Bv 7The History of the Buddha Revata

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

7. The History of the Buddha Revata:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Sumana, there was a Leader, a Conqueror named Revata, who was peerless, supreme, without equal, incomparable.

Inda-bh 2Requested by the Brahmā, he also expounded the Dhamma, defining the (five) aggregates and the (eighteen) elements, which had never been set in motion in the three realms.

Inda-bh 3During his teaching of the Dhamma, there were three occasions of realization. The first realization was beyond telling by way of counting.

Inda-bh 4When the Sage Revata gave instruction to King Arindama, at that time there was a second realization of one thousand koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 5Emerging from meditative absorption after seven days, the Bull among Men gave instruction on the supreme fruits to one hundred koṭi devas and humans.

Inda-bh 6The Great Sage Revata had three assemblies of those whose taints were destroyed, who were unsullied, who were thus well liberated.

Inda-bh 7Those who came at the first occasion were beyond reckoning by count. The second assembly consisted of one hundred thousand koṭi beings.

Inda-bh 8The attendant in the rolling of the Wheel (of the Dhamma) of the Buddha was unequalled in wisdom. At that time, he fell ill and his life reached a precarious state.

Inda-bh 9Then the sages came to inquire about his illness; there was a third assembly of one hundred thousand koṭi arahants.

Inda-bh 10At that time, I was a brahmin named Atideva. I went to the Buddha Revata. I took refuge in him.

Inda-bh 11Having praised his virtue in morality, concentration, and supreme excellence in wisdom, I offered him an upper robe in accordance with my means.

Inda-bh 12That Buddha, the World-Leader Revata, also made an aspiration for me, saying: "In immeasurable aeons from this moment, this one will become a Buddha.

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

Inda-bh 14Having sat down at the root of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata will accept the milk-rice there and will proceed to the Nerañjarā (Nairañjanā).

Inda-bh 15On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Conqueror will eat the 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 be enlightened at the root of the Assattha tree.

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

Inda-bh 18Kolita and Upatissa will be the chief (pair of) disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Conqueror.

Inda-bh 19Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the chief (pair of) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called '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 this utterance 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 cheers, clapped their hands, and broke into smiles. The ten thousand worlds, together with the devas, joined their palms in salutation, saying:

Inda-bh 23"If we should fail with the teaching of this World-Leader, we will come face to face with that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 24Just as people crossing a river who do not reach the opposite bank will cross the great river after reaching the bank further downstream—

Inda-bh 25In just the same way, if all of us miss the opportunity with this Conqueror, we will come face to face with that one in the distant future."

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

Inda-bh 27Also at that time, I recalled and cultivated the teaching of the Buddhas, (thinking): "What I have vowed, that I shall bring to pass."

Inda-bh 28The city was named Sudhaññavatī; the king of the khattiyas was named Vipula; the mother of the Great Sage Revata was named Vipulā.

Inda-bh 29He lived amid the household for six thousand years. Three magnificent palaces were adorned—Sudassana, Ratanagghi, and Āveḷa—having arisen through meritorious kamma.

Inda-bh 30There were thirty-three thousand women, richly adorned. The (chief) lady (his wife) was named Sudassanā. His son was named Varuṇa.

Inda-bh 31Having beheld the four signs, the Conqueror departed by means of a vehicle and strove with effort for seven months without lapse.

Inda-bh 32Requested by the Brahmā, the World-Leader, the Conqueror, the mighty Great Hero Revata set in motion the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in the Varuṇa grove.

Inda-bh 33Varuṇa and Brahmadeva were the chief (pair of) disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Maṅgala was named Sambhava.

Inda-bh 34Bhaddā and likewise Subhaddā were the chief (pair of) female disciples. At that time, that Buddha, the equal of those who are incomparable, was also enlightened at the root of the Nāga tree.

Inda-bh 35Paduma and likewise Kuñjara were the chief male lay supporters. Sirimā and likewise Yasavatā were the chief female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 36Rising to a height of eighty arm-spans (forty metres), that Buddha shone throughout all the quarters like the banner of the god Inda that has been raised aloft.

Inda-bh 37The supreme halo of radiance emanating from his body spread out for one league in all directions, whether by day or by night.

Inda-bh 38His lifespan is known to have extended to sixty thousand years. While enduring that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 39Having displayed the power of a Buddha, he expounded the Deathless Dhamma in the world and attained Nibbāna without remainder, like a flame whose fuel has been exhausted.

Inda-bh 40And that body like a jewel, that Dhamma without equal—all has utterly vanished; are not all conditioned formations empty?

Inda-bh 41The Buddha Revata, the renowned one, that Great Sage, attained Nibbāna. There was a dispersal of relics from that place to all directions.

The history of the Buddha Revata is the fifth section.