Bv 5The History of the Buddha Maṅgala

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

5. The History of the Buddha Maṅgala:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Koṇḍañña, the Leader named Maṅgala destroyed the darkness in the world and raised aloft the torch of the True Dhamma.

Inda-bh 2His radiance was unrivaled, surpassing that of the other Victorious Ones, dispelling the light of the moon and sun, and illuminating ten thousand worlds.

Inda-bh 3That Buddha also expounded the four supreme noble Truths. Those who drank the essence of the Truth — those ones dispelled the dense darkness.

Inda-bh 4Having attained the unrivaled fruit of Enlightenment, at the first discourse of the Dhamma, there was the first breakthrough of one hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 5The Buddha taught the Dhamma in the palace of the Lord of the Gods. At that time there was the second breakthrough of nine hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 6When the Wheel-Turning King Sunanda came to meet the Omniscient One, at that time the Omniscient One sounded the supreme noble drum of the Dhamma.

Inda-bh 7And at that time, the retinue of (King) Sunanda numbered ninety koṭis. All of those people, without exception, became bhikkhus by means of the invitation formula.

Inda-bh 8The Great Sage Maṅgala had three assemblies. The first assembly consisted of one hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 9The second consisted of one thousand koṭis. The third consisted of ninety koṭis. That was the assembly of the Taintless Ones who were free from defilements.

Inda-bh 10At that time, I was a brahmin named Suruci, a reciter, well-versed in spells, proficient in the three Vedas.

Inda-bh 11I went and took refuge in that Teacher. I offered fragrant substances and garlands to the assembly headed by the Omniscient One. Having offered fragrant substances and garlands, I gladdened (the assembly) with gavapāna.

Inda-bh 12That Buddha, the supreme person Maṅgala, also made an assurance to me, saying: "In immeasurable aeons reckoning from this moment, this one will become a Buddha.

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

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

Inda-bh 15On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victorious One will eat the meal of milk-rice and then proceed to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 16Then, after circumambulating the enclosure of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, the one of great renown, will attain enlightenment 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 foremost (two) disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Victorious One.

Inda-bh 19Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the foremost (two) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is known as 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 20Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost (two) male patrons. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost (two) female patrons. The lifespan (in the age) of that celebrated 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 sprout of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 22They burst forth with cries of acclaim, clapping of hands, and smiling. The ten thousand worlds together with the gods raised their joined hands in homage, saying:

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

Inda-bh 24Just as people who are crossing a river and do not reach the further shore cross the great river after reaching a lower bank downstream —

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

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

Inda-bh 27At that time, while growing in joy toward the attainment of the noble fruit of Omniscience, I offered my house to the Buddha and went forth under his witness.

Inda-bh 28Having learned the entirety of the Suttas as well as the Vinaya — that is, the ninefold Dhamma of the Teacher — I caused the Dhamma of the Victorious One to shine forth.

Inda-bh 29While dwelling without heedlessness in that Dhamma, having cultivated the Brahmā practice and perfected the higher knowledges, I went to the Brahmā world.

Inda-bh 30The city was named Uttara, the Khattiyan king was named Uttara, and the mother of the Great Sage Maṅgala was named Uttarā.

Inda-bh 31He lived amid his household for nine thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Yasavā, Sucimā, and Sirimā.

Inda-bh 32There were fully thirty thousand adorned women in attendance. That woman (his wife) was named Yasavatī. His son was named Sīvala.

Inda-bh 33Having beheld the four signs, the Victorious One departed by means of a horse and strove with vigorous effort for eight months without interruption.

Inda-bh 34Requested by Brahmā, the Leader of the World, the Great Hero Maṅgala, set in motion the wheel (of the Dhamma) in the supreme noble Siri forest.

Inda-bh 35Sudeva and Dhammasena were the foremost (two) disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Maṅgala was named Pālita.

Inda-bh 36Sīvalā and Asokā were the foremost (two) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is known as the "Nāga tree."

Inda-bh 37Nanda and Visākha were the foremost (two) male patrons. Anulā and Sutanā were the foremost (two) female patrons.

Inda-bh 38The Great Sage stood eighty-eight ratanas tall. From his body there radiated hundreds of thousands of rays of light.

Inda-bh 39His lifespan is known to have extended to ninety thousand years. While enduring that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 40Just as waves on the ocean cannot be counted, in exactly the same way, his disciples cannot be counted.

Inda-bh 41While the Omniscient One, the Leader of the World Maṅgala, was still present, at that time there was no death within his Dhamma while defilements still remained.

Inda-bh 42Having held aloft the torch of the True Dhamma, having helped the great multitude to cross over, blazing like a column of smoke, that one of great renown attained Nibbāna.

Inda-bh 43Having shown to the world together with the gods the fundamental nature of formations, he was extinguished like a mass of fire, like the setting of the sun.

Inda-bh 44The Buddha Maṅgala attained Nibbāna in the park named Vessara. The jeweled stupa of the Victorious One for him was erected thirty leagues high at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Maṅgala is the third section.