Vimanavatthu

Praise to that Lord, Arahant,
Fully Self-Awakened One

1. THE FIRST DIVISION:
WOMEN'S MANSIONS
1. THE FIRST: SEAT MANSlUN

While the B1C3scd One \'/as dwell ing at Sivatthi, in Jetavana in
the monastery of AniHhapir.1Qi ka, after King Pasemdi of Kosala
had given for seven days the Unparalleled Almsgiving for the
Order of monks with the HlI ddha al its head, and
the great banker,l had given alms for t hree days to conform to the
(king's) gift, and the great laywoman foll ower, Visakha, had given
great alms likewise, news of t he Unparalleled Almsgiving became
known all over Jambudipa. Then people everywhere raised the
question, .. Uoes almsgiving become especiall y product ive of
great fruit only when it is liberality of such a magnificem SOrt as
this, or is it rather when it is liberality in accordance with one's
means ? "
When the monks hea rd of thi s discussion they told t he BleS5td
Onc. T he Bkssrd One sai d, "Not merely by effi ciency of tht Kifl
does giving become especially productive of great fruit, but rallter
through efficiency of the thought and efficiency uf the lield of
those to whom the alms arc given. T herefore eVtlL so litt le as a
handful of rice-bean or a piece uf rag ur a sprcad of grass or leaves
or a gall -nut in decomposi l1g (caltle-)urillc bestowcd wit h dcvout
heart upon a person wlto is worthy of receiving a gi ft of devotion
, Ihad sellhi . " ",ore 'head ' , 'chid', namd ! local mer::hanl$ or
bUlimss men, trade (, :II. Edll.).
,
STOR I Eg OF THE MANti J ONS
will be of great fruit , of great splendour and of great pervasIve-
ness."
Thus it was said by Sakka. chief of devlls:
" For if t he mind has fai t h there is no gift of devoti on liua may be
called insignificam
Bestowed upon the Talha-gata, the Wholly Enlightened, or upon a
disciple."
Now thi s story became widely known throughout J ambudipa.
People gave alms according to their means to recl use and brahman,
to tramp, wayfarer and t he destitute; they provided drinking water
in t heir courtyards, they placed seats in the gateways.
At t hat t ime a certain Elder, in deportment, arrived on
his almsround at due time at a cert ain house. T here a pious woman
of a good household welcomed him in, greeted him with reverence
and, spreadi ng an ironed yellow cloth on her own seat, offered it to
him. Ser ving hi m with such food as she could afford and fanning
him, havi ng a mind offaith, she thought, " There has arisen a field
of highest merit for me." When the Elder had eaten hi s meal he
talked a talk on Dhamma about the giving of chair and food, and
so on, and left . As the woman thought about her alms and the talk
on Dhamma, she was at once thrilled wit h happiness and she gave
t he Elder rhe seat also.
Some time afterward. she died of an illness and was n:uurII ill
the realm of the Thirty-Tllree ill a t wdve-yuj all a gulden Mansion.
And she had a retinue of a thuusam.l nYUlphs. And because of hel'
gift of a seat there aru!le fur her .t KUIJen divali , a yujan3 in extent ,
one t hat travelled !lwi ftly t hruugh lilt: sky, n:sembling 3 pinnacled
houst: at tht: tuV. So \hil> is \.:allcu a Seal Mansion. Because the !eat
.... as wilh a gul<k: u culoured clot h I>pread over iI, the Manl>ion
was golden, demonstrating the si milarity bet ween an act and it!
eomequenee; because the chair was given wi th a powerful impulse
of joy, the Mansion 'vas very swift ; became the gift was givcn to the
satisfaction of one who was wort hy of receiving it, the Mllnsioll
could move at will according to one's pleasure; because of t he
etneiency of the woman's joyful faith, the Man3ion was splendid
and bright.
1
J podda wd Are tt:e words used "ith intentional simil8Tily, the
bright (JlInlity of t he :nenl nl otote being malohe:! by the quolity of Ih.
beaut y. Pasldll hriKhtnes", joy, virtlle, raith, ..,renity
. .. ['51. Edn.)'
WOMEN 'S MA ,,'S I QNS ,
Now on a festival day when the dev:.s were going, by me:tn"
of t he form of deva-l ike power which WlIS hi s or her own, to
Naodana Grove for :.musement in t he that devi set out
dressed in deva-g:llments lind ornamen t!!, :Htemif' ti hy 11 thousand
nymphs, and Wl'nt in the Seat Mansion to t he pleR!>allnce with
great power.
And lit l ime the venf! rable M:tha-I\.IoggalHi na, travelling
about on a cl eva-fnm, arri ved in l he rt,;alm of the Thi rty-Three.
and showed himself near Ihe devala. When she saw him, with
great j oy and reverence she descended quickly from the divan,
went up to the Elder, prostrated herself wit h the five-fold venera-
ti on, and stood payi ng homage to him with clasped hands raised,
the ten finger-tips pressed together. Even though the Elder, by
means of the diversity of the power of his wisdom. saw clearly for
himself as though beholdi ng a myrobalan fruit pll1eed upon the
palm of his hand the good and bad deeds that had been accumulated
by her as wel l as by other beings, on account of the potency of his
knowledge of corrcsIXJndent result s of deeds, nevertheless since
immediately upon their rebi rth devatas say, " Whence have I
deceased and am reborn in this world?" " What good deed di d I do
to receive this success?'" and since as a general rule t hey arrive at
a correct conclusion, therefore t ne Elder. wanti ng to make clear
the fruit of the deed to t he worl d with the devas, made this devi
tell about the deed she had done and spoke the word3 t hat follow:
"Your 5eat. made of gold, 5plendid, goes at (your) wi ll wi th
t he speed of thought. You arc adorned, weari ng garlands of
Rowers, in lovely raiment, you arc effulgent like light ning on
the doud-caps.
2 of what is your beauty1sueh ? Because of what. do you
pro!per here. and there ari se whatever nre those del ight6 that
arc denr to your heart ?
3 I ask you, dcvi of great majesty, what merit did you perform
when you were born a human being? Because of what is you r
brilliant maje3ty thus nod your beauty i llumi nes all the
quart ers?"
+ That devatii, delighted at being quest ioned by MoggalHina,
L eampltti meanS luck, suecees, happinelS, bJiu.
J meaning tae colour of the skin, cspee:ally R golden colour, V\A.
.6. Mt5 RhD 'locayty ' u in .uch lLa ,the nbo ... refro;" 'col<:'en
complcKion' would inc.mll'.uoUI- see ISt Edn .. p . . 1. n. I .
4
STO R I Jo;S 0 " THE MANSIOf'"S
when asked t he cKplnined of what deed t his was the
fr uit.
5 "When I was born a hutnlln being among men I II litt lp.
chair I to a visitor,Z saluted him respectfully. raised my
hands, and gave the gift according to my mcans.
6 Because of this is my beauty 8\ICh, because of this 00 I prosper
bere, and there arise whatever arc those delight s th::lt are dear
to my hcart.
7 I make known to you, monk of gtl'llt what rr.erit 1
performed when I was born a hllm:m being. Aecausc of this is
my bri ll iant majl!sty thus and my illumines all the
quart ers."
2. THE SECOND: SECOND SEAT MANSION
(Duti yapTthav iml'ina)
Roth explanation and commentary of this one must be under-
stond to correspond to what was said regarding the fi rst. But the
difference is t his:
It is snid thlll a woman who lived in Sav:atthi saw an Elder li S he
came to her house for alms, and as with a mi nd of fa ith she was
giving him n chair, she spread a blue clot h over her own seat. and
gave it to him. So when she rcbor n in the dcva_world, there
arose for her a divan Mansion made of beryl. Therefnrf':, " Your
scat, made of beryl ... " :lid.
" Your seat, made of beryJ,J splendid, goes at (your) will with
the speed of t hought. You arc adorned, wearing garlands of
flowers, in lovely raiment, you are etlulgent like lightning on
the cloud-caps.
2 Because of what is your beauty such? Because of what do you
prosper here, and there ari se whatever are those delights t hat
are dear to your heart?
, hanak.. VvA. 2'1 say. b-!causC' of ill insignifx:aoce lad of eplendour she
ueed the d,m,,\utlve.
:I obbhagQti'inum, pl" .... 1 h ore out of ""p<'et. are tl"O kinds of
visitors: RllUU And stnngers. One is acquainted with the former bllt not wit:, the
IMter. Here a strangu il meant, VvA. 24. c r. AA. iii. Z4i
> velllriya, a Jewel the colour of .. VvA. :1.7. Sk. v.i4urya. For
Eng. beryl d. buuUo .
