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

1 The 'noble thoughts' are the Brahma-viharas, the sublime conditions described above, Chap. II, § 4. The ' noble life ' is the Brahmacariyajtt, which does not mean the same as it does in Sanskrit. The adjective Brahma may have reference here also to the subsequent (and consequent?) rebirth in the Brahmaloka.

p. 2

1 Mine were the four and eighty thousand chambers, of which the chief was the chamber of the Great Complex.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand divans, of gold, and silver, and ivory, and sandalwood, spread with long-haired rugs, and cloths embroidered with flowers, and magnificent antelope skins, covered with lofty canopies, and provided at both ends with purple cushions.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand state elephants, with trappings of gold, and gilded flags, and golden coverings of network, — of which the king of elephants, called " the Changes of the Moon," was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand state horses, with trappings of gold, and gilded flags, and golden coverings of network, — of which " Thundercloud," the king of horses, was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand chariots
[197] with coverings of the skins of lions, and of tigers,
and of panthers, — of which the chariot called " the
Flag of Victory " was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand gems, of which the Wondrous Gem was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand wives, of whom the Queen of Glory was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand yeomen, of whom the Wonderful Steward was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand nobles, of whom the Wonderful Adviser was the chief.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand cows, with jute trappings, and horns tipped with bronze.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand myriads of garments, of delicate textures, of flax, and cotton, and silk, and wool.

' Mine were the four and eighty thousand dishes, in which, in the evening and in the morning, rice was served.'

15. 'Of those four and eighty thousand cities,
Ananda, one was that city in which, at that time, I used
to dwell — to wit, the royal city of Kusavati.

D. ii. 198. THE GREAT KING OF GLORY. 23 1

' Of those four and eighty thousand palaces, too,
Ananda, one was that palace in which, at that time, I
used to dwell — to wit, the Palace of Righteousness.

' Of those four and eighty thousand chambers, too,
Ananda, one was that chamber in which, at that time,
I used to dwell — to wit, the chamber of the Great
Complex.

' Of those four and eighty thousand divans, too, Ananda, one was that divan which, at that time, I used to occupy — to wit, one of gold, or one of silver, or one of ivory, or one of sandalwood.

' Of those four and eighty thousand state elephants,
too, Ananda, one was that elephant which, at that time,
I used to ride — to wit, the king of elephants, " the
Changes of the Moon."

[198] ' Of those four and eighty thousand horses,
too, Ananda, one was that horse which, at that time,
I used to ride — to wit, the king of horses, " the
Thunder-cloud."

' Of those four and eighty thousand chariots, too,
Ananda, one was that chariot in which, at that time, I
used to ride — to wit, the chariot called " the Flag of
Victory."

1 Of those four and eighty thousand wives, too, Ananda, one was that wife who, at that time, used to wait upon me — to wit, either a lady of noble birth, or a Velamikani.

' Of those four and eighty thousand myriads of suits of apparel, too, Ananda, one was the suit of apparel which, at that time, I wore — to wit, one of delicate texture, of linen, or cotton, or silk, or wool.

' Of those four and eighty thousand dishes, too,
Ananda, one was that dish from which, at that time, I
ate a measure of rice and the curry suitable thereto.'

16. 'See, Ananda, how all these things are now past, areA ended, have vanished away. Thus impermanent, Ananda, are component things ; thus transitory, Ananda, are component things ; thus untrustworthy,

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Ananda, are component things. Insomuch, Ananda, is it meet to be weary of, is it meet to be estranged from, is it meet to be set quite free from the bondage of all component things ! '