Vv 84Serīsaka’s Mansion

– STORIES OF HEAVENLY MANSIONS

– B. HEAVENLY MANSIONS OF MALE BEINGS

– THE CHAPTER ON WELL SET DOWN

7.10

BJT 1230Let us listen to the encounter between the Yakkha and the merchant caravan that took place at that time. How the story was well exchanged between one and another — let all listen to that story.

BJT 1231That king, named Pāyāsi, of good repute, had gone to dwell together with the devas of the earth realm. While rejoicing in his own heavenly mansion, that non-human being spoke to human beings, saying:

BJT 1232"In a perilous forest, a place devoid of human beings, in a desert lacking water and food, a place exceedingly difficult to traverse, in the midst of a sandy waste, many people lose their wits from fear of the dangers.

BJT 1233Here there are no fruits, nor plants with edible roots, no firewood — from where could food be obtained here? — there is nothing but abundant dust, much sand, scorching heat, burning temperatures, and harsh conditions.

BJT 1234This desert is like a heated cauldron, profitless, equivalent to another world (a hell); this dwelling place once belonged to vicious beings of former times — it is an accursed land.

BJT 1235As for you — for what reason, desiring what, have you hastily assembled and entered this very region? Was it through greed, through fear, or have you been led astray?"

BJT 1236"The caravan leaders of the lands of Magadha and Aṅga, having loaded goods in great abundance, travel to the lands of Sindhu and Sovīra for the sake of wealth, in hope of profit.

BJT 1237During the day, unable to endure the thirst and ever mindful of compassion for the draft animals, we all moved at this pace and came upon the road at night, at an untimely hour.

BJT 1238Having set out late, having lost our way, bewildered like blind men, gone astray in the forest, in a place exceedingly difficult to traverse, in the midst of a sandy waste, we here cannot discern the directions, our minds utterly confused.

BJT 1239And O Yakkha, having seen this — something never seen before — namely this foremost heavenly mansion and yourself, while longing for our future lives, upon beholding you we became joyful, our minds glad and uplifted."

BJT 1240"For the sake of wealth, you travel to various distant regions, to the far shore of this great ocean and sandy waste, to paths traversed with staffs and tracks marked with stakes, to rivers, and further to perilous mountain passes.

BJT 1241Now then, having entered the territories of others, while observing people of many lands — whatever you have heard or seen — let us hear from you that which is wondrous."

BJT 1242"O Deva, something more wondrous than this we have not heard or seen — all of it surpasses the human world; having looked upon it, we are not yet satisfied with its extraordinary beauty.

BJT 1243In the sky there are lotus ponds with countless flowers, with many white lotuses, and these trees bear fruit perpetually, with fragrances of supreme sweetness spreading forth.

BJT 1244There are pillars of sapphire rising a hundred ratanas high, their surfaces extending far, fashioned of stone and coral, set with cat's-eye gems and rubies, and these columns are made of wish-fulfilling jewels.

BJT 1245There are a thousand pillars of incomparable power; above them stands this magnificent heavenly mansion, jewelled within, joined with corridors of gold, and covered most skillfully with golden roofing tiles.

BJT 1246This mansion blazes with refined gold from the Jambu River. That expanse is well polished, adorned with towers, stairways, and terraces — sturdy, lovely, graceful in form, well proportioned, exceedingly captivating to behold, and pleasing to the heart.

BJT 1247Within this jewelled mansion there is abundant food and drink; attended by a retinue of celestial maidens, resounding with the sound of small drums, great drums, and musical instruments, you are honored with praises and reverential salutations.

BJT 1248In the tower of this noble heavenly mansion, delightful and wonderful, awakened by throngs of women — you here, beyond all imagining, endowed with every virtue, rejoice like King Vessavaṇa at Nalinī.

BJT 1249Are you a divine being, or are you a Yakkha, a Lord of devas, or of human nature? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you. Please tell us — what is your name? Are you indeed a Yakkha?"

BJT 1250"I am the very Yakkha named Serīsaka, dwelling in the desert, the guardian of the sandy waste. I protect this region and carry out the commands of King Vessavaṇa."

BJT 1251"Was this received by you by chance, arising through gradual development, created by yourself, or assigned by the devas? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you: By what means did you attain this pleasing station?"

BJT 1252"This was not received by me by chance, it did not arise through gradual development, it was not created by myself, nor was it assigned by the devas. This pleasing station I attained through deeds free from evil, through my own meritorious virtues."

BJT 1253"What then was your duty? And what noble conduct did you observe? The fruit of this attainment belongs to what was well practised? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you: By what means did you attain this heavenly mansion?"

BJT 1254"When I was ruling the kingdom of Kosala, Pāyāsi was my name. At that time I was a person of nihilistic views, miserly, of wicked disposition, and one who proclaimed the doctrine of annihilationism.

BJT 1255And then there was the monk Kumārakassapa, learned, with vivid and eloquent teaching, noble and distinguished. At that time he delivered a teaching of the Dharma to me and dispelled the distortions of view within me.

BJT 1256I, having listened to his teaching of the Dharma, declared myself a lay follower. I abstained from the taking of life, I kept away from what is not given — theft — in this world, there was no drinking of intoxicants, I spoke no falsehood, and I took delight only in my own wife.

