45.
The Chapter on Vibhītaka
1.
The Life History of the Elder Vibhītakamiñjiya
1.
"Kakusandha, the great hero, who has gone beyond all phenomena;
Withdrawn from the group, he went into the forest.
2.
"Having taken the seed kernels, I strung them on a creeper;
The Blessed One at that time, was meditating in the mountain caves.
3.
"Having seen the god of gods, with a clear mind;
I gave a seed kernel to the hero worthy of offerings.
4.
"In this very cosmic cycle, when I gave the kernel then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the seed kernel.
5.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, all existences have been uprooted;
Like an elephant having cut the bond, I dwell without mental corruptions.
6.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, my coming to the Buddha's presence;
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
7.
"The four analytical knowledges, and these eight deliverances;
The six higher knowledges have been realised, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Vibhītakamiñjiya spoke these
verses.
The life history of the Elder Vibhītakamiñjiya is the first.
2.
The Life History of the Elder Koladāyaka
8.
"Clothed in a cheetah hide, I was a wearer of bark garments then;
Having filled a basket, I laughed at the jujube fruits in my hermitage.
9.
"At that time Sikhī Buddha, alone, without a companion, was;
He approached my hermitage, knowing all times.
10.
"Having gladdened my own mind, and having paid homage to the one of good conduct;
Having held it up with both hands, I gave the jujube to the Buddha.
11.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, the fruit that I gave then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the gift of jujube fruit.
12.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
13.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
14.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Koladāyaka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Koladāyaka is the second.
3.
The Life History of the Elder Billiya
15.
"On the bank of the Candabhāgā river, a hermitage was well made by me;
Strewn with marmelos trees, frequented by various trees.
16.
"Having seen the fragrant wood-apple tree, I recollected the Buddha, the foremost;
Having filled a carrying-pole burden, satisfied, with an agitated mind.
17.
"Having approached Kakusandha, I gave ripe billa fruits;
To the hero, the field of merit, with a clear mind.
18.
"In this very cosmic cycle, the fruit that I gave then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
19.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
20.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
21.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Billiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Billiya is the third.
4.
The Life History of the Elder Bhallātadāyaka
22.
"The golden-coloured Enlightened by himself, with the thirty-two excellent characteristics;
Going through the forest top, like a fully blossomed king of sal trees.
23.
"Having prepared a grass spread, I requested the foremost Buddha;
'May the Buddha have compassion on me, I wish to give almsfood.'
24.
"Compassionate and merciful, intent upon the good, of great fame;
Having understood my thought, descend to my hermitage.
25.
"Having descended, the Perfectly Enlightened One sat down on a mattress of leaves;
Having taken a marking-nut, I gave it to the foremost Buddha.
26.
"While I was gazing, the Conqueror then consumed;
Having gladdened my mind there, I then bowed down to the Conqueror.
27.
"In eighteen hundred cosmic cycles, the fruit that I gave then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
28.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
29.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
30.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Bhallātadāyaka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Bhallātadāyaka is the fourth.
5.
The Life History of the Elder Uttalipupphiya
31.
"At the banyan tree with green radiance, at the tree that had fully grown;
Having held up a garland of flowers, I placed it upon the Bodhi tree.
32.
"In this very cosmic cycle, when I venerated the enlightenment;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the enlightenment.
33.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
34.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
35.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Uttalipupphiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Uttalipupphiya is the fifth.
6.
The Life History of the Elder Ambāṭakiya
36.
"Having plunged into the Sāla grove fully in bloom, Vessabhū, the sage;
Sat down in the mountain fastnesses, well-born like a lion.
37.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I made an offering to the Ambāṭaka Buddha;
The unsurpassed field of merit, devoted, with my own hands.
38.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, the flower that I offered;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
39.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
40.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
41.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Ambāṭakiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Ambāṭakiya is the sixth.
7.
The Life History of the Elder Sīhāsanika
42.
