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

4. ' It is now ninety-one aeons ago, brethren, since Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It is now thirty-one aeons ago, brethren, since Sikhi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It was in that same thirty-first aeon, brethren, that Vessabhu, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It was in this present auspicious aeon, brethren, that Kakusandha, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It was in this auspicious aeon, brethren, that Konagamana, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It was in this auspicious aeon, brethren, that Kassapa, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, arose in the world. It is in this auspicious aeon, brethren, that now I, an Arahant, Buddha Supreme, have arisen in the world.'

5-12. [And in like manner the rest of the statements in the following table are given in similar paragraphs.]

Suttanta (' Dialogues,' I, 2), and the divine hearing, as by a finer sense, operating here.

XIV. MAHAPADANA SUTTANTA.

D. ii. 2.

Kappa, Aeon.

Jati, Social rank.

Gotta,
Family.

Length of life at that epoch.

Tree under

which he became enlightened.

Years

i . Vipassi

91st from now

Noble

Kondafina

80000

Patali

2. Sikhi

31st from now do.

do.

70000

Pu«</arika

3. Vessabhu do.

do.

do.

60000

Sala

4. Kakusandha

In this aeon

Brahmin

Kassapa

40000

Sirisa

5. Konagamana do.

do.

do.

30000

Udumbara

6. Kassapa do.

do.

do.

20000

Nigrodha

7. Gotama do.

Noble

Gotama

Assattha

13. [8] Now not long after he had gone out, this talk arose amonor the brethren: — 'How wonderful a thing, brethren, and how strange is the great genius, the master mind of the Tathagata, that he should remember the Buddhas of old, who attained final completion, who cut off obstacles, who cut down barriers, who have ended the cycle, who have escaped from all sorrow — that he should remember of these that such was their rank, such were their personal names, such were their family names, such the span of their lives, such their pair of disciples, and such the number of the congregations of their disciples, telling us : — " Of such was the birth of those Exalted Ones, such were their names, and their clans ; such were their morals, their doctrines, their wisdom ; thus did they live, and thus they gained emancipation." Now, what think you, brother ? Has this principle of truth been clearly discerned by the Tathagata, so that by his discernment of it he remembers [all those facts] about the Buddhas of the past ? Or have gods revealed this matter to the Tathagata, so that thereby he remembers ? '

D. ii. ii.

THE SUBLIME STORY.

Names of two chief disciples.

Kha«</a
Tissa

Abhibhu
Sambhava

Sowa
Uttara

Vidhura
Sanjiva

Bhiyyosa

Uttara

Tissa
Bb.aradva.ja

Sariputta
Moggallana

Number of
Arahants
present at

assemblies.

68 lacs
iooooo
80000
iooooo
80000
70000
80000
70000
60000

40000

30000

20000

Name

of usual attendant

Bhikkhu.

Asoka

Khemahkura

Upasannaka

Buddhija

Sotthija

Sabbamitta

Ananda

Father.

Bandhuma

Aruwa

Suppatita

Aggidatta

Yannadatta

Brahmadatta

Suddhodana

Mother.

Bandhumati

Pabhavati

Yasavati

Visakha

Uttara

Dhanavati

Maya

Birth-place.

Bandhumati

Pabhavati

Anopama

Khemavati

Sobhavati

Barawasi

Kapilavatthu

14. [a] Now such was the trend of the talk that was going on among the brethren when the Exalted One, rousing himself at eventide from meditation, went to the pavilion in the Kareri grounds, and took his seat on the mat spread out for him. And when he had sat down, he said to the brethren : — ' What is the talk on which you are engaged, brethren, as ye sit here, and what was the subject of conversation between you ? ' [And they told him all.]

15. [10] 'It is through his clear discernment of a principle of the truth, brethren, that the Tathagata is able to remember [all those facts about the Buddhas of old *]. And gods also have revealed these matters to him, enabling him to remember [all those things]. Do ye not wish, brethren, to hear yet further religious discourse bearing on former lives ? '

[ll] * Now, O Exalted One, is the time, now, O Welcome One, is the time ! Whatsoever the Exalted

1 In the text is a full repetition of the reminiscence given in § 13.

8 XIV. MAHAPADANA SUTTANTA. D. ii. II.

One may tell us further bearing on former lives, the brethren will listen to it and bear it in mind.'

' Wherefore, brethren, hearken and attend well, and
I will speak.'

' So be it, lord,' replied the brethren. The Exalted
One said : —