Bv 23The History of the Buddha Vessabhū

– BUDDHAVAMSA

23. The History of the Buddha Vessabhū:

Inda-bh 1Also in that very same Maṇḍa eon, that Leader named Vessabhū, peerless, without rival, arose in the world.

Inda-bh 2Then, knowing that the fire of craving was burning this world, the stronghold of desires, he, having cut off the bonds, attained the supreme state of Perfect Enlightenment, like a great tusker elephant (set free) after breaking his chains.

Inda-bh 3While the World-Leader Vessabhū was turning the wheel of the Dhamma, there was a first penetration by eighty thousand koṭis (eight hundred billion) of beings.

Inda-bh 4While the Foremost of the World, the Bull Among Men, was going on a tour through the country, there was a second penetration by seventy thousand koṭis (seven hundred billion) of beings.

Inda-bh 5While dispelling a grave wrong view, he manifested supernormal powers. Humans and devas of ten thousand worlds, including the heavenly realms, gathered together.

Inda-bh 6Having witnessed the wondrous, extraordinary, hair-raising marvel, sixty koṭis (six hundred million) of devas together with humans were enlightened.

Inda-bh 7The Great Sage Vessabhū had three assemblies of those free from the taints, without defilements, with minds purified in such a manner.

Inda-bh 8There was a first assembly of eighty thousand koṭis of bhikkhus. There was a second assembly of seventy thousand bhikkhus.

Inda-bh 9There was a third assembly of sixty thousand bhikkhus of the Great Sage — those who had passed beyond fears such as old age and so forth.

Inda-bh 10At that time, I was a kṣatriya named Sudassana. Having invited the Great Hero and having offered the most worthy gift, I presented the Victor together with his assembly of bhikkhus with food, drink, and robes.

Inda-bh 11The supreme wheel of that incomparable Buddha was set in motion. Having listened to the excellent Dhamma, I took delight in the going-forth.

Inda-bh 12Having carried out the great giving without ceasing day and night, I undertook the going-forth endowed with all excellent qualities in the presence of the Victor.

Inda-bh 13Accomplished in conduct and virtue, earnest in duties and precepts, while seeking the state of Omniscience, I took delight in the Dhamma of the Victor.

Inda-bh 14Having attained faith and joy, I paid homage to the Buddha, the Teacher. Joy arose in me, having the enlightenment-state itself as its principal cause.

Inda-bh 15Knowing that (my) mind was no longer subject to regression, the Perfectly Enlightened One declared this: "In thirty-one eons from this time, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 16Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with effort and perform the deed that is difficult to perform (the austerities).

Inda-bh 17Having sat down at the root of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata will receive the milk-rice there and then proceed to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 18On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victor will eat the milk-rice and then go to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 19Then, having circumambulated the enclosure of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, he of great fame, will be enlightened at the root of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 20The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. This one will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 21Kolita and Upatissa, free from the taints, with craving abandoned, with calm and composed minds, will be the chief disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve this Victor.

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

Inda-bh 23Citta 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 is one hundred years."

Inda-bh 24Having heard this utterance of the incomparable Great Sage, devas and humans rejoiced, (thinking): "This one is the seed and germ of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 25They gave forth shouts of acclamation, clapped their hands, and smiled. Ten thousand worlds together with the devas raised their joined palms in reverence, saying:

Inda-bh 26"If we should fail with the teaching of this World-Leader, then we will come face to face with that one in the far distant future.

Inda-bh 27Just as people crossing a river who do not reach the far bank cross the great river after reaching a bank further downstream —

Inda-bh 28In exactly the same way, if we all miss the opportunity with this Victor, then we will come face to face with that one in the far distant future."

Inda-bh 29Having heard that utterance, I increased my faith all the more. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfill the perfections in their entirety in respect to the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 30The city was named Anupama; the king of the kṣatriya lineage was named Suppatita; the mother of the Great Sage Vessabhū was named Yasavatī.

Inda-bh 31He lived in the midst of his household for six thousand years. There were three splendid palaces: Ruci, Suruci, and Rativaḍḍhana.

Inda-bh 32There were no fewer than thirty thousand adorned women. That woman (his wife) was named Sucittā. His son was named Suppabuddha.

Inda-bh 33Having seen the four signs, the Supreme Person departed by palanquin and practiced the exertion of striving for six months.

Inda-bh 34Requested by Brahmā, the World-Leader, the Great Hero, the Supreme Person Vessabhū set the wheel (of the Dhamma) in motion also at Aruṇa.

Inda-bh 35Soṇa and likewise Uttara were the chief disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Vessabhū was named Upasanta.

Inda-bh 36Dāmā and likewise Samālā were the chief female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called "Sālā."

Inda-bh 37Sotthika and likewise Ramma were the chief male lay supporters. Gotamī and Sirimā were the chief female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 38His height was sixty ratanas, equivalent to a golden pillar. The radiance emanating from his body was like a fire blazing on a mountaintop at night.

Inda-bh 39His lifespan is known to have been sixty thousand years. While living for that long, he enabled many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 40Having expounded the Dhamma, having classified the people, and having established the boat of the Dhamma, he attained Nirvana together with his disciples.

Inda-bh 41All those persons (the Buddha and his disciples), their manner of living, their deportment worthy of admiration — all have completely vanished; are not all conditioned things indeed empty?

Inda-bh 42The noble Victor, the Teacher Vessabhū, attained Nirvana at the monastery of Khema. There was a distribution of relics from that place to various localities everywhere.

The history of the Buddha Vessabhū is the twenty-first section.