10.
The Discourse on Cūḷanikā
81.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"Face to face with the Blessed One I heard this, venerable sir, face to face I received it -
'Ānanda, the disciple of the Blessed One Sikhī named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma world, informed the thousandfold world system with his voice.'
But the Blessed One, venerable sir, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, how far is he able to inform with his voice?"
"He was a disciple, Ānanda; Truth-finders are immeasurable."
For the second time the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "Face to face with the Blessed One I heard this, venerable sir, face to face I received it - 'Ānanda, the disciple of the Blessed One Sikhī named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma world, informed the thousandfold world system with his voice.' But the Blessed One, venerable sir, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, how far is he able to inform with his voice?" "He was a disciple, Ānanda; Truth-finders are immeasurable."
For the third time the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "Face to face with the Blessed One I heard this, venerable sir, face to face I received it - 'Ānanda, the disciple of the Blessed One Sikhī named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma world, informed the thousandfold world system with his voice.' But the Blessed One, venerable sir, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, how far is he able to inform with his voice?" "Have you heard, Ānanda, of the thousandfold minor world system?" "This is the time, Blessed One; this is the time, Fortunate One! Whatever the Blessed One would speak. Having heard from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it." "Then, Ānanda, listen, pay close attention, I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"As far as, Ānanda, the moon and sun revolve, shining and illuminating the directions, so far extends the thousandfold world. In that thousandfold world there are a thousand moons, a thousand suns, a thousand Sineru kings of mountains, a thousand Jambudīpas, a thousand Aparagoyānas, a thousand Uttarakurus, a thousand Pubbavidehas, four thousand great oceans, four thousand great kings, a thousand realms of the gods ruled by the four great kings, a thousand realms of the Thirty-three gods, a thousand realms of the Yāma gods, a thousand realms of the Tusita gods, a thousand realms of the gods who delight in creation, a thousand realms of the gods who control what is created by others, a thousand Brahma worlds - this, Ānanda, is called the thousandfold minor world system.
"As far as, Ānanda, the thousandfold minor world system extends, so far extends the thousandfold world. This, Ānanda, is called the thousand-to-the-second-power middling world system.
"As far as, Ānanda, the thousand-to-the-second-power middling world system extends, so far is the thousandfold world. This, Ānanda, is called the thousand-to-the-third-power great world system.
"If he wishes, Ānanda, the Truth-finder could inform the thousand-to-the-third-power great world system with his voice, as far as he might wish."
"But in what way, venerable sir, could the Blessed One inform the thousand-to-the-third-power great world system with his voice, as far as he might wish?" "Here, Ānanda, the Truth-finder would pervade the thousand-to-the-third-power great world system with light. When those beings would perceive that light, then the Truth-finder would make a sound, would proclaim his voice. Thus indeed, Ānanda, the Truth-finder could inform the thousand-to-the-third-power great world system with his voice, as far as he might wish."
When this was said, the Venerable Ānanda said this - "It is a gain for me indeed, it is well-gained for me indeed, that my Teacher is of such great supernormal power, of such great majesty." When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Ānanda - "What is there in this for you, friend Ānanda, if your Teacher is of such great supernormal power, of such great majesty?" When this was said, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Udāyī - "Do not say so, Udāyī, do not say so, Udāyī. If, Udāyī, Ānanda were to die not free from lust, by that confidence of mind he would exercise divine kingship among the gods seven times, he would exercise great kingship in this very Indian subcontinent seven times. But, Udāyī, Ānanda will attain final Nibbāna in this very life." The tenth.