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

1 Paficasikho Gandhabbo. See above, p. 244.

2 PavarawS.

S 2

26o XIX. MAHA-GOVINDA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 221.

merit, this is the order of the seats of the four. After that come our seats. And those gods, lord, who had been recently reborn in the hosts of the Three-and- Thirty because they had lived the higher life under the Exalted One, they outshone the other gods in appearance and in glory. Thereat, verily, lord, the Three-and-Thirty gods were glad and of good cheer, were filled with joy and happiness, saying, " Verily, sirs, the celestial hosts are waxing ; the hosts of the titans are waning ! "

3. ' Then Sakka, lord, ruler of the gods, when he saw the satisfaction felt by the Three-and-Thirty gods, expressed his approval in these verses : — -

The Three-and-Thirty, verily, both gods and lord, rejoice,

Tathagata they honour and the cosmic law sublime,

Whereas they see these 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,

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.

1 Hereat, lord, [222] the Three-and-Thirty gods were even more abundantly glad and of good cheer, and filled with joy and happiness, saying : " Verily, sirs, the celestial hosts are waxing ; the hosts of the titans are waning ! " 1

4. ' Then Sakka, lord, perceiving the satisfaction of the Three-and-Thirty gods, addressed them thus : —

"Is it your wish, gentlemen, to hear eight truthful
items in praise of that Exalted One ? "
" It is our wish, sir, to hear them."
1 Then Sakka, lord, ruler of the gods, uttered before

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the Three-and-Thirty gods these eight truthful items in praise of the Exalted One : —

5. " Now what think ye, my lords gods Three-and- Thirty ? Inasmuch as the Exalted One has so wrought for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, for the advantage, the good, happiness of gods and men, out of compassion for the world — a teacher of this kind, of this character, we find not, whether we survey the past or whether we survey the present — save only the Exalted One.

6. " Inasmuch, again, as the Doctrine has been proclaimed by that Exalted One, a Doctrine for the life that now is, a Doctrine not for mere temporary gain, a Doctrine of welcome and of guidance, to be comprehended by the wise each in his own heart — a preacher of such a Doctrine so leading us on, a teacher of this kind, of this character we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only the Exalted One.

7. " ' This is good ; that is bad ' — well has this been revealed by that Exalted One, well has he revealed that this is wrong, [223] and that is right, that this is to be followed, that to be avoided, that this is base and that noble, that this is of the Light and this of the Dark1. Such a Revelation of the nature of things, a teacher of this kind, of this character we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only the Exalted One.

8. "Well revealed, again, to his disciples by that Exalted One is the Way leading to Nirvana ; they run one into the other, Nirvana and the Way. Even as the waters of the Ganges and the Jumna now one into the other, and go on together united, so it is with that well-revealed Way leading to Nirvana; they run one into the other, Nirvana and the Way. A revealer of such a Way leading to Nirvana, a teacher of this kind,p. 262 of this character we find not, whether we survey the past, or whether we survey the present, save only that Exalted One.

1 In Milinda, these contrasted distinctions are given to illustrate the exercise of sati ('minding' or 'remembering') by way of careful practice. ' Questions of King Milinda,' i. 58.