Bv 12The History of the Buddha Padumuttara

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

12. The History of the Buddha Padumuttara:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Nārada, there was an Omniscient One, a Supreme Person named Padumuttara, who was unshaken, like the ocean.

Inda-bh 2And that Buddha arose in that Maṇḍa aeon. The beings who arose in that aeon were exceedingly good.

Inda-bh 3When the Blessed One Padumuttara taught the Dhamma for the first time, there was a penetration of the Dhamma by one hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 4Afterward, on yet another occasion, while pouring down a rain of Dhamma bringing satisfaction to the various classes of beings, there was a second penetration by thirty-seven hundred thousand koṭis (three million seven hundred thousand) beings.

Inda-bh 5At the time when the Great Hero went to meet (his father) Ānanda, he came into the presence of his father and sounded the drum of the Deathless.

Inda-bh 6When the drum of the Deathless had been sounded and while the rain of the Dhamma Jewel was falling, there was a third penetration by fifty hundred thousand koṭis (five million) beings.

Inda-bh 7The Buddha was one who instructs, one who causes understanding, one who helps all beings to cross over, one skilled in teaching; he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 8The Teacher Padumuttara had three assemblies. The first assembly was of one hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 9When the Buddha, the peer of those without equal, was dwelling on Mount Vebhāra, there was a second assembly of ninety thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 10Moreover, while traveling through villages, towns, and kingdoms, there was a third assembly of eighty thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 11At that time, I was a chieftain named Jaṭila. I offered cloth together with a meal to the assembly of bhikkhus headed by the Omniscient One.

Inda-bh 12That Buddha, sitting in the midst of the assembly, also pronounced this aspiration for me: "One hundred thousand aeons from this time, this person will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 13Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with effort and perform the deed that is difficult to perform (the ascetic practice).

Inda-bh 14Having sat down at the foot of the tree of the goatherds, the Tathāgata will receive the milk-rice there and will go to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 15On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Conqueror will partake of the milk-rice and will go to the Bodhi Tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 16Then, after circumambulating the precinct of the Bodhi Tree, the Unsurpassed One, the one of great renown, will be enlightened at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 17The mother who gives birth to him will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. He will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 18Kolita and Upatissa will be the foremost (pair of) Disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Conqueror.

Inda-bh 19Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the foremost (pair of) female Disciples. The Bodhi Tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 20Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost female lay supporters. The lifespan in the time of that renowned Gotama will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 21Having heard these words of the incomparable Great Sage, gods and humans rejoiced, thinking: "This one is the seed and germ of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 22They uttered cries of rejoicing, clapped their hands, and broke into smiles. The ten thousand worlds together with the gods raised their joined hands in reverence, saying:

Inda-bh 23"If we fail to attain the teaching of this Leader of the World, we shall meet that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 24Just as people who are crossing a river without reaching the far bank cross the great river after reaching the ford downstream—

Inda-bh 25In exactly the same way, if all of us should miss the opportunity with this Conqueror, we shall meet that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 26Having heard those words, I resolved upon the supreme practice. I exerted exceedingly steadfast effort to fulfill the perfection of ten qualities.

Inda-bh 27At that time, all the wanderers of other sects, being rejected, became dismayed, with downcast minds. Among them, there was no one any longer to serve them. Everyone drove them out of the kingdom.

Inda-bh 28All gathered together at that place and went to the Buddha, saying: "O Great Hero, you are our leader. O One of Vision, be our refuge."

Inda-bh 29The compassionate one, the Merciful One, the one who seeks the welfare of all beings, established all those wanderers of other sects who had come to him in the five precepts.

Inda-bh 30Thus the Dhamma was unmixed, there were no more adherents of other sects, and it was adorned by arhats in such a state of restraint.

Inda-bh 31The city was named Haṁsavatī; the king of the khattiya lineage was named Ānanda; the mother of the Great Sage Padumuttara was named Sujātā.

Inda-bh 32He lived among his family for ten thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Naravāhana, Yasa, and Yasavatti.

Inda-bh 33There were forty-three thousand adorned women. That woman (his wife) was named Vasuladattā. His son was named Uttara.

Inda-bh 34Having seen the four signs, the Supreme Person departed by palace and practiced the exertion of effort for seven days.

Inda-bh 35Requested by the Brahmā deity, the Guide, the Great Hero Padumuttara set the wheel (of the True Dhamma) in motion in the magnificent park of Mithilā.

Inda-bh 36Devala and Sujāta were the foremost pair of Disciples. The attendant of the Teacher Padumuttara was named Sumana.

Inda-bh 37Amitā and likewise Asamā were the foremost pair of female Disciples. The Bodhi Tree of that Blessed One is called "Salala."

Inda-bh 38Vitiṇṇa and likewise Tissa were the foremost male lay supporters. Haṭṭhā and likewise Vicittā were the foremost female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 39Reaching fifty-eight ratanas (fourteen and a half meters) in height, the Great Sage with thirty-two noble marks of distinction was like a golden pillar adorned with a garland.

Inda-bh 40Walls, great gates, ramparts, trees, and rocky outcroppings within a surrounding area of twelve yojanas did not obscure him.

Inda-bh 41His lifespan is known to have extended to one hundred thousand years. While lasting that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 42Having helped many to cross over, having cut through all doubts, he blazed like a mass of fire and then passed into nirvana together with his Disciples.

Inda-bh 43The Buddha, the Conqueror Padumuttara, passed into nirvana at the Nandā monastery. The splendid stupa built for him was twelve yojanas in height at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Padumuttara is the twelfth section.