Bv 6The History of the Buddha Sumana

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

6. The History of the Buddha Sumana:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Maṅgala, the Leader named Sumana was the Supreme One of all beings, unequaled in all qualities (virtue, concentration, wisdom).

Inda-bh 2At that time, in the city of Mekhala, he sounded the drum of the deathless linked with the blasts of the horn of the Dhamma — the teaching of the Conqueror comprising nine categories.

Inda-bh 3Having conquered the defilements, that Teacher attained the supreme fruit of Complete Enlightenment and established the city that is the supremely noble city of the True Dhamma.

Inda-bh 4He created the great highway that is unobstructed, without curves, straight, long and broad — that which is the supremely noble Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

Inda-bh 5There, upon that path, he displayed the four fruits of the ascetic life, the four analytical knowledges, the six higher knowledges, and the eight meditative attainments.

Inda-bh 6Those who are not heedless, whose minds are unhindered, who possess moral shame and diligence — it is those persons who attain these noble virtues with ease.

Inda-bh 7Thus, by that means, the Teacher, while uplifting the great multitude, first enlightened one hundred thousand koṭis.

Inda-bh 8At the moment when the Great Hero taught the assemblies of other sects — at the time of the second teaching of the Dhamma — one hundred thousand koṭis comprehended it.

Inda-bh 9At the time when the gods and humans, being of one accord and in agreement, posed the question concerning Nibbāna as well as the doubts within their minds —

Inda-bh 10Then, also on the occasion of the teaching of the Dhamma that clearly explained Nibbāna, there was the third comprehension by ninety thousand koṭis.

Inda-bh 11The Great Sage Sumana had three assemblies of the Taint-free Ones, free from defilements, with minds thus purified.

Inda-bh 12When the Blessed One had passed the rains (retreat), on the day the Pavāraṇā ceremony was announced, the Tathāgata performed the Pavāraṇā together with one hundred thousand koṭis.

Inda-bh 13Then on another occasion, when the Taint-free Ones had assembled on Mount Kañcana, there was the second assembly of ninety thousand koṭis.

Inda-bh 14When the Lord Sakka came to behold the Buddha, there was the third assembly of eighty thousand koṭis.

Inda-bh 15At that time, I was the Nāga King named Atula, possessed of great power, with an abundant accumulation of wholesome qualities.

Inda-bh 16Then, having departed from the nāga palace, together with my retinue I served the Conqueror and his assembly with the celestial musical instruments of the nāgas.

Inda-bh 17I satisfied one hundred thousand koṭis with food and drink. Having offered two sets of cloth to each one, I took refuge in him.

Inda-bh 18That Buddha, the Leader of the World Sumana, also pronounced this aspiration for me: "In immeasurable aeons from this moment, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 19Having 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 20Having sat down at the root of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata will receive there the offering of milk-rice and will go to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 21On the bank of the river Nerañjarā, that Conqueror will eat the milk-rice and then go to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 22Then, having circumambulated the precinct of the supreme Bodhi tree, the one of great renown will be enlightened at the root of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 23The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. He will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 24Kolita and Upatissa will be the foremost disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Conqueror.

Inda-bh 25Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the foremost female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 26Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost female lay supporters. The lifespan (in the age) of that Gotama of great renown will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 27Having heard this utterance of the Great Sage who is without equal, gods and humans rejoiced, (thinking): "This one is the seed and sprout of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 28They uttered shouts of rejoicing, clapped their hands, and broke into smiles. The ten thousand worlds together with the gods raised their joined hands in reverence, saying:

Inda-bh 29"If we fall short with the teaching of this Leader of the World, we shall meet that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 30Just as those who are crossing a river and do not reach the opposite bank cross the great river after reaching the bank further downstream —

Inda-bh 31In just the same way, if all of us should miss the opportunity with this Conqueror, we shall meet that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 32Having heard his words, my faith increased all the more. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfill the perfections of the ten qualities completely.

Inda-bh 33The city was named Mekhala; the king of the khattiyas was named Sudatta; the mother of the Great Sage Sumana was named Sirimā.

Inda-bh 34He lived amid his family for nine thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Canda, Sucanda, and Vaṭaṁsa.

Inda-bh 35There were sixty-three hundred thousand (six million three hundred thousand) adorned women. That (wife's) name was Vataṁsikā. The son's name was Anupama.

Inda-bh 36Having seen the four signs, the Conqueror departed by means of an elephant and strove with effort for ten full months without omission.

Inda-bh 37Requested by Brahmā, the Leader of the World, the Great Hero Sumana set in motion the wheel (of the Dhamma) in the supremely noble city of Mekhala.

Inda-bh 38Saraṇa and Bhāvitatta were the foremost disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Sumana was named Udena.

Inda-bh 39Soṇā and Upasoṇā were the foremost female disciples. That Buddha, the equal of those who are without equal, was also enlightened at the root of the Nāga tree.

Inda-bh 40Varuṇa and Saraṇa were the foremost male lay supporters. Cālā and Upacālā were the foremost female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 41Rising to ninety arm-lengths (45 metres) in height, that Buddha illumined the ten thousand worlds like precious gold metal.

Inda-bh 42His lifespan is known to have extended to ninety thousand years. While lasting that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 43Having helped those worthy of crossing over to cross over, and having enlightened those worthy of enlightenment, the Fully Enlightened One attained Parinibbāna, like the moon (king of the stars) that has set.

Inda-bh 44That Buddha was incomparable, and those bhikkhus were Taint-free Ones. Having manifested matchless radiance, those of great renown attained Nibbāna.

Inda-bh 45That incomparable wisdom and those incomparable jewels — all have utterly vanished. Are not all conditioned things truly empty?

Inda-bh 46The Buddha Sumana, the renowned one, attained Nibbāna at the monastery of Aṅgāra. The stupa of the Conqueror for him was erected four yojanas high at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Sumana is the fourth section.