3
4
5
6
7
WOM EN'S MAN S I ONS
l
I ask you, dev! of great majesly, what mc:ril uiu you perform
when you were born a human being? Dt:(.;aUl:ie of what is you r
brillilllH majest y thus and yuu r beauty itlumims all the
quart ers 1"
That devata, ddighlcu at beillg qucstioned by MoggaUina,
when asked the qm:sti uu I:."\plaincd of what deed this wa3 t he
fruit .
"When I was Lorn a human being among men I gave a little
chair tu a saluted him respectfull y, raised my clasped
and gJve the gift accordi ng to my means.
Because 01 this is my beauty such, because of thi s do I prosper
here, and there arise whatever are those deli ght s that deaf
tu my heart.
I lILilke kll llwn to you, monk or' great majesty, what merit I per-
funlled whcll I was born a human being. Because of this is my
u rill ianl majesty thus and my beaut y illumines all the
y'UI:H1CU."
J, THE THIRD: THIRD SEAT MANSION
(Tat i yapitha \"imana)
, .. at Riijagaha . . . (as in No. I) ... t he woman, on presenting her
scat, makes the wish: May thi s deed be thec:luse of my obtaining in
the future n golden scat t Accordingly it was said:
" Your seat, made of gold, splendid, goes at (your) wi ll
with the speed of thought . You are adorned, weari ng gar-
lands of flowers, in lovely raiment, you afe effulgent li ke
lightning on the cloud-caps.
2 Because of what is you r beauty such? Because of what do
you prosper here, and there arise whatever are those delights
that are dear to your
3 I ask you, devi of great maj est y, what meri t did you per-
form when you were born a human being? Because of what
is you r brill iant majesty thus and your beauty ill umines all
the quarters?"
4 That devata, delighted ilt being questi oned by Moggallana,
when asked the question explained of what deed thi s wa:s the
fruit.
S "For a little deed of mine t his is t he fruit iJecause of which ia
6 S T O RII:: S OF TH ": MANS I ONS
my brilliant majesty thus. When in a former birth I was born a
human being among men in the w'Orid of men,
6 I saw a monk without defil ements, I serene in mind, without
confusion. to whom I , having faith, gave a seat with my own
hands.
7 Because of this is m}' beauty such, because of this do I prosper
here, and there ari se whatever are those delights that are dear
to my heart.
8 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what merit I
performed when I was horn a human being. Because of this is
my brilliant maj esty thus and my beauty illumines all Ihe
quarters. "
4. TIlE FOURTH: FOURTH SEAT MANSION

The setting of this too was in Hiijagaha. It must be understood
just as described for the Second Mansion, because since the wo-
man gave a seat after spreading a blue cloth over it, there arose for
her too a Mansion made of beryl. The rest is the same as what was
said with regard to the First Mansion, Accordingly it was said :
" Your seat, made of beryl, splendid, goes al (your) will with
the speed of thought. You are adorned, wearing garlands of
flo ......ers, in lovely raiment, you are effulgent like lightning on
the cloud-caps.
;a Because of what is your ht:auty such ? Because of what do you
prosper here, and there ari!'.e whate"er are those delights that
are dear to your hent ?
3 I ask you, ded of majesty, what merit did you perform
when you were born a human being? Because of what is your
brilliant maj esty thllS and your beaut y illumi nes all the
quarters? "
1 That dfwalii, del ighted at being questioned by Moggalliina,
when a!lked the question explained of what deed this was the
(ru;t.
5 "For a little deed of mine this is the fruit because of which is
, Oon", .... en: atta",hnunl , h.:n>c, "'.:>ntu. icn . Therefore mnn\c Wit \Oith.
nut IheJe defilement!. kileu. The t wo word, (ollo"';nll" a,e vipp;uanna, serene
in mind, ftnd .nAvila, without confu'ion cOUled by ddusion, mona, VvA.
WOM E N'S :\1 ANSrONS
7
my brilliant majesty thus. When in a former birt h I was born
a human being among men in the worl d of men,
6 I saw a monk without serene in mind, wit hout
confus ion, to whom I, having fait h, gave a seat with my own
hands.
7 Because of this is my beauty such, because of this do I prosper
here, and there arise whatever are those delights that are dear
to IUy heart.
8 J make known to you, monk of great majesty, what meri t I
performed when 1 was bom a human being. Decause of thi s is
Illy brilliant maj esty thus and my beauty illumines all the
qualters."
S. THE FIFTH: ELEPHA.!'IIT MANSION
(Kuiijaravimina)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Rl'ijagaha at the
feeding plf:ce in Bamboo GrO"e, Now one day a festival wall pro-
claimed in the city of Rl!jagaha. Everyone, dressed in. the bt!ll t ht:
had, took part in the festivities.
Now the great Ki ng Eimbi&ira, to preserve the goudwill of lhe
people, went out from the palace and maue circui t of
the town with great pomp and splenduur . Al that tinlt: a woman of
good birth, a resi dent of Raja!;laila, the pomp of the king and,
filled with wonder, she whu were known to be learned,
" By what surt uf c..IeeJ uf lIIerit is this display of wealth of divine
splelldour a!.:l juired ?" They said to her, "My dear, a deed of mcrit
is like the jewel that grants de!ircs, like the wish.confcrring tree."
When she heard that s he said to herself, " [ sec that divine effi-
ciency is greater than that (recompense for making vllri ous gifts),"
and 5he became very carnest in the performance of deeru of merit.
Now her mother and father sent a new suit of clothes, :1 new
seat, a bunch of lotuses, and ghec, honey, sugar, ri ce and milk for
her to enjoy. When she saw thcm she !IBid, " I wllnt to give aims,
and now this which i! a gift wort h giving hilS beeome mine," and
with a happy heart she prepared her alms, her house, herself on t he
next day.
At that time t he veneroble Sariputta, wal ki ng for al ms in
Rajag:1 ha, entered a street with the beluing of one who was
,
STOR IE S O F M4.NS I ONS
laying down a purse of a thousand pieces. - Now woman' s maid
saw the Elder and said, " Reverend sit, give me your bowl," and
added, "As a favom to a ia)' woman foll ower, come thi s way." The
El der gave her his bowl. She conducted him to t he house. T hen
t he \Yoman welcomed and served the Elder. And as she W3sscTving
she made an aspiration, "Through the power of merit orious
deed of mi ne may there be deva-like splendour!, resplendent wi th
cl eva-like elephants, pinnaclcd hOllses and divans, and may it on no
occasion be wi thout lot uses." Then when t he Elder had fi nished
his meal she washed t he bowl and fi ll ing it wit h ghee, honey, sugar
and so on, made a bundl e of the cloth which had been spread over
the seat, and put it in the hand of the Elder. After the Elder had
take n leave, she gave orders to two men, " T ake this couchz and t he
bowl to the monastery, give them to the Elder, and ret urn."
They did so. Afterwardsshe died and was reborn in the realm of t he
Thirty-Three in a golden Mansion a hundred yojanas in height
and had a reti nue of a thousand nymphs. And because of her
aspiration a noble elephant five yojanas in height arose for her ,
festooned wit h lot us garl ands and decked with golden trappings.
Nowon a festival day when the clevas were going, each by means
of the form of deva-li ke power which was hi s own, to Nandana
Grove for amusement in Ihe pleasaunce ... from hele un the story
is the same as in the commentary on the First Seut Mansion. So it
is to be understoud as in that slory, but here thi s Elder (Moggal-
lana) spoke the lines that foll ow:
"Your elephant, l a glorious mount , capariso:lcd with vllri OIl!;
jewels, pleasing, powerful, pos;essed of speed, goes smoot hly
through the air.
Z A lotus-one
4
is he, 0 one with eyes like lotus_pttal!il,5 hraring
, This seem5 to have been t he mark of a distinguished per.!On (f ). Cr. Ja. I ,
506 [ut. F::dn.).
I word used here is pallaMa, the l ame al \lIed for del(:ribing Scat
Vimlnu, and f(lr the trappings on the back of the elephan:.
J In Itlls ManSIon thrtt words for lre used.: kuftjara in ver. J , v4rl1V_
in vcr. J, il> ."r. s. S .... VvA. 35 or ofltuilj ....
The frans. F. Edgerton, 193 t, lays in eh. I t hat they art ea!led
padtnin "hecBule The)' are fOlld of ". BlIt in hi . glon ,t ry he IByS t he name
.. really refers to the "hite sPOIS, eailed 'Iotu., fou nd on the
hInd. ar.d oth ... part. of e!cr-hanu". See lOt F.dn. fl . n, n. 3. Ilq front'! islotu!_
eolour .. d halcc the name padumi, VvA. 3S.
Ae(:O.ding to VvA. this ill v()(:., used in addressing the de'lIti .
WO MEN'S
9
Ihe lustre of blue and red Jotuscs, I his li mbs covered wi lh
Inc powder of lotuses, garlanded wit h golden lotuses.
