Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Religion
Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Jataka stories, English
And as the Bodhisatta rose from his seat, the angels in all the ten
thousand worlds having assembled and offered him garlands and perfumes,
uttered these and other words of praise and blessing, “Venerable
hermit Sumedha, this day thou hast made a mighty resolve at the feet
of Dīpankara Buddha, mayest thou fulfil it without let or hindrance:
fear not nor be dismayed, may not the slightest sickness visit thy
frame, quickly exercise the Perfections and attain supreme Buddhaship.
As the flowering and fruit-bearing trees bring forth flowers and
fruit in their season, so do thou also, not letting the right season
pass by, quickly reach the supreme knowledge of a Buddha.” And thus
having spoken, they returned each one to his celestial home. Then the
Bodhisatta, having received the homage of the angels, made a strenuous
exertion and resolve, saying, “Having fulfilled the ten Perfections,
at the end of four asankheyyas and a hundred thousand cycles I shall
become a Buddha.” And rising into the air he returned to Himavanta.
Therefore it is said,
187. As he rose from his seat both angels and men
Sprinkle him with celestial and earthly flowers.
188. Both angels and men pronounce their blessing,
A great prayer thou hast made, mayest thou obtain it according
to thy wish.
189. May all dangers be averted, may every sickness vanish,
Mayest thou have no hindrance,-- quickly reach the supreme
knowledge of a Buddha.
190. As when the season is come the flowering trees do blossom,
Even so do thou, O mighty One, blossom with the wisdom of a
Buddha.
191. As all the Buddhas have fulfilled the ten Perfections,
Even so do thou, O mighty One, fulfil the ten Perfections.
192. As all the Buddhas are enlightened on the throne of knowledge,
Even so do thou, O mighty One, receive enlightenment in the
wisdom of a Buddha.
193. As all the Buddhas have established the supremacy of the Law,
Even so do thou, O mighty One, establish the supremacy of the
Law.
194. As the moon on the mid-day of the month shines in her purity,
Even so do thou, with thy mind at the full, shine in ten
thousand worlds.
195. As the sun released by Rāhu glows fervently in his heat,
Even so, having redeemed mankind, do thou shine in all thy
majesty.
196. As all the rivers find their way to the great ocean,
Even so may the worlds of men and angels take refuge in thee.
197. The Bodhisatta extolled with these praises, taking on himself
the ten Conditions,
Commencing to fulfil these Conditions, entered the forest.
End of the Story of Sumedha.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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