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

rejoice,
Tathagata they honour and the cosmic law sublime *,
Whereas they see the gods new-risen, beautiful and

bright, Who erst the holy life had lived, under the Happy

One,
The Mighty Sage's hearers, who had won to higher

truths 2,

1 Literally, ' and the fair Normness of the Norm,' that is, the rule, not of gods, but of Law.

2 Visesupagata. See above, Vol. I, p. 296: 'attains to distinc-

D. ii. 209. JANA-VASABHA'S STORY. 243

Come hither ; and in glory all the other gods outshine.

This they behold right gladly, both lord and Thirty- Three,

Tathagata they honour and the cosmic law sublime.

Hereat [209], lord, the Three-and-Thirty Gods were even more abundantly glad and of good cheer and filled with joy and happiness, saying : — " Verily the celestial hosts are waxing, the titanic hosts are waning ! "

14. Then, lord, concerning the object for which the Three-and-Thirty gods were assembled in their seats in the Hall of Good Counsel, they took counsel and deliberated about it ; and with respect to that object the Four Great Kings were addressed, and with respect to that object the Four Great Kings were admonished, standing by their seats : —

The uttered word th' admonished Kings accepted there,
Serene in mind and calm they stood each at his place.

15. Then, lord, a splendid light came forth out of the North, and a radiance shone around surpassing the divine glory of the gods. And, lord, then did Sakka, king of the gods, say to the retinue of the Thirty- Three : — " According, friends, to the signs now seen, — the light that ariseth, the radiance that appeareth — Brahma will be manifested. For this is the herald sign of the manifestation of Brahma to wit, when the light ariseth and the glory shineth x " : —

The portents now are seen, so Brahma draweth nigh,
For this is Brahma's sign, this glorious splendour vast.

16. Then, lord, the gods of the Thirty-Three sat down in their own places, saying : — " We will ascertain what shall be the result of this radiance, when we have tion so excellent.' Perhaps this technical phrase is to be taken here (as in § 28) in its ordinary sense. It would then mean : 'who have attained to the distinction of rebirth among the gods.'

1 So also in the Kevaddha (p. 200, translated above, Vol. I, p. 281).

R 2

244 XVIII. JANA-VASABHA-SUTTATMTA. D. ii. 209.

realized it, we will go to meet him. The Four Great Kings also sat down in their own places, saying the same. [210] And when they had heard this, the gods of the Three-and-Thirty were all together agreed : — " We will ascertain what shall be the result of this radiance ; when we have realized it, we will go to meet him."

1 7. When, lord, Brahma Sanawzkumara l appears before the Thirty-Three gods, he appears as a (relatively) gross personality which he has specially created. For Brahmas usual appearance is not sufficiently materialized to impress the vision of the Thirty-Three Gods. And, lord, when Brahma Sana/;zkumara appears before the Thirty-Three Gods, he outshines the other gods in colour and in glory. Just, lord, as a figure made of gold outshines the human frame, so, when Brahma Sana;//kumara appears before the Thirty-Three Gods, does he outshine the other gods in colour and in glory. And when, lord, Brahma Sanawkumara appears before the Thirty-Three Gods, there is no god in all that assembly that salutes him, or rises up, or invites him to be seated. They all sit in silence, with clasped hands and cross-legged, thinking- : — " Of whichever god Brahma Sanawkumara now desires anything, he will sit down on that god's divan." And by whichever god he does sit down, that god is filled with a sublime satisfaction, a sublime happiness, even as a Kshatriya king newly anointed and crowned is filled with a sublime satisfaction, a sublime happiness.

18. [211] So, lord, Brahma Sana;;zkumara having created a grosser personality and become in appearance as the youth Five-crest 2, manifested himself thus to the gods of the company of the Thirty-Three. Rising up into the air he sat down cross-legged in the sky. Just, lord, as easily as a strong man might sit down cross-legged on a well-spread divan or a smooth piece of

1 See Vol. I, p. 121.