3 Owr a road that is lotus-strewn, decorat ed wit h lotus-petals,
that is firm, charming, nat painful,2 goes the lordl y elephant
with measured tread.
4 As he is stepping forward, golden bells," sweet in lone:' are:
heard, their sound like the fi ver'old instrumental music.
S As you are seated on that great elephant's back, your raiment
white, adorned, you surpass in beauty the great th rollg of
(deva-) nymphs.
6 Is this t he frui t of your giving, or again, of Inuralltabit , or of
raising clasped On your being nuke this
known to me."
7 T hat devatl, del ighted at being by Moggall ana,
when asl\ ed the question explai ne:"! of what deed this was thc
fruit. S
8 a meditator, pllssessl:u of special de-
lighting in milH..Hul,7 I gave to him a chair covered
wi th fl uwers covered with a d oth-rug:-
y r, with my own hands bcstrewccl halved lotus
nuwt:l s tugcLiu;r with the (broken) petals alI round the chair.
I C Such is thili frui t for me of that deed of skill. I havc received
the minist ration and c!tccm (of the deVilS) and (by the dev3s)
honoured am r.
I I Verily he who, having faith, should give a chair to those who
are wel l emancipated, tranquil , Brahma-farers, would be
joyful, even as I am.
12 Therefore by onc desiring his o'wn welfure,9 who is longi ng
, padmuppnlaJutindhara. VvA. 35 uyl hi_ is here and there
adorn.d ",ith .. _like "nd uPl'al. (cliff"T .. n! cnlnurc:d Iotusel ), he beHs
tht qui"eri"lI shining light of thut.
, I.e. to anyone scated on the elephant .
, Read.nll sOT;u:mhrtlsa wi lh VvA. J6 fur J.;,,' .
' RoadmlJ with VvA, 3/i fnr " .. drat .. "ari.
I T his vcr!IC "pckcn the rccensionisu, VvA 37. It is mriOUI t hat this
hal not been pointed out on the occurrences of the verte.
All the special of" ui""if't<, ' ''vA. 36.
, oat" is samina. (.minrl....!). nr unta, peaceful. t ranquil. ibid .
dussasanthata.
the usual uncer tainty between Utakdma and Btt hak'ma and bet ween
an<.l i" the ,ea<.linga given "t VvA. 39. TI,e tormer i.
a "Mn<> hilaUma. followed in the above trias!., and the b tur 8 1 vipli
kanmhatta, i reatnels in fmition (of the deed done). Be . eads altha- and notices
the v.I. a:ra-. C:. S.i. ' 40, A. t. 249, II. 11.
.. ST O RIES or THE MANSIONS
for grealncss, a should be given to those heari ng their last
booy,"
6. 1HE SIXTH: BOAT MANSION
(Niiviiviluiinn)
While the Blessed One was dwell ing at SfiV2tthi, sixteen monks
who had spent the rai ns in a vi ll agc*residence set out on the high-
way toward Savatt hi in the hot season, saying, " We wil l see the
Blessed One and listen to Dhamma." And on the way was a water-
less desert. And because they were overcome there by the heat, and
finding no water, they went to the environs of a certain village.
There a woman with a water jar was going to a well. Now the
monks saw her, and saying, " Jf we go where thi s woman goes we
can get water," they foll owcd her, saw the well, and stopped near
her. She drew water from there, and saw the monks. "These
worthy ones are thirsty, " she said to herself, and most respectfully
invited to dr ink. They took out strainer from knapsack,
st rained and drank as much water as they wanted, cooled their
hands and feet, spoke a benediction to that woman for giving them
water, and went on. She kept that deed of merit in her heart,
thinking of it from time to time.
Afterwards she died and was reborn in the realm of the Thirty
Three. T hrough the power of her deed of merit there arose fur In: r
a great Mansion bealltif!ed with a wi sh conferring tree. SurrOUlld
iog it was a stream flowing with water pure as a mass uf gtll l:i and
containi ng e)(pansive white sandy banks lustrous as ptarl-sl rings
and silver. On bot h its banks and at the gateway of the
the Mansion was :< great lotus pond, adorned wirh a dump of fi ye-
colcMJred lotuses and with a golden boat. Tht: ut: yi dwelt there
enj oying dcva-blis. .. , sporti ng and idling in tht Loac Then one day
the vencrabl e Maha-Moggamna, as was guillg about on a deva-
tour, saw the devata thus bt rsdf and said:
"Lady, you are standing, embarked in a boat
'
with a gol den
awning ; you dip into a lotus-pool, YOU break off a lotus with
your hand.
2

, I'ossi bly a ierry- for going from Ihi s to t he other, VyA. 42..
I Quoted Nctl i. p. ' 40, which then gar. on di ffe renl ly.
WOMEN 'S MANS ION S
"
2 Your' dwellings are pinnac1ed houses, partitioned,. the pro-
portions planned.! Dazzling, they shint forth around the four
quartcrs.
3 Because of what is your Lcauty Because of what do you
prmper litre, amI t!lt rt wlu,t evel" arc those delights that
"re dear to yuur heart 1
4 I yuu, ue vi uf majesty, what merit did you perform
whm you wtrc LUTII it human being? Decauec of what is your
briUialll IIllljCl>ty thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarten; 1"
5 That Jc\ati.i, delighted at being questi oned by Moggallana,
when asked the question explained of what deed thi s waa the
fruit. 3
6 " \\' hen in a former birth I was born a human being among
men in the world of men I saw monks who were thinty and
weary. Up and doing
4
I gavc them water to drink.
7 Veri ly, he who, up and doing, gives water to drink totholle who
ar c thirsty and wcary--for him there wi ll be streamll of cool
waten abounding in blossoms, and many white lotusu.
8 him moving waters,
5
streams of cool waters fringed wit h
sand for c\er flow. 'There nre mongo-trees and sala_trees,
tilakas and rosc-apples, cassias Clnd trumpet-flowers in full
bloom.
9 For him, its beauty enhanced by such surroundings, is the
finest Mansion, shi ning. This is the fr uition of that
dced itself. They who perform merit receive such as this.
10 ' My dwell ings are pinnaeled hOUsell, partitioned, the propor-
tions plll nned. Dazzling, they shine forth around the four
quarters.
II Because of this is my beauty because of this do T prosper
here, and there arise whatever are those delight.'1 that ne dear
to my heart.
1:0 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what merit I
: Th is verse omitted by VvA. !probably repc:aud from the Third Boat
Mans:on where it OCCUIlI in "vA.]
, Cf. SIl. 300.
) ' Ini. vene wu , pokco b) thB n ceo. ionil li, "vA . .ojl .
VvA. 41 u y. u(tMya means having made energy ari.e, nOlI being lazy.
, 'paga .
vcn e, Qm:ttcd by VvA., is fQund for Ihe finl! litn" there in Ihe Third
0 "", .. n3icn ",here i. i, al.e commented on, VvA. So.
"
STOR I ES OF TH E MAN S I ON S
performed when 1 was born a human being. Because of this
is my brill iant majesty t hus and my beauty ill umines all the
quarters."
7. THE SEVENTH : SECOND BOAT MANSION
(Outi ya nava '1imana)
While t he Blessed One was dwelli ng at Savanhi a cen ain El der,
cankers dest royed, at t he beginni ng of the rains want ed to begi n
the season in a village-residence, and he set out after the (noond:lY)
meal upon the highway from Savauhi to the village. Bccumillg
tired and thirsty from l he fatigue of the journey, he came lU a
vi llage. Seeing no place such as had and water in the environs,
and bei ng overcome with futiguc, ht: UUllllt:U his upper ruue,
entered the village, and SluPPI;: U althe door of a principal
There a woman sa',v him awl allked , " \Vhere have you COlll t: frUIll,
sir?" And seeing that he was ti reu ;HId thirsty, wekolucd him j nlo
the house and gllvt him it sea l. She gave him WOller for his feel, and
oi l to anoint them, ami fa llll t:u him. When his heal was all ayed she
prepared a sweet, euhl, fTOigral\t drink for hi m. The Elder drank it
and, Ihint thanked her and went on his way. Later
t he WOlllan died aud was reborn in the realm of the Thirty-Three.
everything as for the preceding Mansion. Even in the
verses there is nothing new.
2
"Lady, you are standing, embarked in a boat with a golden
awning ; you di p into a lotus- jJool, YOll break off a lotus with
your hand.
2 Your dwelli ngs 3rC pinnacled houses, partit ioned, the propor-
tions planned. Dazzling, they shi ne forth around the four
quarters.
3 Because of what is your beauty such ? Because of what do you
prosper here, and there ari se whatever are those delights that
are dear to your heart ?
