Bv 15The History of the Buddha Piyadassī

– Buddha CHRONICLE

15. The History of the Buddha Piyadassī:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Sujāta, the World-Leader Piyadassī was one who was self-enlightened, difficult to attain, equal to those who are incomparable, and of great renown.

Inda-bh 2Of boundless fame, that Buddha also shone like the sun. Having destroyed all darkness, he set the Wheel of the Dhamma in motion.

Inda-bh 3For that one of unrivalled power, there were also three occasions of comprehension. The first occasion of comprehension was of one hundred thousand koṭi persons.

Inda-bh 4The Deva-King Sudassana had followed wrong view. While dispelling his wrong view, the Teacher expounded the Dhamma.

Inda-bh 5The assembly of beings was without equal. At that time, the multitude had gathered together. There was a second occasion of comprehension of ninety thousand koṭi persons.

Inda-bh 6At the time when the Tamer of humans was training the elephant Doṇamukha, there was a third occasion of comprehension of eighty thousand koṭi persons.

Inda-bh 7That Piyadassī also had three assemblies. The first assembly was of one hundred thousand koṭi persons.

Inda-bh 8Then at another time, ninety koṭi wise ones gathered together. At the third assembly, there were eighty koṭi persons.

Inda-bh 9At that time, I was a young brahmin named Kassapa, a reciter, one who had mastered the spells, well versed in the three Vedas.

Inda-bh 10Having listened to the Dhamma of that (Buddha), I gave rise to faith. With one hundred thousand koṭi (coins) I established a monastery for the Sangha.

Inda-bh 11Having offered the monastery to him, I became joyful, with a gladdened mind, established myself firmly in taking refuge, and undertook the five precepts.

Inda-bh 12That Buddha, seated in the midst of the assembly, also made this aspiration for me: "In eighteen hundred (one thousand eight hundred) aeons, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 13Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata strove with effort and performed the deed that is difficult to perform (austerities).

Inda-bh 14Having sat down at the foot of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata received the milk-rice offering there, and then went to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 15At the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victorious One ate the milk-rice and then went to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that had been prepared.

Inda-bh 16Then, after circumambulating the enclosure of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, he of great renown, will be enlightened at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 17The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. This one will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 18Kolita and Upatissa will be the chief disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Victorious One.

Inda-bh 19Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the chief female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is known by the name 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 20Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the chief male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the chief 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, devas and humans rejoiced, (thinking): "This one is the seed and sprout of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 22They gave forth cries of acclaim, clapped their hands, and smiled. The ten thousand worlds together with the devas joined their palms in salutation and said:

Inda-bh 23"If we should fail with the teaching of this World-Leader, then we will encounter that other one in the far distant future.

Inda-bh 24Just as people who are crossing a river do not reach the opposite bank, they cross the great river after reaching the bank downstream.

Inda-bh 25In like manner, if all of us should miss this Victorious One, then we will encounter that other one in the far distant future."

Inda-bh 26Having heard those words, my faith increased all the more. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfil the perfections of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 27The city was named Sudhañña; the king of the khattiyas was named Sudatta; the mother of the Teacher Piyadassī was named Sucandā.

Inda-bh 28He lived amidst his household for nine thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Sunimmala, Vimala, and Giribrahā.

Inda-bh 29There were thirty-three thousand adorned women. The (chief) woman (his wife) was named Vimalā. His son was Kañcanāvela.

Inda-bh 30Having seen the four signs, the Supreme Person set forth by means of a vehicle and practised striving for six months.

Inda-bh 31Requested by Brahmā, the Great Sage, the Great Hero Piyadassī set the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in motion at the beautiful Usabha park.

Inda-bh 32Pālita and Sabbadassī were the chief disciples. The attendant of the Teacher Piyadassī was named Sobhita.

Inda-bh 33Sujātā and Dhammadinnā were the chief female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is known by the name "Kakudha."

Inda-bh 34Sandhaka and Dhammaka were the chief male lay supporters. Visākhā and Dhammadinnā were the chief female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 35Of boundless fame, endowed with the thirty-two marks of a great man, and of a height of eighty arm-lengths (80 × 0.5 = 40 m), that Buddha was beheld like a king of Sāla trees.

Inda-bh 36There was no light of fire, of moon, or of sun, comparable to the radiance of that incomparable Great Sage.

Inda-bh 37The lifespan of that one was also as long as that of the devas and humans. The One with Vision dwelt in the world for ninety thousand years.

Inda-bh 38That Buddha, equal to those who are incomparable, together with all those unrivalled virtues — all have completely vanished; are not all conditioned phenomena empty?

Inda-bh 39That noble Sage Piyadassī attained Nirvana at the Assattha monastery. The cetiya of the Victorious One for that one was erected three yojanas high at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Piyadassī is the thirteenth section.