Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

1 The Lake of Righteousness, Ananda, had four and twenty flights of steps, of four different kinds. One flight of steps was of gold, and one of silver, and one of beryl, and one of crystal. The flight of golden steps had balustrades of gold, with the cross bars and the figure-head of silver. The flight of silver steps had balustrades of silver, with the cross bars and the figurehead of gold. The flight of beryl steps had balustrades of beryl, with the cross bars and the figure-head of2l6 XVII. MAHA-SUDASSANA-SUTTANTA. D. ii. 184. crystal. The flight of crystal steps had balustrades of crystal, with cross bars and figure-head of beryl.

' Round the Lake of Righteousness, Ananda, there ran a double railing. One railing was of gold, and one was of silver. The golden railing had its posts of gold, and its cross bars and its capitals of silver. The silver railing had its posts of silver, and its cross bars and its capitals of gold.

32. 'The Lake of Righteousness, Ananda, was surrounded by seven rows of palm trees. One row was of palms of gold, and one of silver, and one of beryl, and one of crystal, and one of agate, and one of coral, and one of all kinds of gems.

1 And the golden palms had trunks of gold, and leaves and fruits of silver. [!85] And the silver palms had trunks of silver, and leaves and fruits of gold. And the palms of beryl had trunks of beryl, and leaves and fruits of crystal. And the crystal palms had trunks of crystal, and leaves and fruits of beryl. And the agate palms had trunks of agate, and leaves and fruits of coral. And the coral palms had trunks of coral, and leaves and fruits of agate. And the palms of every kind of gem had trunks and leaves and fruits of every kind of gem.

' And when those rows of palm trees, Ananda, were shaken by the wind, there arose a sound sweet, and pleasant, and charming, and intoxicating.

' Just, Ananda, as the seven kinds of instruments yield, when well played upon, to the skilful man, a sound sweet, and pleasant, and charming, and intoxicating,— just even so, Ananda, when those rows of palm trees were shaken by the wind, there arose a sound sweet, and pleasant, and charming, and intoxicating.

' And whosoever, Ananda, in the royal city Kusavati were at that time gamblers, drunkards, and given to drink, they used to dance round together to the sound of those palms when shaken by the wind.'

A

33. ' When the Palace of Righteousness, Ananda, was

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finished, and the Lotus-lake of Righteousness was finished, the Great King of Glory entertained with all good things those of the Wanderers who, at that time, were held in high esteem, and those of the brahmins who, at that time, were held in high esteem. Then he ascended up into the Palace of Righteousness.'

End of the First Portion for Recitation.

CHAPTER II.

i. ' Now there occurred, Ananda, this thought to the Great King of Glory : —

' " Of what previous character, now, may this be the fruit, of what previous character the result, that I am now so mighty and so great ? "

[186] ' And then occurred, Ananda, to the Great
King of Glory this thought : —

1 " Of three qualities is this the fruit, of three qualities the result, that I am now so mighty and so great, — that is to say, of giving, of self-conquest, and of self-control 1." '.

2. ' Now the Great King of Glory, Ananda, ascended up into the chamber of the Great Complex ; and there he broke out into a cry of intense emotion : —

' " Stay here, O thoughts of lust !
Stay here, O thoughts of ill-will !
Stay here, O thoughts of hatred !
Thus far only, O thoughts of lust !
Thus far only, O thoughts of ill-will !
Thus far only, O thoughts of hatred ! "