4- I ask you, dev! of great maj esty, what merit di d you perform
, dhumgehn, nOl III I'I':U.; d. Vmn. 66 wher" dhurabhatta seems 10 be food
Riven i n n principnl hOUGo, Go<> l'pn. 67, n. II. Or i. it bero nn house 1
, Execpl ror lhe chan"" from plmal to singular in ,ererrir.g to lhe rr.onks, .nd
the on,ill'l;on, ir. the dtvl' , reply, of lhe two line, lhat begin" My dwellings are
pinnacl e,] hCl[Jses ... "
5
6
7
8
9
. 0
"
WOM EN'S MAN S I ONS ' 3
brilliant majesty thus and you r beauty ill umines all the quar-
ters? "
T hat devata, del ighted at being questioned by Mug!!: illHi na,
when asked the question explained of what tlec:u this was the
fr uit .
.. When in a former birth I was born a hUlllatt being among
men in the world of men 1 saw a monk who was thirsty and
weary. Up and doing I gave him water to urink.
Yeril y, he who, up and doing, gives waler 10 drink 10 those
who arc thirsty and weary- for hi m there will be streams
of cool waters abounding in blossums, and many whi te
lotuses.
him moving stream! of cool wat ers fringed
with sand for ever flow. Tbere Olre mango-trees and !lila-trees,
til akas and and trumpet-Rowers in fuJi
bloom.
For him, its beauty ellitallced by such surroundings, is the
finest Mansion, greatly :shining. This iii the fru ition of that
deed itself. They who perform mel'it receive such as this.
1
Decause of Ihis is my sllch, because of t his do I prosper
here, and there arise wltatever are thoiie delights that are deaf
to my heart.
I make known to you, monk of great majcsty, what merit 1
performed when I was born a human being. Bcmuse of t his is
my brill iant majesty thus and my beaut y ill umines all the
quarterlS."
8. THE EIGHTH: THIRD BOAT MANSION
(T ati yanii va vi mana)
While the Dl essed One was travel ling obout the province with a
large Grder of monks he arri ved nt a br:a hm:m vi llage named
ThuQa in the Kosala count ry. TIle brahman householders of
T huQa heard, " The recluse Cot umn, they say, has arri ved in the
field of om village." Now the brohman householders, non-
believers, of views, avaricious by nat ure, said, "If the reclll !lc
, TIle "arly monasti" edi tor failed to insert here interpolat ed verse
occurring in Ih. pfe"i (tus Story.
'.
S T O IUF. S OF T I-I!;:
Gotama should enter this village and stay two or three days, he
would establish all these people in his own word. Then the
brahman religion 1 would have no support," and trying to prevent
the Blessed One from stopping there they took the boats away
from the landing places and made the bridges and causeways
unu5able. They filled all the wells except one with weeds and so
fort h and concealed the wateri ng-places, rest-houses and sheds.
Thm it is told in the Udana}
The Blessed One learned of their misdeed, and having com-
passion on them, cTossed the river through the air with the Order
of monks, went on, and in due course reached the brahman village
of Th(1)a. He left the road and sat down at the foot of a tree. At
that moment man)' women were passing by near the Blessed One
carrying water. And in that village an agreement had been made,
" If the recluse Cotama cornel here, there is to he no welcome or
the like made for him, <'-Od when he comes to a hOllse, neither to
him nor to his disciples is any food to be given." Then a certain
brahman's slave girl, going along with a jar of water, saw the
Blessed One surrounded by the Order of monks, realized that they
were tired and thirst)', and having a mind of faith, wanted to give
them water. "Even t hough these3 people of this village h!!ve
resolved that nothing at all is to be given to the recl use Gotama and
not even ashow of respect is to be made," she said to herself, " Yet,
if after I have found these supreme fields of merit and worthy reci
pients of meritorious giving, I do not make a support for myself by
a mere giving of water, when hereafter shall I be released from a
life of woe? Gladly let my master and everyone who lives in the
village beat or bind me, still I will give a gift of water to a field of
merit such as this," When she had made this resohe, though the
other women carrying water tried to stop her, without regard for
her life s he lifted down the water-jar trom her head, placed it on one
side, approached the Bleu ed One full of joy and happiness,
greeted him with the fivefold veneration, and offered him water.
The Blessed One recognized the faith of her mind, and as a favour
to her washed his h2nds and feet and drank the drinking water.
The water in the j 2f was not diminished. The girl saw this, so next,
having faith of mind, she gave to one after another of the monks,
, Brilhmaoa_dharnma.
J Ud. vi; . 9.
3 Read ime ('me) for me, VvA . ..
WOMEN 'S MAK S [ONS
'.
then to all of them. T he water was still not diminished. Jo),ful lind.
elated, and wilh her water jar as full as ever,l went hUlllc.
Her master, the brahman, heard of her giving drinkiug water.
"Shc has broken the rul e of tile vi ll age and I beell subje(;ted
to ridicule," he said, and burning and spluttering with rage he
hurled her to the ground and beat her with ham\t; and feet . De-
cause of that belabouring she died and was rdrum ill the realm of
the Thi rty-Three, and a Mansion arose for her like that descri bed
in the first Boat Mansion.
Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, "Come
now, Ananda, bring me waler from well." The Elder said,
"The well here, reverend sir, has been pl.lllutt:d by the people of
Thul).a. I cannot bring water." But tilt: Dlt:ssed One commanded
him a second and a third lime. The thin] lime the Elder took tne
Blessed Onc's bowl ami Wtll t lOw;;; ru lhe wel l. As he went, the
wat er in the well filled. up tu tIlt; top, blimmed over and Rowed
down 0:1 every
All tht: /loated to the top and cleared off. By the ri sing
watcr ut her y,atcring places were filled, the vi llage was surrounded
and the n:gi ull ruund the ,jllage submerged. The brahmans saw
Ihc marvel, <Iud wi th hearts filled with amazement and wonder,
rCl.:eivt:d furgiveness from the One. At once the Rood of
watt: r disappeared. They provided a pbee for the Blessed One and
the Order of monks to stay, invited them for the morrow, nnd on
lhe next day, having prepared great 31m3, they presented sump
tuaus solid ar,d food to the Order of monlls with Buddha at the
head ; and when the Blessed One had finished his meal and with
drawn his hand from the bowl all the people of ThuJ)a sat in
homage around him.
At that moment the devatii had reRected on her :attainment and
realized that its cause was her gift of drinking water. Filled with
gladness she said "Good, now I will pay homage to the Blessed
One. I will make known in the world of men the great fruitfulne!'ls
of deeds, even of a trifli ng sort, when done to those who the
right path, " and filled with zeal, with her ret inue of a thousand
nymphs, and with her pleasaunce and so on together with her
Ma nsion, she :urived with great deva-maj esty in the !'light of the
, Read yathlpuooena, instead of yathl pUl)l,lena. Cf. Ja. I. 10 1, a3ff. , paflca
aah\8Ulini yalhGpurit'ln' eVlll tha.,uu! "The five hundred Cl r .. llOOd U fuJII'
ever: ' (l ot Ell n.]
,0 STOR IE S OF THE MANSION S
great body of people. She descended from the Mansion, approached
the Blessed One, saluted him, and stood in an attitude 01 reverence.
Then the Blessed One, desiring to make the fruit of merit clear to
that multitude which was there before his eyes, asked her:
" btty, YOIl 3fC standing, embarked in a boat with a golden
awning; you dip into a lotus-pool, you break off a lotus with
YOllr hands.
2 Your dwellings are pinnacled houses, partitioned, the propor-
tions planned. Dazzling, they shine forth around the four
quarters.
J Because of what is }'our beauty such ? Because of what do you
prosper here, and there arise whatever are t hose delights that
-1- I ask you, devi of great maj esty, what merit di d you perform
when you were born a bei ng: Because of what is your
brilliant majesty thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarters ?"
5 That devata, delighted at being Questioned by the Self-
Awakened One himself, when asked the question explained of
what deed was the fruit .1
6 "When in a former birth I was born a human being among
men in the world of men I saw monks
2
who were thirsty and
weary. Up and doing I gave them water to drink.
7 Verily, he who, up and doing, gives water to drink to those
who are thirsty and weary- for him there will be streams of
cool waters abounding in blossoms, and many white lotuses.
8 Beside him waters, streams of cool waters fringed
with sand for ever flow. There are mango-trees and sala-trees,
tilakas and rose-apples, cassias and trumpet-flowers in full
bloom.
9 For him, its beauty enhanced by such surroundinlOts, is the
finest Mamion, greatly shining. This is the fru ition of that
deed itselr. They who perform merit receive such as this.
10 3My dwellings are pinnacled houses, partitioned, the propor-
, The rcct nsioni l ts said this verse, VvA. 49.
, Iicu: Ihe to on <If monl<s with d :c RuddhA M the hend.
VvA. 50. T hullfC these monks distinliluished fro'" t hose in the identical verses
at 6, vcr. 6- 11 .
No. O. 10, note.