BJT 1257That was my duty, and that also was my noble conduct. The fruit of this attainment belongs to that which was well practised. Through those deeds free from evil, through those very meritorious virtues, I attained this heavenly mansion."

BJT 1258"It is said that those of wisdom speak the truth; the words of the wise are without error. A person of meritorious kamma, wherever they may go, rejoices in that very place, one who has pleasures according to their wishes.

BJT 1259Wherever there is grief and lamentation, killing and imprisonment, obstruction — one of evil dhammas goes to that place and is never freed from the realm of suffering."

BJT 1260"This assembly appears as though troubled, as though stirred into turbidity at this very moment. O Deva, for what reason then have this assembly and yourself fallen into distress?"

BJT 1261"From the adjacent sirīsa forest these celestial fragrances spread their sweetness; having dispelled the darkness both by day and by night, they reach naturally to this heavenly mansion.

BJT 1262And when a hundred years have passed, only one fruit of these trees comes to be. From the time I was born into this assembly here, one hundred human years have elapsed.

BJT 1263I have seen that I shall dwell in this heavenly mansion for five hundred years; but through the exhaustion of life span, through the exhaustion of merit, I shall die. It is precisely on account of that sorrow that I am stricken with distress."

BJT 1264"How could one such as he, having long attained an incomparable heavenly mansion, be sorrowful? Only those who have been reborn for a brief time — could it be that those persons, with their meager merit, might be sorrowful?"

BJT 1265"The fact that you speak words of affection to me means that my counsel is pleasing to you. Sirs, you have been protected by me according to your wish; therefore, set out in safety."

BJT 1266"Having gone to the lands of Sindhu and Sovīra, we, with the aim of wealth and the hope of profit, having fully accomplished our plans with generosity, will hold a grand festival for Serissa."

BJT 1267"You should not hold a festival for Serissa, and all things shall come to pass for you as you have said. Avoid entirely evil and unwholesome deeds, and make a vow to be devoted to the Dhamma.

BJT 1268In this assembly there is a learned lay follower, endowed with virtue and duty, with faith, with generosity, and supremely good, with discernment, content, and with carefulness.

BJT 1269He is one who does not intentionally speak falsehood, who does not think of harming others, who does not cause division and backbiting, and who speaks gently and kindly.

BJT 1270He is reverential, obedient, well-trained, not cruel, pure in higher virtue, of holy conduct; that man supports his mother and also his father in accordance with the Dhamma.

BJT 1271I think he seeks wealth for the sake of his mother and father, not for his own sake. Upon the passing away of his mother and father, he, with a disposition toward renunciation, will practice the holy life.

BJT 1272He is straightforward, uncomplicated, not deceitful, not cunning, and does not speak by way of making excuses. How could one such as he — a maker of well-performed deeds, standing firm in the Dhamma — receive suffering?

BJT 1273It is on account of him that I myself have appeared. Therefore, you merchants, take heed of the Dhamma. Here, without him, you might have become as ashes, confused like blind men, gone astray in the forest; for to one who treats him badly, such things and more are easy to come by. Truly, association with good people is happiness."

BJT 1274"What is his name, what is his occupation, what is he called, and further, what is his family name? Venerable yaksha, we also wish to meet him; out of compassion for him you have come here, for whoever it is that you cherish, the benefit belongs to that person."

BJT 1275"The one who is a barber, by name Sambhava, a lay follower who earns his living by comb and razor — you know him; he is your attendant. Indeed, do not look down on him; he is supremely good."

BJT 1276"Venerable yaksha, we know the one of whom you speak, yet we truly did not know that he was such a person. Venerable yaksha, we shall also honor him, having heard your noble words."

BJT 1277"Let all those in this caravan — the young, the old, and likewise those of middle age — all of them ascend the heavenly mansion; let the miserly behold the fruit of meritorious deeds."

BJT 1278"There, having brought that barber forward first at that place, all of them declared, 'I first,' and all of them ascended the heavenly mansion just as the Masakkasāra mansion of Vāsava, the Lord Sakka.

BJT 1279There, all of them declared, 'I first,' and proclaimed themselves to be lay followers. They refrained from the taking of life; they abstained from what had not been given — from theft — in this world.

BJT 1280There was no drinking of intoxicants, and they spoke no falsehood; they were content with their own wives. There, all of them declared, 'I first,' and proclaimed themselves to be lay followers. Rejoicing in the supernormal powers of the yaksha, wave after wave, the caravan, having been given leave, set forth.

BJT 1281Having gone to the lands of Sindhu and Sovīra, those persons, with the aim of wealth and the hope of profit, having fully attained their plans, returned to Pāṭaliputta unharmed.

BJT 1282Those persons, having returned to their own homes in safety, reunited with their children and wives, joyful, elated, with gladdened minds, became rejoicing, and held a grand festival for Serissa.

BJT 1283Those persons had the edifice of Serissakā built. Such is the nature of association with good people; association with the qualities of the Dhamma is of great benefit — by virtue of the benefit of one lay follower, all beings attained a state of happiness."

Serīsaka's Mansion.