Vv 83Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī’s Mansion

– HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– B. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF MALE DEVAS

– THE CHAPTER ON WELL-PLACED

7.9

BJT 1209"You are adorned, wearing polished earrings, bearing a garland, anointed with yellow sandalwood paste; raising both arms and lamenting in the middle of the forest—what suffering afflicts you?"

BJT 1210"A chariot frame of gold, resplendent, has arisen for me. I cannot find a pair of wheels for it. On account of that suffering, I will give up my life."

BJT 1211"Is it made of gold, made of maṇi-gems, made of rubies, or made of silver? Young man of good character, tell me. I will help you obtain the pair of wheels."

BJT 1212That young man said to him: "Here, the moon and the sun are seen; my chariot, made of gold, would blaze brilliantly with that pair of wheels."

BJT 1213"Young man, you are truly foolish as well—you are longing for what cannot be longed for. I think you will die, because you will not obtain the moon and the sun."

BJT 1214"The going and coming of the moon and sun can still be seen. Here, the color and nature of both are in sequence. But a person who has died, who has passed away, is not seen. So between the two of us who are weeping, which one is more foolish?"

BJT 1215"Young man, you have indeed spoken the truth. Between the two of us who are weeping, I myself am the more foolish. I am longing for one who has died and passed away, like a little boy crying for the moon.

BJT 1216Truly, while I was being burned as though fire were being sprinkled with melted butter, he was able to extinguish all my grief as though pouring water upon it.

BJT 1217When I was overcome by sorrow, whoever drove away my grief over my son has truly drawn out the arrow of sorrow that was lodged in my heart.

BJT 1218I myself, with the arrow drawn out, cool in state, have been calmed. Young man, having listened to you, I do not grieve, I do not weep.

BJT 1219Are you a heavenly being, a celestial musician, or Sakka who has given gifts in the past? Who are you, or whose son are you? How may we know you?"

BJT 1220"The son whom you yourself cremated at the funeral pyre, and then lamented and wept over—that is I; having done a wholesome deed, I have attained residence in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three."

BJT 1221"We did not see little or much giving by you when you gave at your own home, nor a similar observance of uposatha days; by what kamma did you come to the world of the devas?"

BJT 1222"I was afflicted with illness, suffering, sick, of sickly appearance, within my own home. I beheld the Buddha, the one free from defilements, the one who had crossed over doubt, the Fortunate One, of magnificent wisdom.

BJT 1223I myself, with a joyful mind, with a heart of serene faith, performed the act of anjali toward the Tathāgata. Having done that wholesome deed, I attained residence in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three."

BJT 1224"How wonderful, how extraordinary! Such is the fruit of this act of anjali. I too, with a joyful mind, with a heart of serene faith, go to the Buddha for refuge this very day."

BJT 1225"This very day, with a serene heart, go to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha for refuge. In just the same way, undertake the five training rules, unbroken and unimpaired.

BJT 1226Immediately refrain from the taking of life; avoid what has not been given in this world; let there be no drinking of intoxicants and no speaking of falsehood; and take delight only in your own wife."

BJT 1227"Venerable yakkha, you are one who wishes my welfare. Venerable heavenly being, you are one who wishes my benefit. I will follow your words; you are my teacher.

BJT 1228I go to the Buddha for refuge, and likewise to the supreme Dhamma, and I go to the Sangha of the Deva of humankind for refuge.

BJT 1229I immediately refrain from the taking of life; I avoid what has not been given in this world; there is no drinking of intoxicants; I do not speak falsehood; and I take delight only in my own wife."

The Mansion of Maṭṭakuṇḍalī.