Bv 10The History of the Buddha Paduma

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

10. The History of the Buddha Paduma:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Anomadassī, the Fully Enlightened One, the Supreme Person named Paduma was without equal, without rival.

Inda-bh 2His virtue was without equal, his concentration was without limit, his noble wisdom was beyond reckoning, and his liberation was without equivalent.

Inda-bh 3Also at the time of the turning of the Wheel of the Dhamma by that one of incomparable might, there were three occasions of realization, which were the dispelling of the dense darkness.

Inda-bh 4At the first occasion of realization, the Buddha awakened one hundred koṭi beings. At the second occasion of realization, the Wise One awakened ninety koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 5And at the time when the Buddha Paduma was instructing his own son, there was then the third occasion of realization, of eighty koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 6The Great Sage Paduma had three assemblies. The first assembly was of one hundred thousand koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 7On the occasion of performing the Kaṭhina ceremony, when the Kaṭhina robe arose, the bhikkhus sewed the robe to present it to the General of the Dhamma.

Inda-bh 8At that time, three hundred thousand gathered together. Those bhikkhus were without defilements, possessed of the six higher knowledges, of great spiritual power, unconquered.

Inda-bh 9Also on another occasion, that Bull Among Men spent the (rains) retreat in the forest. At that time, there was an assembly of two hundred thousand beings.

Inda-bh 10At that time, I was a lion, the lord of the beasts. I had seen the Victorious One practicing the way of solitude in the forest.

Inda-bh 11I bowed my head in homage at his feet and then circumambulated him, after which I roared three times and then served the Victorious One for seven days.

Inda-bh 12After emerging from seven days of noble meditative absorption, the Tathāgata reflected with his mind and then summoned one koṭi (ten million) bhikkhus.

Inda-bh 13Then, in the midst of those (bhikkhus), that Great Hero also uttered this aspiration: "In immeasurable kalpas from this point in time, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 14After leaving the beautiful (city) named Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with great effort and perform the deed difficult to perform (asceticism).

Inda-bh 15After sitting down at the foot of the tree of the goatherds, the Tathāgata will receive the milk-rice offering there and then proceed to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 16At the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victorious One, having partaken of the milk-rice offering, will proceed to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 17Then, after circumambulating the precinct of the supreme Bodhi tree, the one of great renown will be enlightened at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 18The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. This one will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 19Kolita and Upatissa will be the foremost (pair of) disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Victorious One.

Inda-bh 20Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the foremost (pair of) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 21Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost female lay supporters. The lifespan (during the time) of that renowned Gotama will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 22Having heard these words of the incomparable Great Sage, devas and humans rejoiced (thinking): "This one is the seed and germ of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 23They uttered cries of rejoicing, clapped their hands, and broke into smiles. The ten-thousand world-systems together with the devas joined their palms in reverential salutation, saying:

Inda-bh 24"If we should fail with the teaching of this Leader of the World, we will come face to face with that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 25Just as people crossing a river who do not reach the opposite bank cross the great river after reaching the bank further downstream,

Inda-bh 26In just the same way, if all of us miss the opportunity with this Victorious One, we will come face to face with that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 27Having heard those words, I increased my faith still more. I resolved upon the supreme practice so as to fulfill the perfection of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 28The city was named Campaka, the king of the kṣatriya lineage was named Asama, the mother of the Great Sage Paduma was named Asamā.

Inda-bh 29He lived among his family for ten thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Uttara, Vasu, and Yasuttara.

Inda-bh 30And there were thirty-three thousand adorned women. That woman (his wife) was named Uttarā. His son was named Ramma.

Inda-bh 31Having seen the four signs, the Victorious One departed by means of a carriage and strove with great effort for eight complete months without fail.

Inda-bh 32Besought by Brahmā, the Leader of the World, the Great Hero Paduma turned the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in the magnificent Dhanañja park.

Inda-bh 33Sāla and Upasāla were the foremost pair of disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Paduma was named Varuṇa.

Inda-bh 34Rādhā and likewise Surādhā were the foremost pair of female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called "the great Soṇa."

Inda-bh 35Bhiyya and likewise Asama were the foremost male lay supporters. Rucī and Nandirāmā were the foremost female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 36That Great Sage was fifty-eight ratanas in height (14.5 meters). His incomparable radiance illuminated all directions.

Inda-bh 37The light of the moon, the light of the sun, the light of precious jewels and costly maṇi gems — all such forms of light were extinguished when compared with the supreme radiance of the Victorious One.

Inda-bh 38His lifespan is known to have extended to one hundred thousand years. While enduring for that long, he enabled many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 39After having awakened without fail all those beings whose minds had ripened, and after instructing the rest, he together with his disciples attained Nirvana.

Inda-bh 40Just as a snake sheds its aged skin, just as trees cast off their withered leaves, so he, having relinquished the formations, attained Nirvana like a flame that has been extinguished.

Inda-bh 41The Teacher Paduma, the noble Victorious One, attained Nirvana at the Dhamma monastery. There was a distribution of relics from that place to all directions.

The history of the Buddha Paduma is the eighth section.