Bv 13The History of the Buddha Sumedha

– BUDDHAVAṀSA

13. The History of the Buddha Sumedha:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Padumuttara, there was a Leader named Sumedha, the supreme Sage of the entire world, of outstanding might, difficult to attain.

Inda-bh 2With serene eyes, a full countenance, (a body) tall, upright, and majestic, seeking the welfare of all beings, he helped many people escape from bondage.

Inda-bh 3Having fully accomplished the supreme fruit of Enlightenment, the Buddha set in motion the Wheel of the Dhamma in the city of Sudassana.

Inda-bh 4In the teaching of his Dhamma, there were three occasions of comprehension. The first occasion of comprehension was of one hundred thousand koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 5Moreover, on another occasion, that Victorious One tamed the Yakkha Kumbhakaṇṇa. There was a second occasion of comprehension of ninety thousand koṭi (nine hundred billion) beings.

Inda-bh 6Moreover, on another occasion, the one of boundless renown expounded the four Noble Truths. There was a third occasion of comprehension of eighty thousand koṭi (eight hundred billion) beings.

Inda-bh 7The Great Sage Sumedha had three assemblies of taintless āsava-exhausted ones, of purified mind, in such a manner.

Inda-bh 8When the Victorious One arrived at the city of Sudassana, on that occasion one hundred koṭi (one billion) bhikkhus who were āsava-exhausted ones assembled together.

Inda-bh 9Moreover, on another occasion, during the performance of the Kaṭhina (robe-offering) ceremony for the bhikkhus at Devakūṭa, there was then a second assembly of ninety koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 10Moreover, on another occasion, when the One of Ten Powers was traveling, there was then a third assembly of eighty koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 11At that time, I was a young brahmin named Uttara. The wealth accumulated in my household was eighty koṭi (eight hundred million).

Inda-bh 12Having offered the whole of it entirely to the Leader of the World together with the assembly (of bhikkhus), I went to take refuge in him and was delighted with the going forth.

Inda-bh 13While expressing rejoicing (in merit), that Buddha also made an aspiration for me, saying: "In thirty thousand aeons, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 14Having departed from the beautiful (city) named Kapila, the Tathāgata strives with great effort and performs the deed that is difficult to perform (the austerities).

Inda-bh 15Having sat down at the foot of the cowherd's tree, the Tathāgata receives the milk-rice there and then goes to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 16At the bank of the river Nerañjarā, that Victorious One partakes of the milk-rice and then proceeds to the Bodhi tree by way of the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 17Thereafter, having circumambulated the precinct of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, 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 known by the name '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, gods and humans rejoiced, (thinking): "This one is the seed and sprout of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 23They burst forth with shouts of joy, clapping of hands, and smiles. The ten thousand worlds together with the gods paid homage with hands raised in añjali, saying:

Inda-bh 24"If we fail with the teaching of this Leader of the World, we shall encounter that one in the distant future.

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

Inda-bh 26in exactly the same way, if all of us miss the opportunity with this Victorious One, we shall encounter that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 27Having heard those words, I increased my faith still further. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfill the perfections of the ten dhammas.

Inda-bh 28Having studied the entirety of the Suttanta as well as the Vinaya — that is, the ninefold Dhamma of the Teacher — I illuminated the Dhamma of the Victorious One.

Inda-bh 29Living without heedlessness in that Dhamma whether sitting, standing, or walking in meditation, having fulfilled the higher knowledges, I went to the world of Brahmā.

Inda-bh 30The city was named Sudassana; the khattiya king was named Sudatta; the mother of the Great Sage Sumedha was named Sudattā.

Inda-bh 31He lived in the household life for nine thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Sucandanaka, Koñca, and Sirivaḍḍha.

Inda-bh 32Three times sixteen thousand (forty-eight thousand) adorned women attended him. That (wife) was named Sumanā. The son was named Punabbasumitta.

Inda-bh 33Having beheld the four signs, the Victorious One departed by means of an elephant and strove with great effort for eight complete months.

Inda-bh 34Entreated by the Brahmā, the Leader of the World, the Great Hero Sumedha, set in motion the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in the beautiful park of Sudassana.

Inda-bh 35Saraṇa and Sabbakāma were the foremost (pair of) disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Sumedha was named Sāgara.

Inda-bh 36Rāmā and likewise Surāmā were the foremost (pair of) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is known by the name "the great Nīpa tree."

Inda-bh 37Uruvela and likewise Yasava were the foremost (pair of) male lay supporters. Yasodharā and Sirimā were the foremost (pair of) female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 38Eighty-eight ratanas (22 metres) in height, the Great Sage illuminated all directions, like the moon amidst an assembly of stars.

Inda-bh 39Just as the maṇi-jewel of a Wheel-turning King illuminates one yojana, in exactly the same way, his precious gem radiated light for one yojana all around.¹

Inda-bh 40His lifespan is known to have extended to ninety thousand years. Enduring for that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 41(The Dhamma) flourished through the good arahants, who had accomplished the three-fold knowledge, the six higher knowledges, and such powers.

Inda-bh 42All of those ones were of boundless renown, liberated, with no more rebirth. Having manifested the light of wisdom, all those ones of great renown attained Nirvana.

Inda-bh 43The Buddha, the noble Victorious One Sumedha, attained Nirvana at the Medha monastery. There was a dispersal of relics from that place to all the various locations.

The history of the Buddha Sumedha is the eleventh portion.

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