Vv 63Small Chariot Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– B. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF MALE BEINGS

– THE GREAT CHARIOT CHAPTER

5.13

BJT 982"With a firm bow, you stand leaning upon a bow made of heartwood. Are you then a Kṣatriya, a son of a king, or a hunter living in the forest?"

BJT 983"Sir, I am the son of the lord of the Assaka realm, living in the forest. Bhikkhu, I tell you my name; I am known to all as 'Sujāta.'

BJT 984While searching for forest animals, while going deep into the vast forest, I did not see that deer; and having seen you, I stopped."

BJT 985"O man of great merit, your coming is welcome, and furthermore it is no wrong coming for you. Take water from this place and wash your feet clean.

BJT 986And here is cool drinking water brought from a mountain cave. Prince, from that place, having drunk, come and sit upon this mat."

BJT 987"O great sage, your words are indeed good, worthy of being heard, faultless, beneficial, and sweet; you speak what is beneficial having reflected upon it.

BJT 988What delight do you find while living in the forest? O lord of ascetics, having been asked, please speak. After hearing the manner of your exposition, we shall ourselves practise the purpose and the path of the Dhamma."

BJT 989"Prince, non-harm toward all living beings delights us, and abstention from theft, misconduct, and the drinking of intoxicants.

BJT 990Restraint, the doing of good, much learning, gratitude for what has been done — these are praised even in the present life; these things are praiseworthy.

BJT 991Prince, know that within five months death will draw near to you; liberate yourself."

BJT 992"To what land should I go, what work and what duty of a man should I do, or through what knowledge might I become free from old age and death?"

BJT 993"Prince, there is no land, no work, no knowledge, and no duty of a man by going to which a person might become free from old age and death.

BJT 994Those of great wealth, of great possessions, even Kṣatriyas who govern kingdoms, with abundant riches and grain — even those persons do not become free from old age and death.

BJT 995If you have heard of the sons of Andhakaveṇhu — brave, heroic, of fierce combat — even they, though regarded as everlasting, reached the exhaustion of their lifespan and were destroyed.

BJT 996Kṣatriyas, Brahmins, merchants, slaves, the lowly, and rubbish collectors — these and others who exist by birth, even those persons do not become free from old age and death.

BJT 997Those who recite the six-limbed mantras of the Vedas conceived by the Creator — these and others who exist by knowledge, even those persons do not become free from old age and death.

BJT 998Or even the ascetics who are sages — those of calm, with themselves restrained — even those ascetic sages leave the body in time.

BJT 999Even the arahants with themselves developed, with their duties accomplished, without āsavas, also cast off this body through the exhaustion of good and evil."

BJT 1000"O great sage, your verses are well spoken and beneficial. I am persuaded by what has been well expounded, and may you be my refuge."

BJT 1001"Do not go for refuge to me; go forward to take refuge in that very one, the son of the Sakya clan, the Great Hero, to whom I have gone for refuge."

BJT 1002"Sir, in what land is that Teacher of yours? I too shall go to behold the Conqueror, the one without adversary."

BJT 1003"Descended from the Okkāka lineage, in a land belonging to the east, he was a superhuman being there, and he has indeed attained Nirvana."

BJT 1004"Sir, if the Buddha, your Teacher, were still present, I would travel thousands of leagues to attend upon him.

BJT 1005Sir, precisely because your Teacher has attained Nirvana, I too go for refuge to the Great Hero even though he has attained Nirvana.

BJT 1006I go for refuge to the Buddha, and likewise to the supreme Dhamma, and I go for refuge to the Sangha belonging to the Deva of humankind.

BJT 1007I immediately abstain from the taking of life, I keep away from what has not been given in the world, there is no drinking of intoxicants, I speak no falsehood, and I take delight only in my own wife."

BJT 1008"Just as that which has a thousand radiances — the sun — like a great light, while moving along its course in the sky, shines in such a way, in that very manner this great chariot of yours extends seven leagues in all directions.

BJT 1009Covered entirely with sheets of gold; the chest of this chariot is adorned with pearls, with maṇi-gems; the engravings of gold and silver, fashioned from beryl, are well wrought, rendering it resplendent.

BJT 1010This front part of the yoke-pole is fashioned from beryl, and this yoke is adorned with rubies, and further these horses, with the speed of thought, harnessed with gold and silver, shine brilliantly.

BJT 1011Here you stand on the golden chariot, assured, like the Lord of the Devas on his chariot of a thousand horses. O renowned one, I ask you, wise man — how have you attained this high distinction?"

BJT 1012"Sir, my name is Sujāta. Previously, I was a prince. And you, out of compassion, guided me into restraint.

BJT 1013And knowing that my lifespan had been exhausted, you gave me a relic of the Teacher, saying: 'Sujāta, honour this; it will bring benefit to you.'

BJT 1014Having honoured that with fragrant offerings and garlands, I was filled with joy. Having left behind the human body, I was reborn in the Nandana grove.

BJT 1015In the delightful Nandana grove, frequented by various flocks of birds, honoured by celestial nymphs, I take delight in dance and song."

The Small Chariot Mansion.