Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
The translator’s English as printed (T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
2. Now to four gods of the hosts of the Pure Abodes this thought occurred : — ' That Blessed One is now dwelling among the Sakiyas, at Kapilavatthu in the Great Wood, together with a great band of the brethren, about five hundred of them, all being Arahants. And gods from the ten thousand world-systems oft-times are assembling there to see the Exalted One and his band of brethren. What if we, too, were to go into his presence, and before him were to recite each of us a poem ? '
3. Then those gods, as easily as a strong man might stretch out his arm, or draw back his out-stretched arm, [254] vanished from the Pure Abodes, and appeared before the Exalted One. There they saluted him and stood on one side. And so standing one of the gods recited to the Blessed One this verse : —
' Great is the gathering in the glade ! The hosts of heaven together met ! We too are come unto this congress blest, and fain would see
The Company Invincible.'
Then another god recited to the Exalted One this verse : —
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' The brethren there, wrought up to concentration rapt, make straight their hearts, Wisely, as driver keeping grip on rein, their faculties they guard.'
Then another £od recited to the Exalted One this verse : —
1 All bars and bolts are hewn in twain for them,
The threshold is dug up.1
In purity, their way they go,
Stainless, with vision clear, like well-tamed elephants.'
[255] Then the other god recited to the Exalted
One this verse : —
' Who in the Buddha refuge take, they shall not go to woeful doom. WThen they put off this human frame they shall fill up the hosts in heaven.'
4. Then said the Exalted One to the brethren : — 'Oft-times, brethren, do gods from the ten worldsystems foregather to see the Tathagata and the company of the Brethren. Whosoever, brethren, in the past were Arahant Buddhas supreme, upon them waited a like number of the heavenly hosts, and a like number shall wait upon whosoever shall, in the future, be Arahant Buddhas supreme. I will detail to you, brethren, the names of the hosts of gods, I will publish abroad, brethren, their names, I will teach you, brethren, their names. Hearken hereunto and pay heed, and I will speak.'
' Even so, lord,' responded the brethren. And the
Exalted One spake thus : —
5. 'In measured speech I will give utterance : —
Where'er their realm, there will ye find the gods,
But they who in the bowels of the hills
Sit with heart throughly purged and well composed,
1 ' The bars and bolts and hindering threshold stone of lust, ill-will and stupidity,' explains Buddhaghpsa.
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Like to so many lions crouching still,
Are vanquishers over the creeping dread,
White-minded, pure, serene and undefiled.
[256] Seeing within Kapilavatthu's grove
Five hundred such and more, disciples all,
To them who loved his word the Master spoke :
" Celestial hosts draw nio-h !
Look to it, brethren, that ye them discern ! "
And they, hearing the Buddha's word, forthwith
Strove ardently to see.1
6. And lo ! in them
Arose vision of those not born of men.
Some saw one hundred gods, ten hundred, some,
And some saw seventy thousand, others saw
Infinite multitudes throngfino- around.
And all their sight and seeing He Who Sees
Intuitively marked and understood.
Then to his followers who loved his Word The Master turned and spoke : — " Celestial hosts Draw near ! Them do ye, brethren, recognize As I, in rhythmic speech, each in their turn Proclaim them unto you in order due : — "
7. Seven thousand Yakkhas of our country's soil
Of wondrous gifts and powers exceeding great,
And comeliness, and splendid following 2,
Are come rejoicing to the forest glade
To see the brethren met together there.
'£>
Six thousand Yakkhas from Himalaya,
Diverse in hue, of wondrous gifts and powers
1 The connexion of the various clauses of this stanza is obscure ; and the interpretations of the native scholars differ. We have followed the version of the Colombo Sannaya of 1 89 1 . Samarasekhara's translation (Col. 1905) takes the assita in line 1 to refer to the Arahants. Buddhaghosa's commentary may be understood either way. All agree in referring fiatva in line 5 to the Buddha.
2 Yassassino, glossed here by Buddhaghosa as parivarasampanna, and later, in this Suttanta, by yasena samannagata.
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And comeliness and splendid following,
Are come rejoicing to the forest glade
To see the brethren met together there.