Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Religion
Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Jataka stories, English
this prosperity like so much drivel, he received ordination at the
hands of the Teacher. And having embraced the ascetic life and learnt
the word of Buddha, and having attained the supernatural Faculties and
the Attainments, at the end of his life he was reborn in the Brahma
heavens. The city of Mangala Buddha was called Uttara, his father was
the khattiya Uttara; his mother was Uttarā, Sudeva and Dhammasena were
his two chief disciples, Pālita was his servitor, Sīvalī and Asokā
his two chief female disciples. The Nāga was his Bodhi-tree, his body
was eighty-eight cubits high. When his death took place, after he had
lived ninety thousand years, at the same instant ten thousand worlds
were involved in darkness, and in all worlds there was a great cry and
lamentation of men.
225. After Ko_nd_añña the Leader named Mangala,
Dispelling darkness in the world, held aloft the torch of truth.
And after the Buddha had died, shrouding in darkness ten thousand
worlds, the Teacher named Sumana appeared. He also had three great
assemblies of saints, at the first assembly the priests were a million
millions, at the second, on the Golden Mountain, ninety million of
millions, at the third eighty million of millions. At this time the
Bodhisatta was the Nāga king Atula, mighty and powerful. And he,
hearing that a Buddha had appeared, left the Nāga world, accompanied by
his assembled kinsmen, and, making offerings with celestial music to
the Buddha, whose retinue was a million million of monks, and having
given great gifts, bestowing upon each two garments of fine cloth, he
was established in the Three Refuges. And this Teacher also foretold
of him, “One day he will be a Buddha.” The city of this Buddha was
named Khema, Sudatta was his father, Sirimā his mother, Sara_n_a
and Bhāvitatta his chief disciples, Udena his servitor, So_n_ā and
Upaso_n_ā his chief female disciples. The Nāga was his Bodhi-tree, his
body was ninety cubits high, and his age ninety thousand years.
226. After Mangala came the Leader named Sumana,
In all things unequalled, the best of all beings.
After him the Teacher Revata appeared. He also had three assemblies
of saints. At the first assembly the priests were innumerable, at the
second there were a million millions, so also at the third. At that
time the Bodhisatta having been born as the brahmin Atideva, having
heard the Teacher’s preaching, was established in the Three Refuges.
And raising his clasped hands to his head, having praised the Teacher’s
abandonment of human passion, presented him with a monk’s upper robe.
And he also made the prediction, “Thou wilt become a Buddha.” Now
the city of this Buddha was called Sudhaññavatī, his father was the
khattiya Vipula, his mother Vipulā, Varuṇa and Brahmadeva his chief
disciples, Sambhava his servitor, Bhaddā and Subhaddā his chief female
disciples, and the Nāga-tree his Bo-tree. His body was eighty cubits
high, and his age sixty thousand years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account