"To the Blessed One Padumuttara, the seeker of the welfare of all beings;
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I gave a lion's seat.
43.
"In the heavenly world or among human beings, wherever I dwell;
I obtain an extensive mansion, this is the fruit of the lion's seat.
44.
"Made of gold, made of silver, made of ruby, many;
And divans made of jewels, always arise for me.
45.
"Having made a seat at the Bodhi tree, for the one whose name is the Highest Water-born;
I am born in a high family, oh, the good nature of the Teaching!
46.
"A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, I made a lion's seat;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the lion's seat.
47.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
48.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
49.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Sīhāsanika spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Sīhāsanika is the seventh.
8.
The Life History of the Elder Pādapīṭhiya
50.
"The Perfectly Enlightened One named Sumedha, the foremost compassionate sage;
Having helped many beings cross over, he, of great fame, attained final Nibbāna.
51.
"Near the lion's seat of Sumedha, the great sage;
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I had a footstool made.
52.
"Having done wholesome action, with pleasant result, yielding happiness;
Connected with meritorious action, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
53.
"There for me dwelling, endowed with meritorious deeds;
As I lift my steps, golden chairs come to be for me.
54.
"It is a gain for them, it is well gained for you, who obtain the listening;
Having done service to the quenched, they obtain abundant happiness.
55.
"By me too well-done action, trade well undertaken;
Having made a footstool, I obtain a golden seat.
56.
"Whatever direction I depart to, for whatever task;
I step upon a golden chair, this is the fruit of meritorious action.
57.
"In thirty thousand cosmic cycles, the action which I did then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the footstool.
58.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
59.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
60.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Pādapīṭhiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Pādapīṭhiya is the eighth.
9.
The Life History of the Elder Vedikāraka
61.
"At the excellent Bodhi tree of the Blessed One Padumuttara;
Having made a well-crafted railing, I gladdened my own mind.
62.
"Abundant goods, both made and unmade;
Rain down from the sky, this is the fruit of the railing.
63.
Springing forward in a battle arrayed on both sides, in a frightful one;
I do not see fear and dread, this is the fruit of the railing.
64.
"Having understood my thought, a beautiful divine mansion arises;
Very costly beds, this is the fruit of the railing.
65.
"A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, when I caused the railing to be built;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the railing.
66.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
67.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
68.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Vedikāraka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Vedikāraka is the ninth.
10.
The Life History of the Elder Bodhigharadāyaka
69.
"To the Blessed One Siddhattha, the lord of bipeds, such a one;
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I had a Bodhi tree shrine built.
70.
"I was reborn in Tusita, I dwell in a jewelled house;
Neither cold nor heat, nor wind touches my body.
71.
"Sixty-five cosmic cycles from now, I was a universal monarch;
A city named Kāsika, created by Vissakamma.
72.
"Ten yojanas in length, eight yojanas in width;
In that city there is not, wood nor creeper nor clay.
73.
"It was a yojana across, half a yojana in width;
The mansion named Maṅgala, created by Vissakamma.
74.
"Eighty-four thousand pillars there were, made of gold;
And turrets made of jewels, the roof was of silver.
75.
"An entirely golden house, created by Vissakamma;
This was inhabited by me, this is the fruit of giving a house.
76.
"Having experienced all those, in divine and human existences;
I have attained Nibbāna, the unsurpassed state of peace.
77.
"In thirty thousand cosmic cycles, I had a Bodhi tree shrine built;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving a house.
78.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
79.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
80.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Bodhigharadāyaka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The life history of the Elder Bodhigharadāyaka is the tenth.
The Vibhītaka Chapter is the forty-fifth.
Its summary:
Beleric Myrobalan, Jujube Fruit, Marmelos and Marking-nut Verse;
Hanging Ornament and also, Thunderbolt, Footstool.
Railing, Bodhi-tree Shrine, and verses counted too;
All seventy-nine have been praised in this chapter.
