Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)
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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.
14. 'Now a great multitude, brethren, of the inhabitants of Bandhumati — some 84,000 souls — heard that Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, had come to Bandhumati and was staying at the Sanctuary (Khema), in the deer-preserve ; and how Kha;^a the raja's son and Tissa the chaplain's son, had actually at his instigation shaved their heads and put on the yellow robe, and had gone forth from the House into the Homeless state. And hearing it they thought : — " Surely this is no ordinary religious rule, this is no common going forth, in that the raja's son and the chaplain's son have had their heads shaved, have donned the yellow robe and gone forth from the House into the Homeless state. Khanda. and Tissa have indeed done this ; why then should not we?"
' So all that multitude came out from Bandhumati to see Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, and when they were in his presence they saluted him and sat down by him.
d 2
2>6 XIV. MAHAPADANA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 43.
15. [43] 'And to them Vipassi discoursed, even as he had discoursed to Kha^a and Tissa. . . .
16. ' And they too as those . . . who have gained full confidence and become dependent on none other for the teaching of the Master, addressed Vipassi even as Khanda and Tissa had done, asking that they might obtain ordination.
1 7. ' And so, brethren, those 84,000 souls obtained retreat and ordination under Vipassi the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme. Them did Vipassi instruct, arouse, incite and gladden with religious discourse, [44] making clear the danger, the vanity and the corruption of component things, and the advantages in Nirvana. They thus instructed, aroused, incited and gladdened by his discourse, their hearts ere long, being void of grasping, were set free from the Intoxicants.
18. ' Now a great multitude, brethren, of recluses — some 84,000 — heard from the former multitude of Vipassi's visitation. And they, too, went out from Bandhumati to see him.
19. 'And to them did Vipassi likewise discourse, and it happened even so with them.
20. 21. [45] '. . . and their hearts too ere long were set free from the Intoxicants.
22. ' Now at that time, brethren, a vast company of bhikkhus1 was staying at Bandhumati. And to Vipassi the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, as he meditated in solitude, this idea arose in his mind : — " There is now a vast company of bhikkhus dwelling at Bandhumati. What if I were now to grant leave to the bhikkhus and say : — ' Fare ye forth, brethren, on the mission that is for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, to take compassion on the world, to work profit and good and happiness to gods and men. Go not singly ; go in pairs ; teach ye, brethren, [48] the Truth, lovely in its origin, lovely in
1 A/Ma-sa/Miw sata-sahassa?;/ — 6,800.000 — is the literal figure given. See p. 39.
I>. ii. 48. THE SUBLIME STORY. ^>7
its progress, lovely in its consummation, both in the spirit and in the letter, proclaim ye the higher life in all its fullness and in all its purity. Beings there are whose eyes are hardly dimmed with dust, perishing because they hear not the Truth. Moreover after every six years have passed come ye to Bandhumati, the royal residence, there to recite the summary of the Rules of the Order V "
23. 'Now one of the Great Brahmas, brethren, when he became aware in thought of the thoughts of Vipassi, like a strong man stretching his bent arm out, or drawing back his outstretched arm, vanished from the Brahma-world and appeared in the presence of Vipassi the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme. Then, draping his outer robe over one shoulder, he raised his joined hands towards the Exalted One, saying : — " Even so, O Exalted One ! Even so, O Welcome One ! Let the Exalted One thus grant leave to this great company of bhikkhus, as he has a mind to do . . . Moreover we too, lord, will do even as the bhikkhus after every six years have passed ; we will come to Bandhumati there to recite the Patimokkha."
1 Thus, brethren, spake that Great Brahma. And bowing down before the Exalted One, he passed round by the left, and forthwith disappeared.
24, 25. [47] 'Then Vipassi, brethren, arose towards eventide from his meditations and told the bhikkhus [of what he had deliberated and of the visitation of the Great Brahma].