WOM EN'S MANSIONS '7
tions planned. Dazzling, they shine forth around the four
quarters. .
I I Because of this is my beauty such, because of thiS do I prosper
here, and there arise whatever arc those delights that are dt ar
10 my heart.
12 Because of thIS is my brill iant majesty thus and my
illumines all the quart ers. This is the fruition of that detd (of
mine)' when, up and doing, the Awakened One drank tht:
water (that 1 gavc)."l
The Ul essed One t hen, tear:hing Dhamma, explained the
truths. At the end of the tear:hing that devata was established in the
fru it of stream-entry.
9. THE NINTH, LAMP MANSION
( Dipavimana)
While the One was dwelli ng at Savatthi, upon an
O[)servanre (Ill Y many lay-followers, both men and women, in
observance of t he clay performed thei r almsgiving in the forenoon,
each in accordance with his means, had their meal in time and,
dressed in d ea n with clean mantles and with perfumes
ann flowers in their hands. went in the afternoon to the monastery,
attennerl on the monks who inspire the mi nd, and in the evening
liuenen to n namma. Whi le they were still listening and wanted to
stay (owrnight) in the monastcry, it became dark. Then a certain
wom:ln thnll ght, "They ought to light a lamp here," and she had .8
lamp ltnrl things to li ght it with brought from her own house, ht
the lamp, placed it in fronl of the Dhamma-seat and Iistened.to
Dhamma. Pleased by her gi fl of the lamp she became fi lled WIth
joy and happi ness and afler paying homagc went to her home.
Afterward; she died and was reborn in the realm of the T hirty-
l'lree in a Mansion of brilliant jewels. But as the luminance of her
body was very great, she outshone the other dcvas and diffus:d
radiance in the ten directi ons. Now one day the venerable Maha-
I The word mama. of mine, hlu to be understood. VA. So.
may. dinllluh udakam apAyi, ,b,d.

OF THE MA:'oI S I ONS
Moggallana on a deva-tour ... (as in the accounts above). Uut
here he put hi s question beginning with the three verses;
"You who stand with hl'amy, devata, are making
all the quarters effulgent like the healing star.
a Because of what is your heamy !illch? Because of what do you
prosper here, llnrl thp. rr. arise what ever are those delights that
are de:u to yn11T heut ?
3 Because of what are you a devata of stainless effulgence. out-
shining (all others) i Because of what are all the quarters made
effulgent hy al1 your limbs?
.. J :l!lk YOII, de"i of great majesty, what merit did you perform
when you were born a human being ? Because of what is your
hrill iant majesty t hus and your beauty illumines all the
quarter!! ? "
5 That devalii, delighted at being questioned by J\.1oggalla na,
when asked the question explai ned of what deed this was the
fruit .
I) .. When in a former birth I was born a human being among
men in the world of men, when there was dense darkness
on a very black night, I gave a lamp at the time for lamp
(-lighti ng).
7 Who, when there is dense darkness on :I. very black night,
gives a lamp at the time for b mp (-lighting), ari ses in a
Mansion of brilliant jewels,1 abounding in blossoms, with
many white lotmes.
here and there arise whatever :lre those delights that are dear
to my heart.
9 Because of thi s am t a devata of stainless effulgence out-
shining (all others). Because of thi s are all the quarters made
efful gent by all my limbs.
10 I make known to you, monk of great maj esty, what merit 1
performed when I was born a human being. Because of this is
my brill iant majesty thus and my beauty ill umines all the
quarten."
, j<>t ir .. a, abo at No. 8,.. ". T ronsl. t entntive. See MO.i. , 65, n. 6. AI Miln.
118 it i.listed IS o:"le of the fou nd in tht urth. VvA. il of no hel p but lee
VIlA. I II . It i uppo!ed 10 be I wi.h.conferrin, gem, d . the benediction at I
plTi!la reeitat : pQrentu nbbll.dhpp' mill); .Iol ira.o )'lIlhA.
WOMEN'S MANS I ONS
10. THE TENTH; SESAMUM-GIFT MANSION
(Ti ladakkhi t;t avi mana)
.,
The Blessed Om: wa:; :;[<lying: at Sayatthi, in ] etavana in Anii-
park.
l
Allhal tim!;: in Rajagi:ha a certain woman who
was with child w;;.sh!;:d SUIlJ!;: scsaUlurn and dried it in the sun
because she wanted UJ Urill!;. a lillie sesamum oil. lIer life-span had
now come to its end, lUlU sh!;: was to die that very day, and
her accumulated detJ s were cond ucive to (rebirth in) purgatory.
Now the Blessoo Oil!;:, while sur veying the earth at the time of
dawn, saw her with the deva-eye and thought : " This woman
dying today may ue reborn in purgatory; now then, let me by
accepting SCli lllIIU1l1 as alms caust: her to reach heaven." In but a
moment h!;: weil l (rom Savatt hi to Raj agi: ha, and as he walked for
alms tbruugh Riijagaha he came to the door o( her house. The
womiill saw the Dl essed One and, fi ll ed with joy and happinels,
rost suddenly, clasped hcr hands, and nothing else fit to
givt, :;lte wa!hed her hands and (eet and, maki ng a heap of some
SC!S<lII IUm seeds, cupped both her hands and fi ll ing t he hollow of
t hew she placed a handful of the sella mum in the Blessed One's
bowl. The One, in compassion for her, said, "Be you
happy, " and went on hi s w;;.y. T hat night in the time towards
uawll, the woman died and was reborn in the reolm of the Thirty-
'nUte in a twd vc-yojana golden Mal13ion. The Maha-
MoggalHina on a deva-tour, 113 described above, cli me lIerOBB her
and asked her ;
" You who stand wi th surpassing beauty, devata, are making all
the quarters effulgent li ke the healing star.
2 Decause of what is your beauty such I H[!CllUSe of what do you
prosper here and there ari se whatever are those delights that
arc dear to your heart ?
3 J ask )'OU, devi of great majest)" what merit did you perform
when YOll were born a human bei ng 1 Because of what is your
bri lli ant majest y thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarters 1"
I ",him is a:mosl referred to as lela"ane Anlthaph,l4ikn lll
The CommentMies SI)' thHI Ihi l was dehberate, in order Ihat Ihe nemes
of bOIl, .. r1.",. Ind latcr ownera mighl be recorded, nnd thot might be
r eminrl .. d "I men, hOlh , ery in Ihe cause of r eliQ:i o:l , 10 thl l otl-.en
millhl {0110" thei r Dictjollary of Pali P' Optf Vol. I , p. 966 (ut
Edn., p. 's, II. 31.
,. S T O R I E S O F T H E MANS I O).;'!:
4 T hat cl evata, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
when asked the question explained of what deed this was the
fruit.
S " When in a former birth I was born a human being among men
in the worl d of men, I saw the Awakened One without defi le-
ments, serene in mind, " 'ithout confusion,'
6 Meeting him, havi ng faith, I gave a gift with my own hands,
without dcsirc--a gift of honour of sesamuffi- to t he Awakened
One who was worthy of a gift of honour.
7 Because of this is my beaut y such, because of this do I prosper
here and there ari se whatever aTC those delights that arc dear to
my heart.
8 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what merit 1
performed when I was born a human being. Because of thi s is
my brilliant majesty thus and my beauty illumines all the
quarters. "
11. THE ELEVENTH, CHASTE WIFE MANSION
(r atibbatavimana)
The Blessed One was dwell ing at Siivatthi . In t hat ci ty t here was
a chaste wife. She li ved in harmony wi th her husband, was pati ent
and intelligent ; she did not scold, even when angry ; she of
gent le speech, truthful, filled with beli ef, and she gave alms
according to her means. Affl icted by some sort of disease she died
and was reborn among the Thirty-Three. T he rest is j ust as has
been told.
"Divine herons, peacocks, (golden) geese, and sweet-voiced
cuckoos
z
fly around thi s delightful Mansion, of
various eolours,J frequented by men and
z Devi of great majesty, there you bide by psychic power assum-
, in 4.6. etc.
The I ndia" cuckoo, koklla, i. of 2 kind., Hla And p hu."". Ipeckled.
'0 \ 'vA 5,. A v. 1. lukka is f"Uowed hy ll t. TIn.' Anglo-Indian koi l is some_
times used.
, Perhaps 'vnriously painted' __ Iplas h of colour vr nUII,nuu.
wi,h_fulfiIlLnll l reu, IOIUI _pool., etc . , or,
caU$C of vlrioi.l. kinds of ctc., V ...A. sil.
4 With reti nue$ or male Bnd ...as, dcvaputti and de .... dhltaro.
WOi\lF.N'S MAN S IONS
ing m:mifold forms. And tbese, your nymphs, on every side
dnnce, sing, and enj oy themselves.
