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

15. ' Then, lord, from out of the North came forth a splendid light, and a radiance shone around, surpassing the divine glory of the gods. Then did Sakka, ruler of the gods, say to the dwellers in the heaven of the Three-and-Thirty : — "According, gentlemen, to the signs now seen, the light that ariseth, the radiance that appeareth — will Brahma now be made manifest. For this is the herald sign of the manifestation of Brahma, when the light ariseth and the glory shineth.

Even by yonder signs great Brahma draweth nigh.
For this is Brahma s sign, this glorious splendour vast.

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

16. 'When, lord, Brahma Sana^zkumara appears before the Three-and-Thirty gods, he manifests himself as an individual of relatively gross substance which he has specially created. For Brahma's usual appearance is not sufficiently materialized for the scope of the sight of the Three-and-Thirty gods. And, lord, when Brahma Sana;?zkumara is manifested before these gods, he outshines the other gods in his appearance and his glory. Just as a figure made of gold outshines the human frame, so, when Brahma Sanawkumara is manifested before the Three-and-Thirty gods, does he outshine the other gods in his appearance and his glory. And when, lord, Brahma Sanawkumara is manifested said. They kept the minutes of the meeting. If so (the gods being made in the image of men) there must have been such Recorders at the meetings in the Mote Halls of the clans.

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before the Three-and-Thirty gods, not one god in that assembly salutes him, or rises up, or invites him to be seated. They all sit in silence with folded hands and cross-legged, each thinking : ' Of whichever god Brahma Sanawkumara now desires anything, he will seat himself on that god's divan. And that god by whom he does so seat himself is filled with a sublime satisfaction, a sublime happiness, [227] even as a Kshatriya king that is just anointed and crowned, is filled with a sublime satisfaction, a sublime happiness.

17. 'Then, lord, Brahma Sana;^kumara, perceiving how gratified were those Three-and-Thirty gods, uttered his approval while invisible 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.

18. 'This, lord, was the substance of Brahma the Eternal Youth's speech. And he spoke it with a voice of eightfold quality — a voice that was fluent, intelligible, sweet and audible, sustained and distinct, deep and resonant. And whereas, lord, he made himself audible to that assembly by his voice, the sound thereof did not penetrate beyond the assembly. He whose voice has these eight qualities is said to have a Brahma-voice.

19. ' Then, lord, to Brahma the Eternal Youth the
Three-and-Thirty gods spoke thus : —

" 'Tis well, O Brahma ! we do rejoice at this that we have noted. [228] Moreover Sakka, ruler of the gods,p. 266 hath rehearsed to us eight truthful praises of that Exalted One, and these too we have marked and do rejoice thereat."