Vv 64Great Chariot Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– B. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF MALE BEINGS

– CHAPTER OF THE GREAT CHARIOT

5.14

BJT 1016"You mount this beautiful chariot adorned with many colors, this horse-drawn carriage drawn by a thousand steeds, moving about in the vicinity of the pleasure garden — you are like Vāsava, the Lord of the Gods, the sovereign of beings.

BJT 1017Both sides of your chariot are made of gold, firmly joined with upright posts and crossbars, with a frame crafted with great skill, completed by a master artisan; it shines like the full moon.

BJT 1018Covered with a net of gold, adorned with various kinds of jewels, with sound most pleasing to the ear, and supremely brilliant, this chariot shines with arms and hands waving fly-whisks.

BJT 1019And these axles of the wheels were conjured forth by mind, adorned in the interior spaces between the legs of the chariot; and these axles are embellished with hundreds of painted designs, they blaze with hundreds of rays of light, like lightning.

BJT 1020This chariot is spread over with countless painted designs, and the wheel rims are great and broad with a thousand radiant glories; their sound, which has a charming quality, is heard as though a musical ensemble of five kinds were being performed.

BJT 1021Adorned at the front, furnished with a moon of maṇi-jewel, ever pure, lovely, resplendent, thickly interwoven with rays of gold, the chariot blazes brilliantly, as though with rays of sapphire color.

BJT 1022And these horses, furnished with moons of maṇi-jewel, tall, swift of speed, matched in number, enormous, great, powerful, with tremendous velocity — knowing your intentions, they move accordingly.

BJT 1023And all these four-footed animals are harnessed together; knowing your intentions, they move accordingly. They pull the chariot evenly, they are docile, undisturbed, cheerful, foremost among steeds.

BJT 1024They shake their manes, gallop swiftly, leap into the air, while powerfully rattling the ornaments that have been skillfully fashioned; their sound, which has a charming quality, is heard as though a musical ensemble of five kinds were being performed.

BJT 1025The resonance of the chariot and of the ornaments, the thunder of hoofbeats and of neighing, the most pleasing sound of the assembled multitude — these are heard like the instruments of the divine musicians in a forest of many colors.

BJT 1026Those celestial maidens standing in the chariot, with the languid eyes of does, with thick eyelashes, smiling, with lovely speech, covered with nets of sapphire, with delicate skin, are ever honored by the divine musicians and by the chiefs of the gods.

BJT 1027Those maidens, in captivating red cloth and golden garments, with large eyes, with brilliantly red eyes, born well in a noble lineage, with graceful forms, with carefree smiles, stand in the chariot, hands joined together, ready to serve.

BJT 1028Those maidens, wearing golden bangles, with beautiful garments, with beautiful waists, with full thighs and breasts, with rounded fingers, with lovely faces, with charming appearance, stand in the chariot, hands joined together, ready to serve.

BJT 1029Other maidens, young, with beautiful braided hair, with plaited tresses intertwined, and divided evenly, resplendent — they are obedient, delighting according to your wish, and stand in the chariot, hands joined together, ready to serve.

BJT 1030Those with garlands upon their heads covered with pink and blue lotuses, adorned, anointed with the essence of aloe-wood — they are obedient, delighting according to your wish, and stand in the chariot, hands joined together, ready to serve.

BJT 1031Those with garlands covered with pink and blue lotuses, adorned, anointed with the essence of aloe-wood — they are obedient, delighting according to your wish, and stand in the chariot, hands joined together, ready to serve.

BJT 1032The ornaments at the neck, at the hands, at the feet, and likewise at the head, illuminate all ten directions entire, like the autumn sun rising.

BJT 1033And stirred by the impetus of the wind, the garlands and the ornaments on the arms emit a lovely sound, clear, beautiful, seemingly worthy of being heeded by all persons of discernment.

BJT 1034O lord of the gods, the chariots and great elephants standing on either side in the grounds of the pleasure garden, together with the musical instruments and sounds that bring delight to you yourself, are like a vīṇā with its soundboard, gourd, and neck bringing delight to all.

BJT 1035O lord, while these vīṇās, of many kinds, lovely, with forms that give pleasure, are being played in rapid succession, stirring the heart, the celestial maidens, the accomplished young women, wander amidst the lotuses at their ease.

BJT 1036And when songs, music, and these dancers unite into one, then here they dance, then here the celestial maidens, those noble women, illuminate both realms.

BJT 1037You here take delight, roused by the groups of musical instruments, while being revered like the one who wields the thunderbolt. O lord, there is a stirring of the heart in the presence of these vīṇās of many kinds, lovely, with forms that give pleasure.

BJT 1038What kamma did you yourself formerly create, when you were a human being in a previous life? Or what uposatha day did you observe, enamored of the practice of the Dhamma — what practice was it?

BJT 1039This great spiritual power of yours is not the result of some trifling deed done, nor of some uposatha day completed well in the past, since you outshine the assembly of the gods.

BJT 1040Is this result of yours due to generosity, or to virtue, or to the act of joining the hands in reverential salutation? Being asked, please explain this to me."

BJT 1041That divine being rejoiced when questioned by the Venerable Moggallāna. Being asked the question, he explained clearly to what kamma this result belongs:

BJT 1042"The Buddha Kassapa, one whose faculties were restrained, with a sublime passing, the Highest of Men, a noble personage, one who was opening the door to the Deathless, a deity surpassing the deities, bearing a hundred marks of merit —

BJT 1043I beheld him, that great elephant among men, one who had crossed the flood, resembling a burnished golden image. Having seen him, having seen that very manifestation of what had been well taught, I instantly became one whose mind was clear.

BJT 1044In my own dwelling spread with blossoms, I, with a mind free from attachment, offered to him food, drink, and also clean, excellent garments, accomplished in quality.

BJT 1045Having satisfied that Highest of Bipeds with food, with drink, and with garments, with things to chew, with things to eat, and with fine delicacies, I rejoice in the city of the gods in succession through the heavenly realms.

BJT 1046In this manner, having made this offering without hesitation, pure in three ways, having left behind the human body, I rejoice in the city of the gods like the god Inda.

BJT 1047O wise one, one who desires long life, beauty, happiness, and strength of excellent quality should offer abundant food and drink, well prepared, to one whose mind is free from attachment."

BJT 1048"In this world or in the next world, one who has attained the state worthy of being offered worship, worthy of the supreme offering, who has attained existence in great recompense for those who seek merit — one who is better than or equal to the Buddha is not known."

The Great Chariot Mansion.

The Great Chariot Chapter is the fifth.

SUMMARY OF THIS CHAPTER

(The story of the deity) the Frog, Revatī, Chatta, (the soup of) crab, the gatekeeper, two things to be done, two (stories of) needles, three (stories of) great elephants, and two (stories of) chariots — this is called the first chapter of the males.

THE THIRD RECITATION CHAPTER.

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