3 You are attai ned to the psychic potency of une of great
majesty. What merit did you perform when you were born a
human being? Because of what is your brill iall t maj est y thu8
and your beauty ill umines all t he
4 That devata , deli ghted :It being by Moggall ana,
when asked the question ex!'hlim:u uf what deed this was the
fruit.
5 "When I was born a human ueillg among men I a chaste
wife, thinking of no other (111<111) . Like a mother prot ecting a
child, I spoke no rough wunl:s even when I was angry.
6 Firm in the trut h, false speakiug got ri d of, dcl ightillg in givi ng,
of a sympathetic namre, wi th a mi nd of faith I gave bot h food
and drink respectfully, till auuudant giying.
7 Because of this is my lll:;:auly such, because of t hi s do I
here, ami thtre arise whatever are t hose delights that are dear
to Ill y hl'arl.
8 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what meri t I
pc tformed when 1 was born a human being. Because of t his is
In}" bri lli ant majesty thus and my beiluty ill umines all t he

12. THE 'IWELFTH: SECOND CHASTE WTFE MANSION
(Du vimana)
In S:i\lau hi it is sai d was anot her bywoman-foll owcr who was a
chaste wife, believing, having f:lith. She the fi ve pre-
cepts, gave alms according In hf'r means and, dying, was reborn
in the realm of the Thi rty-T hree. T he rest is as descr ibed above.
"Ascending a Mansion pillared in beryl, gleami ng, lustrous, uf
various colours, t here you bide, dev! of great maje&y, by
psychic pOlency assuming manifold forms.
2 And t hese, your nymphs on every si de dalll_'e, and enjoy
t hemsel ves. You arc attained to the psychic pulcncy of
one of great majesty. What merit di u yuu pe rform when you
were born a human being Because {J f what is your brilliant
majesty thus and your beamy illulJl ines all the quarters?"
3 That devata, del ighted at lleittg questi oned by Moggal1iino.,
STORIES OF THE MANS10NS
when the question explained of what deed this was the
fruit.
4 "Whcn T Lunl a human being alllUU!:; well a laywUluau
follower of the Om: with Vision was 1. I was olle who refrained
from on creatures, I shullllt:d in this worl d what was
not given.
5 I was not one who drauk liquor, nor did I tcHlies, 1 was con-
tent with my own a milld of faith I gave both
food and drink respectfull y, all abundant giving.
6 Decausc of this is my beauty such, because of this do I prosper
here, and there arise whatever arc those ddigl-,ts th"t arc dear
to my heart.
7 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what merit I
performed
1
whcn I was born a human being. Dec;:use of this i;l
my brilliant majesty thus and my beauty illumincll all the
quarters. "
13. THE THIRTEENTH: DAUGHTER-IN-LAW MANSION
(Sut;tisavimiina)
In S[ivatthi in a certain hou3e a daughter in law who came of
good family saw an Elder, one who had destroyed the canken,
come to the house for alms and, tilled with joy and
thinking, "There has arisen a field of highest merit for me," she
took the portion of rice_cake.3 she had received for herself and
gave it respectfully to the Elder. The Elder accepted it, thanked
her, and went on. Later the daughter-in-law died and was reborn
among the Thirty-Three. All the rest is the same as t hat explained
above.
.. You who stand with surpassing beauty, devata, are making
prosper here, al'.d there ari,e whatever arc those delights that
3 I ask yOll, devi of great majesty, what did }'ou perform
I Fo, ver, 4 and to here d. I'v. iv. I. 78.
l Reading ",ith Be, yam ukiis' punn.m for Ees yam 9'<SS;m. VvA. 60 hIS
two verses here, :dentical with 10,7. 8= [1.7. 8,
> pflv", nul what i; u"Ji"arity meant by it i. deepffLed in oil.
4
5
6
7
8
WOMEN'S MA;-.JSIONS
'3
when you were born a human being' Because of what is your
brilliant majesty thus and your ceauty illumines aU the
quarters i"
That devata, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
when asked the quest ion explained of what deed this was the
fruit .
.. y.,.'hen I was born a human being among mcn, I a
daughter in-law in my father-in-law':; hou:;!:. I saw a monk
without defilements, serene in mino, wit hout confusion.
To -hi m It having faith, with ' my uwn hand,; gave ricecake.
Having given hi m half my purtiun I rejoice ill Nandana Grove.
Because of this is my beauty uecausc of this do I prosper
here, and there whatever are those deli ghts that are dear
to my heart.
Because of this is my urilliallt thus and my beauty
illumines all the qU<lrters."
14. THE FOURTEENTH:
SECONDl DAUGHTER-IN-LAW MANSION
(Du ti yai! U IJ. isa vimana)
The same as the preceding l'vlansion except hert: lite gift was
kummasa
l
.
"You who stand with surpassing beauty, devata, are making: all
the quarters effulgent like the healing star.
2 Because of what is your beauty such? Because of what do }'OU
prosper here. and there arise whatever are those del ights that
are dear to }'our heart i
3 I ask you, devi of great what merit did you perform
brilliant majesty thus and your beauty ill umines all the
quarters I" ,
4 That devata, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
fruit.
S "When I was born a human being among men, I was a
I Supplied by VvA. 62.
2 A preparation made with riceHour and other ir,gredients.
ST ORII;S OF Til E i\'I ANSI O N S
daughter+in-law in my fa ther-in-law's house. I saw 3 monk
without defi lements, se rene in mind, without confusion.
6 To him I, having faith , wit h my own hands gave a porti on, I
Having givcn a lump of kummasa, I rejoice in Nandana Crave.
here, and there arisc '.vhatcver arc those deli ghts that arc dear
to my heart .
S Because of t his is my brill iant majesty thus and my beauty
illumines all the quart er". "
15. THE FIFTEENTH, UTTARA'S MANSION
(Uttara\'imaoa)
The Blesscd One was dwelling in Rajagaha at the squirrels'
feeding+pJace in Bamboo Grove. At that time a poor man, PUI)!).3
by nil me, lived as a rlependan t upon J banker oi Raj il gaha. Hi s
wi fe, Utt ara, and daugllt cr named Uttara, l were the only two
people in his home. Now one day in Riijagaha there was a seven-
day festi val. The banker heard of it and when P UI)1) a came ea rl y in
t he morning he said, " My dear, our servants want to celebrate the
festival, will you celebmt c the fes tival, or will you work for wages?"
" Maste r," said .PUI) I):l, 'such a t hi ng as a festival is for t he ri ch,
and in my hou5e there is not \!ven ri ce to make grucl for 10+
morrow. What isa festIval to If J get oxen 1 will go to plough,"
'Well theil , take the oxen, " said t he master. .Plll,lI.la took powerful
oxen and a fine plough and sai d to hi s wife ... My dear, the towns-
folk arc celebrating a fest iva l. I am going to earn w:Iges since we
are poor. but for me too, just today, cook a double portion of food
and hring it [0 me." T hen he well t to the fidd.
Now t he Elder Sari putta who had entered on ecssation
J
for
seven days. emerged t herefrom, and surveying (the world) and
think ing, "Now to whom today will J have the chance to do a
kindness?" he S3W PIlI)I.)a had con:e within t he net of his per-
ception, and surveying (furt her) he t hought, "Now is thi s man a
beli ever ? Will hc be able to do a kindness to me ?" Realizing that
PUI)1)3 Vias a believer and able to do a kindness, and oil that
, hhil ll8, which VvA. 6,. calh a , h,, :'c of k""''''ba.
I Thi s story also appears OhA. iii. . wit h varialions.
HI ;Klv;ln.-.d form of mtdiUliOlI.
WOM E :-l 'S M A N SIONS
'S
account effecting for him great att ainment , he took bowl and robe,
went to the field where he was ploughi ng, and stood there looking
at a bush at the edge of the field, I
As soon as saw the Elder he stopped his ploughing,
greeted the Elder with the nvefold veneration, and saying to
himself, "He needs a toothstick," gave him a toothstiCk making it
permi ssible for usc. Then the Elder drew his bowl and
t
water-
strainer fnJm his bag for carrying the bowl and gave (them) to him.
Saying to himself, ' H e needs drinking water, " took it,3
strained dri nki ng waler and gave it. The Elder thought, " This
man li ves in the very last house of all. If I go to t he door of the
house, his wife will not be able to see me. I will remain here itself
till hi s wife sets out upon the high-road with his meal. " He waited
there a little while, and when he kn!! w that she was on the way, he
set (IUt in the direction of the ci ty. When t he woman saw the
Elder on the road she thought, " Sometimes when I have some-
thing worth giving I see no one worthy to receive it; sometimes
\vhen J see a worthy person there is nothing worth giving, but to-
day I see a worthy person and at the same time I have a gift wort h
giving. Surely will he do a kindness to me." She put down the dish
wi th the food in it, greeted the Elder wit h t he fivefold venerati on,
and said, " Si r, without giving thought to whet her t his is coarse or
fine farc, do a kindness to your T hen the Eldt:r li cit.! oot
hi s bowl, and as she held the di sh with one hand and was giving
him rice from it with the other, he said " Enuugh " wlu:1I t: :>.actly
half the di sh was served and he covered uver his bowl wilh lli s
hand. She said, "Sir, om 1>l.Irliol l he divided il lto two parts.
