Vv 8Third Ship Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– A. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF WOMEN

– THE CHAPTER ON THE SEAT

1.8

BJT 63"O goddess, you stand, having stepped onto a boat with a golden roof. You wade down into a lake of water, gathering lotus flowers with your hands.

BJT 64The peaked houses, your dwelling places, are divided into symmetrical parts. Shining brilliantly, they illuminate the four directions all around.

BJT 65On account of what do you have such a complexion? On account of what was this accomplished for you here? And on account of what do delightful pleasures arise for you?

BJT 66O goddess of great power, I ask you: 'When you were a human being, what meritorious deed did you do? On account of what do you have the power to shine thus, and does your complexion illuminate all directions?'"

BJT 67That goddess rejoiced when questioned by the Fully Enlightened One himself. Being asked the question, she explained of which karma this result was:

BJT 68"I, when I was a human being in the human realm, in a former life in the world of human beings, having seen monks who were lacking water, who were weary, stood up and offered water to drink.

BJT 69Indeed, whoever stands up and offers water to drink to those who are weary and thirsty, that person obtains a river with cool water, many flowers, and abundant white lotuses.

BJT 70Streams of water flow continually around that person, rivers with cool water, spread with sand. There are mango trees, sālā trees, tilakā trees, red plum trees, bean-pod trees, and trumpet-flower trees blooming with flowers.

BJT 71That foremost heavenly mansion, shining brilliantly, gains its beauty by virtue of the regions of the land. Here, this accomplished result belongs to that karma. Those who have made merit previously attain such as this.

BJT 72The peaked houses, my dwelling places, are divided into symmetrical parts. Shining brilliantly, they illuminate the four directions all around.

BJT 73On account of that, I have such a complexion. On account of that, this was accomplished for me here. And on account of that, delightful pleasures arise for me.

BJT 74On account of that, I have the power to shine thus, and my complexion illuminates all directions. This result of mine belongs to that karma. The Buddha drank water for my benefit."

The Third Ship Heavenly Mansion.