader of the World."

Inda-bh 49Responding with "Excellent!", those wise ones, with their faculties restrained, took up their robes and bowls and departed swiftly.

Inda-bh 50Together with those whose taints were destroyed, trained in the supreme training, without defilement, Sāriputta of great wisdom went by means of supernormal power.

Inda-bh 51Accompanied by those bhikkhus, Sāriputta with his great assembly went by supernormal power, shining like a divine being blazing in the sky.

Inda-bh 52Having suppressed the sound of coughing and clearing of the throat, those of virtuous conduct approached the Fully Enlightened One with reverence and care.

Inda-bh 53Having drawn near, they saw the Leader of the World—self-awakened, wise—dwelling in the sky, like the moon in the heavens.

Inda-bh 54They saw the Leader of the World like a burning lamp-post, like lightning in the sky, like the sun at midday.

Inda-bh 55All five hundred bhikkhus saw the Leader of the World as a deep, undisturbed lake, as a fully blooming lotus flower.

Inda-bh 56Elated, joyful, and glad, they raised their joined hands, and while paying homage they knelt at the wheel-marks upon the feet of the Teacher.

Inda-bh 57Sāriputta of great wisdom, skilled in concentration and meditation, likened to the Koraṇḍa flower, paid homage to the Leader of the World.

Inda-bh 58Moggallāna of great supernormal power, resounding like a dark thundercloud, likened to a blue lotus, was unrivalled in the power of supernormal attainment.

Inda-bh 59And the Elder Mahākassapa, resembling refined gold, acknowledged as foremost in the ascetic practices, praised by gods and men, was extolled by the Teacher.

Inda-bh 60Foremost among those endowed with the divine eye was Anuruddha, with a great following, chief among the retinue of the Blessed One, standing not far away.

Inda-bh 61Upāli, versed in what constitutes an offence and what does not, and in the making of amends for offences, acknowledged as foremost in the Vinaya, was extolled by the Teacher.

Inda-bh 62The ascetic son of Mantānī, who analyzed subtle and sharp meanings, stood foremost among the preachers of the Dhamma, with a following, renowned by the name of Puṇṇa.

Inda-bh 63Knowing the minds of those beings, the Muni, skilled in the use of similes, the Great Hero, the one who cuts away doubt, expounded upon his own virtues:

Inda-bh 64"There are four things that are incalculable, whose limits cannot be known: the multitude of beings, the expanse of space, the boundless world-systems, and the immeasurable wisdom of the Buddhas—these cannot be fully discerned.

Inda-bh 65Is my supernormal transformation a marvel in the world? There are yet many other things that are marvelous, extraordinary, and hair-raising.

Inda-bh 66When I dwelt in the Tusita heaven, I was then known as Santusita. The beings of ten thousand world-systems assembled with joined hands and entreated me thus:

Inda-bh 67'O Great Hero, now is your time. Take birth in a mother's womb. Helping the world together with the gods to cross over, you shall realize the path to the Deathless.'

Inda-bh 68When I descended into the womb, having passed away from the Tusita realm, ten thousand world-systems and the earth trembled.

Inda-bh 69When I emerged from the womb with full awareness, ten thousand world-systems trembled, uttering the cry 'Excellent!'

Inda-bh 70My descent into the womb is without equal. From the birth, in the noble going forth, in the self-awakening, and in the setting in motion of the Wheel of the Dhamma, I stand foremost."

Inda-bh 71The gods exclaimed: "Oh, the greatness of the virtues of the Buddhas is a marvel in the world!" At that moment the ten thousand world-systems trembled in six ways. And a great light appeared. It was extraordinary, causing the hair to stand on end!

Inda-bh 72And at that time, while making himself visible to the world together with the gods, the Blessed One, the Supreme One of the world, the Bull among Men, the Victorious One, walked in meditation by means of supernormal power.

Inda-bh 73Even while walking along the meditation path, the Leader of the World gave teachings. As though walking upon a meditation path four arm-lengths long, He did not turn back while in the middle.

Inda-bh 74Sāriputta, who was of great wisdom, skilled in concentration and meditation, having attained perfection in wisdom, asked the Leader of the World:

Inda-bh 75"O Great Hero, Bull among Men, what was your resolve? O Wise One, at what time did you aspire to supreme enlightenment?

Inda-bh 76How were your giving, virtue, renunciation, wisdom, and energy? How were your patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and equanimity?

Inda-bh 77O wise Leader of the World, according to you, what are the ten perfections? How are the higher perfections fulfilled? What are the ultimate perfections?"

Inda-bh 78When asked by him, the Blessed One replied with a sweet voice like that of the Karavīka bird, cooling the heart, gladdening the world together with the gods.

Inda-bh 79With wisdom directed toward his former lives, He expounded the Dhamma that had been taught by the past Buddhas, the Victorious Ones—the history transmitted in succession through the Buddhas—which is of benefit to the world together with the gods.

Inda-bh 80The Buddha said: "That history is what gives rise to joy and delight, is the drawing out of the arrow of sorrow, is the achievement of all attainments. Listen to me with attentive minds.

Inda-bh 81It is what dispels attachments, drives away grief, leads to complete liberation from the round of existence, and is the path to the destruction of all suffering. Follow it with solemn attention."

Here ends the Chapter on the Jewel-walk.

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