H you will not du a lu your lH:rvall l iu r (:spcc t of this
world, do one for the of the:: llex!. I walll to give without
allY relll ailluer wlmtsuevcr," and so saying, and having put
every bit into his bowl, she made the aspiration, "Let me be a
pol rt ieipant in the Dhamma you have reali zed." The Elder said,
"So be it," thanked her whil e be was still standing, and when he
had sat down in a convenient pillee where there was wat er, he mnde
his meal. The woman went home, searched for some rice, nnd
, 1::. Kn,\ llhA. a pil: Ce. Be <;\ + , {vap (nOl in PED,
e?!)), meaning c' ge of the field. 'the sowing area'; eel' M.W:
aowi llg ground .
n o. DhA. potta,l c .
J l Rlh. referrinlf only 10 t he strainer?
diSHssa , rna.culi n., h"r
"
STOR IE S OF ' I'HE MANSI ONS
cooked a meal. PUI)1)3 meanwhile had a half karisa of
land. and being unable to endure his hunger. had unyoked the
oxen, gone into the shade of a tree and sat down watching the
road. Now as hi s wife was going al ong with the food and saw him
she thought, " He is sit ti ng watching for me, oppressed with
hunger. If he rai ls against me, sayi ng I She is very late.' and should
strike me with the goad-stick, the deed which I have done will be-
come of no effect. I will speak to him first so as to prevent it" With
t his in mind she said, " Master, to-day, j ust Ihis one day gain
fervour at heart. make not a deed which I have done of no effect.
While I was bringing your meal very early, on the way I saw the
Captain of Dhamma. I gave him you r meal, then I went home,
cooked a meal, and have come. Gain fervour, master. " He asked,
"What are you saying wife ?" and when he had hend the story
agai n, he said, " Wife, you did exactly right in giving my food to
this worthy one. I, too, to-day, vcry ea rl y, gave him a tootln tick
and water for hi s mouth," and wi th a mind of faith he was cont ent
with her story, and being tired from taking his meal late in the day,
he put his head in her lap and fell asleep,
:\low aU of the place ploughed early in the morning, incl uding
the crushed earth, became bright gold and remained resplendent
like a help of kal). ikira
l
fl owers. When Punna woke he looked and
said to his wife, " Wife, all this pl oughed la;ld looks to meas
it had gold. Now tell me, are not my eyes unsettl ed be-
cause I ate my meal so late in the afternoon?" " Master," she
said, "it looks j ust that way to me too." He got up, went there,
took up a clod, hit it on the head or the plough, saw that it was gold,
and cried, "Aha, the fruit ion for the alms gi ven to the worthy
Captain of Dhamma has made its appearance to-day already. But
clea rly it is not possi ble to enjoy in secrecy the use of so much
wealth." He filled with gold the dish brought by his wife, ' .... ent to
the king's palace, and gaini ng permission from the king, entered
and made hi s obeisance, and when the king said, " What is it , my
man?" he sai d, "Majesty, to- day the land which I had ploughed
all became quit e fi ll ed with a heap of gold and stayed that way. The
gold ought to be sent for." " Who arc you?" asked the king.
" PuQQa is my name." "But what have you done today? " "Very
early thi s morning I gave a looth, tick and water for the mouth to
the Cap:ain of Uhamma, and my wife, too, gave him the food
1 Pterospermllm lIccrifolillm. wilole f10wCfS ere goldcn yellow.
WO M EN ' S MANSI O N S
'7
that was brought as a mea l for me." When the king heard this he
said, " This very day the fruiti on will have appeared for the alms
given," and he asked, " My man, what shall we do? " "Dispatch
many thousand carts and have the gold brought to you," said
pUIJ.,a. T he king di spatched the carts. As the bng's men were
taking the gold and s,'l.ying, " It belongs to the ki ng," each piece
as they picked it up became nothing but earth. When they went
and told the king he asked them, "My men, what did you say as
you took it?" and tbey answered. ,. That it belonged to you. " The
king said, " In tnat ca'ie, my men, go again and as you collect it say,
, It belongs to PUIJ.,a. '" They did so. Each piece picked up remai ned
gold. They brought it all and made a he2.p in the royal courtyard.
Eight y cubi t5 high was the heap. The king had the townsmen
summoned . .. Has anyone in this city so much gold ?" he asked
them. "No one, Majesty. " " But what ought to be given to this
man ?" " 'I'he umbrella of a seHhi, I Majesty." The ki ng sai d, " Let
him be of Great Wealth," and gave him the umbrella uf a
and much wealth. Then PUIJlJa said to the ki ng, " Maj t:tsly,
all this time we ha'/e been livi ng in the home oi another. Gi ve us a
place to live in." The king said, " In that case, look. This appears
to be j ungle. Clear it off and build a house," and he shower.! him
the si te of the home of a former senhi. Wit hin onl y a few I.b ys he
had had a house built on that site, and performing the ceremully of
entering the house and the ceremony of his investiture of rank, all
in one, he gave alms for seven days to the Order with till;: Buddha
at the head.
Afterwards the banker of Rajagaha asked for the r.!aughth of
l'ulJl.la in marriage for his son. He said, " I will nut give her." "Do
not act thus," said the banker, "you got your luck at the very time '
you were living with us. Give your daught er to Illy SOil." " Your
son is an unbeliever," said PU1J1J 9, " my tlaugll h;r call not live wit h-
out the Three J ewels. Because of t his I j U5l will not give my daugh-
ter to him." Then ma ny men of nmk entreated him, "Do not
break off your fr iendship wit h this lIlan. Give him your daughter."
He complied wit h their entreaty and gave: away his daught er at t he
time of the full moon in tin: lIIomh of As.ii !hi. She wcnt to the home
of her husband.
From the ti llle uf her going she was not allowed to go near
monk or 1H111 , lu give alms, or to lis. ten to Dhnmma. When two and
, Ranker.
, 8
S T O R I ES O F T I-IE M .... l\ S I ON3
a half months had thus passed she asked the servants who attended
her, ' 0 How much of the ra iny sea50n is left now?" " lIalf a month,
my lady," they sai d. She senl a lnessagc to her fat her : " Why have
they cast me into such a prison ? It would have been better for you
to have branded me and decl ared me a of others than to have
gh'cn into sllch a family of u nhcli cycrs. From the time that I
came here r have not been all owed to do even a single act of meril,
even so much as catching sight of a monk." Now her father, aft er
he had expressed his sorrow, "Unhappy, alas, is my
daught er!" had fiftee n thousand delivered to hcr and
sent a message: " In this city there is a courtezan, Sirima
1
by
name. Daily she accepts a thousaml (ka hii paJ).as). Have her brought
to you by meanR of Ihis money. give her over to YOlif husband, and
you yoursel f perform your acts of meri t as you please." Ullara did
so, and when her husband suw SinmJ. and said " What 's this?" she
repl ied, " Husband, for this half-month let this rompani nn of mine
look after )'OU, but for thi s half-month I want to do nothing but
give alms and listen to Dhamma." He looked at that beautiful
woman and with aroused desire ag reed, sayi ng "Very well."
Vttara fo r her part , sent an invitat ion to the Order wi th the
Buddha at the head, saying, " Reverend sir, for this half-month go
nowhere clse, but receive alms here only, " and when she had
obtained t he Teacher 's consent she said, "From now up to t he
Great Invi tation! I shall be able to wai t upon the Teacher and 10
hear Dhamma," and with heart content thereat she went about
arranging everything that was to he done in the kitchen, sayi ng
"Cook the gruel thiS way, cook the cakes thus. "
Now her husband, thinking, " Tomorrow will he the Great
Jnvit Hion," stood al the window looking into the ki tchen and
wondered," Now what is that s illy woman busy doing ?" He saw
she was moving about wet wi th sprinkled over with ashes,
smeared with charcoal and snot from all her prepll rat ions, and
said, .. The silly woman docs not enjoy luxury and comfort in a
place like t his. She goes about wilh a happy heart merely because
of her wish to minister to shaven-headed monks," and he laughed
and went away.
As he went away, Sirima was standing ncar him and sai d to
herself, "Now what did he see to make hi m laugh ?" and looking
1 Dh A. iii. l01ff.
'mahAFavi ... o:Oi , a rnot13l1ie lu;!d lit end "r the mir.l .
