Bv 14The History of the Buddha Sujāta

BUDDHIST CHRONICLES

14. The History of the Buddha Sujāta:

Inda-bh 1Also in that same Maṇḍa aeon, there was a Leader named Sujāta, who had a lion's jaw, broad shoulders, immeasurable and difficult to attain.

Inda-bh 2Unsullied and pure as the moon, resplendent as the sun, ever shining with glory — the Omniscient One was radiant in such a manner.

Inda-bh 3Having fully accomplished the supreme fruit of Enlightenment, the Omniscient One set in motion the Wheel of the True Dhamma in the city of Sumaṅgala.

Inda-bh 4While the World-Leader Sujāta was expounding the noble Dhamma on the occasion of the first proclamation of the Dhamma, eighty koṭis (eight hundred million) attained comprehension.

Inda-bh 5When the immeasurably renowned Sujāta spent the (rains) retreat in the heavenly realm, there was a second comprehension by thirty-seven hundred thousands (three million seven hundred thousand).

Inda-bh 6When the Buddha Sujāta, who is equal to those who are incomparable, went to meet his father, there was a third comprehension by sixty hundred thousands (six million).

Inda-bh 7The Great Sage Sujāta had three assemblies of those who had destroyed the taints, who were without defilement, whose minds were thus purified.

Inda-bh 8Among those who had attained the power of the higher knowledges, who were no longer reborn in this realm or that, six hundred thousand of them assembled — that was the first gathering.

Inda-bh 9On another occasion, at the assembly when the Victorious One descended from the heavenly realm, there was a second gathering of fifty hundred thousands (five million).

Inda-bh 10His foremost disciple, upon going to meet the Omniscient Bull among Men, came accompanied by four hundred thousand — that was the third gathering.

Inda-bh 11At that time, I was a lord over the four islands, a Wheel-Turning Monarch of great power, moving through the air.

Inda-bh 12Having witnessed a marvel in the world — something extraordinary that caused the hair to stand on end — I went and paid homage to that World-Leader Sujāta.

Inda-bh 13Having offered to the Buddha the vast kingdom comprising the four islands and the seven supreme treasures, I went forth into the homeless life in his presence.

Inda-bh 14The lay supporters in that land, having gathered requisites, brought essential supplies and furnishings for sitting and lying, and offered them to the community of bhikkhus.

Inda-bh 15Then the Lord of the ten thousand worlds also pronounced this aspiration for me: "In thirty thousand aeons, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 16Having departed from the beautiful city called Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with vigorous effort and perform the deed difficult to perform.

Inda-bh 17Having sat down at the foot of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata will receive a milk-rice offering there, then proceed to the Nerañjarā.

Inda-bh 18At the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victorious One will partake of the milk-rice offering, then proceed to the Bodhi Tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 19Then, having circumambulated the precincts of the Bodhi Tree, the Supreme One, the one of great renown, will attain enlightenment at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 20The mother who gives birth to him will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. He will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 21Kolita and Upatissa will be the two foremost disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Victorious One.

Inda-bh 22Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the two foremost female disciples. The Bodhi Tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 23Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the two foremost male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the two foremost female lay supporters. The lifespan in the time of that renowned Gotama will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 24Having 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 25They burst forth with cheers, clapping of hands, and smiles. The ten thousand worlds together with the gods raised their joined palms in reverence, saying:

Inda-bh 26"If we fail under the guidance of this World-Leader, we shall face that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 27Like people crossing a river who do not reach the opposite bank — they cross the great river after reaching the bank further downstream.

Inda-bh 28In just the same way, if we all miss the opportunity with this Victorious One, we shall face that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 29Hearing those words, I gave rise to immense joy. I resolved upon supreme practice in order to fulfill the perfection of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 30Having studied the entirety of the Suttas and likewise the Vinaya — that is, the Dhamma of the Teacher comprising nine categories — I caused the Dhamma of the Victorious One to shine forth.

Inda-bh 31While living without heedlessness in that Dhamma, having cultivated the Brahmā meditation and attained perfection in the higher knowledges, I proceeded to the realm of Brahmā.

Inda-bh 32The city was named Sumaṅgala; the king of the khattiyas was named Uggata; the mother of the Great Sage Sujāta was named Pabhāvatī.

Inda-bh 33He lived nine thousand years amid his household. There were three magnificent palaces: Sirī, Upasirī, and Nandā.

Inda-bh 34There were twenty-three thousand women adorned with ornaments. His wife was named Sirinandā. His son was named Upasena.

Inda-bh 35Having beheld the four signs, the Victorious One departed by means of a horse and strove with diligent effort for nine complete months.

Inda-bh 36Requested by Brahmā, the World-Leader, the Great Hero Sujāta, set in motion the Wheel of the Dhamma in the magnificent park of Sumaṅgala.

Inda-bh 37Sudassana and Sudeva were the two foremost disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Sujāta was named Nārada.

Inda-bh 38Nāgā and Nāgasamālā were the two foremost female disciples. The Bodhi Tree of that Blessed One is called Mahāvelu — the great bamboo.

Inda-bh 39And that bamboo had a solid trunk, no hollow, was thickly leafed, of a perfectly straight kind, large, pleasant to behold, and beautiful.

Inda-bh 40That species has a single trunk; when fully grown it divides into branches from that trunk, like a cluster of peacock tail-feathers bound together — that species was beautiful in such a manner.

Inda-bh 41There were no thorns on it, nor any large hollow cavities; the branches spread wide, not sparse, the shade was dense and pleasing.

Inda-bh 42Sudatta and likewise Citta were the two foremost male lay supporters. Subhaddā and likewise Padumā were the two foremost female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 43At a height of fifty ratanas (12.5 m), that Victorious One attained nobility in every respect and accomplished all virtues.

Inda-bh 44His radiance, equal to incomparable kinds of brilliance, shone forth on all sides. He was immeasurable, unequalled, with no counterpart among any similes of comparison.

Inda-bh 45His lifespan is known to have extended to ninety thousand years. While enduring for that long, he enabled many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 46Just as the waves upon the great ocean, just as the stars in the sky — in just such a manner was his proclamation adorned at that time by the arahants.

Inda-bh 47That Buddha, who was equal to those who are incomparable, and those peerless virtues — all have utterly vanished. Are not all conditioned things truly empty?

Inda-bh 48The Buddha, the noble Victorious One Sujāta, attained Nirvana at the Sīla monastery. A jewelled stupa was erected three gāvutas high (approximately 12 km) for the Teacher at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Sujāta is the twelfth section.