WO ME N ' S MA NS I O NS
'9
out by the same window she saw Vttara 2nd thought, " He looked
at her and laughed. 'l'here must be int imacy between him and her. "
Now t he story goes that, alt hough this woman had been for half a
mont h an outsider in t hi s house, yet, since she was enjoying its
luxury and comfort, she was unaware of her statu!! as an outsider.
and had the notion, " I am the mistress of the house." She settl ed
her mali ce upon UUara and sayi ng to herself, " I will make
trouble for her,' descended from the terrace, entered the kitchen,
and at the place where they werc cooking the cakes, took some
boiling hot ghee with a ladle and went toward Ultara. Utt ara saw
her coming and thought, "My companion has done me a favour.
The ci rcle of the earth is too narrow, the world of is too
low. but the virtue of my companion is great because by her hel p I
have become able to give alms and to listen to Dhamma. If I am
angry with her, let this ghee burn me, if not, let it not burn me."
The ghee, although poured on the top of her head, was like cold
water because of her being suffused wit h loving-kiml m:ss.
1
Then
when Utt arii 's slave-women saw Siri m1[ coming (tuwards them)
after she had fi ll ed anot her ladle again and was tli iuki ng (t o her-
self), " Will this (too) be cold? " they thre<l lel1l:J. her, "Ah, you
wi cked woman! How dare you puur bll il ing oi l on the head of our
mist ress ?" and attacking fWIII wlten:vcr they were in the kitchen,
t hey SHuck her with hands ami ft:t: l and threw her to the ground.
Though (fied to prevt:nt dl cm she could not stop them.
Then she stood o\"er Sirima, held off all the .se rvant .....omen. and
said reproachfully to Siriulii , " Why have you done !lueh a gri evous
deed ?" Then slit: Lathl.. -d her with warm water ... nd anointed her
head with oil a hUlldred times refi ned.
AI tlm! mOlllent Sirima realized the fact that she was nn out-
sidt: r, 1mJ. tlluugh!, " I have done a gri evous deed in scattering
builing watt:I on her head because of a mcte on the part of
llt:r husband. Wi thout as much as ordering her serving women,
sayi ng ' I iold her ' , she even held them off when t he)" were hurting
me and did for me just what should hnve been done. If I do not
ask her forgiveness. my head mtl y spl it into sc\'cn pieces." She
fell down at Utt arii 's feet and said, " Lady, forgi ve mc."2 " I am :I.
daughter whose father ie living. If my fat her forgi ves, I will forgive
I Referred 10 at Visrn. 38, as an ex.ample of psychic p"wer being diffused by
concenllal;on.
Ee, Dh,\ . iii. , 11 khamAhi Ce, me don .. i,.
STOR I ES OF THE MANS I ONS
(yoU), "1 said Utl adi. "So be it, lady, I shall beg forgiveness
from your father too, PUl)l)a the banker. " "Pul)l).a is my father who
has b:gotl en me in t he cycle (of birth),2 but if my father who has
begotten me in the cycle that does not turn
3
forgi ves you, 1 will
forgive you." " Then who is your father in the cycle that does not
turn ?" " The wholly Enlight ened." " I am not acquaint ed wi th
him. What shall I do r" " The Teacher will come here tomorrow
wi th his Order of monks. Bring whatever you can obtain
and come here and ask his forgiveness." "Very well, lady," said
Si rima, she rose and went to her own home, gave orders TO
five hundred women attendants, prepared many sorts of hard and
soft food, and on the next day, taking the offering of hospitalit y she
went to Utt ara's house and waited, not daring to put anythi ng into
the howls of the Order of monks with the Buddha at the head.
Uttara herself took everything and arranged it. But Sirima with
her retinue, at the completion of the meal fell at the T eacher's
feet. Then the Teacher asked her, "What is your fault ?" "Sir,
yesterday 1 did thus and so, but my companion held back her
senring-women who were hurt ing me. 8he did me a kindness
instead. r realized her virtue, I asked her pardon, but she said to
me that when I had your forgiveness then ' I williorgive.'" "Js it
as she says, Ullara I" "Yes, reverend si r. The conpanion pOUTed
boiling oil on my head." " Then what did you think ?" " I thought,
'The circle of the euth is too narrow, Ihe worl d of Hrahma is too
low, but the virt ue of the companion is great, because by her hel p
I am able to give al ms and li sten 10 Dhamma. If I am angry wi th
her, let this ghee burn me ; if nO!, le[ it not burn me.' Thinking
(hus I suffused her wit h loving-kindness . " The Teacher said,
" Well done, well done, Ulla rll, thus should one conquer anger."
And el uci dat ing Ihis meaning, " Wim non-anger should one can-
qutr ll im who ii:! angry, by lIul being: abusive hi m who abuses, by
nul rt vili ug him who reviks, by givillg: what ont hi m
who is deeply avariciuus, aud with truthful spctl:h a of
fal3ehood," he uneled the
, Ee, Ce, De pitari kharr.Rptssami (tam, you, to be understood).
DhA. pitari khamantc wit i} v. 11. to read pit"ri

1 . he r.ycie of rooirth, 'Am.;; .. , 0: h",nan life ; and the eyd. th.u
dOCJ nO! turn, nihbdnll.
Read vival! e kh9mantc ... kha:nis.ilmi .
WOM EN'S MAN S I ONS
.. With non-anger shdl one conquer anger,
With good sha!! one conquer eVil,
With generosity shall one conquer the avaricious,
And with truth the speaker of untruth."1
J '
When he h:1d spoken this verse, a. the end ofthe versc he talked
3bout the four truths. At the conclusion of the truths Uttara was
establishf'o in the fru it of once-ret urn. And her husband and
father-i n- law and mother-in-law real ized the fruit of stream-
entry. Si rima, too, with her reti nue of five hundred eourt ezans ,
::t After Uttara had dicd she arose in (the
realm of) the T hi rty-Three.
And the venerable Maha-Moggall ana, tta\'elling about on a
dr.va.tour as de.cribed above, saw Uttara, the deva-maiden, and
pllt the question to her with the verses t hat begin, "You who
stand with beauty":
" You who stand wilh beauty, devata, are making
all the quarters effulgcuL likc lhe healing star.
:0 Because of what is )'our bt:auly such 1 of what do you
prosper here, and there arise IlhaLever are those delights that
are dear to your htart ?
3 I ask you, dc\i uf great majesty, what merit did you perform
when you wen: hurn a human being ? Decause of what is your
brilliant majesty thus, and your beauty ill umines all me
quarters? "
That devata, delighted at being questioned by Moggallii na,
fruit.
5 " Envy and lIu:all ness and stinginess
2
were never mine while I
li villg in a house. Without anger, obedi ent to my hus-
Land, always dil igent on the Obser vance (days)
6 011 the fou rteenth, fi fteenth and eighth (days) of the bright
for tnight, and a special day of t he fort night well connected
with the eightfold (prcecpts)3
7 I the Observance always controlled by the moral
habits. And (thus) in the Mnru; ion restrained and generous I
dwell.
, Dhp. Thesc are the vc"'''" whid, .. ," Ihc ba,i8 of I"" 6101")' of UtI"r' <It
DhA. ii i.
1 See BA. 465f. for definitIons of thuc words .
1 Cf. Thill" 31, and E\' II. 67 for fu rther ,eferences.
STOR IE S OF TIlE MANSIONS
8 Refraining from onsla ught all creatures, and restrained from
lying speech, from theft and unchastity and the drinking of
liquor far removed,
9 Delight ing in the five rules of training, profi cient in the ariyan
truths, J was a lay-foll ower of Gotama, One with vision,
widel y famed.
10 I, with my own morality and for fame, famous, experience
my own merit ; happy am I , and healthy.
II Becausc of Ihis is my beauty such, because of this do I
per here, and thc:c arise whatcvcr arc those delights that are
dear 10 my heart.
12 I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what I did when
I was born a human being. Because of Ihis is my brilliant
maje8ty thus and my beauty illumines all the quarters.
And, revered sir, on my will you pay homage with your
head at Ihe ' .... Td's feet , saying: ''['he lay-woman follower named
Tltta r::i hOll1age wi th her hellrl li t the Lord' s feet'? Indeed,
thi8 would not he rt!vered 8ir, thllt the Lorrl were 10
declare for me one of t he fmits of The T .nrd rl irl
rler:laTf: for her Ihl': frllit of onr,-..rdllrn.
16. THF. SJXTF.F.NTH: SIRIMA'S MANSTONI
(Sirimiiviman3)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha, at the
feeding-place in Bamboo Grove. And at that time Si rima, the
courtezan menti oned above in the preceding Story, had abandoned
her impure profession because of her attainment of the i ruit of
streamentty2 and had begun to give alms daily to eight members
of the Order chosen by ticket. From the beginning, eight monks
came daily to her house. Saying such things as, " Have some ghee,
have some milk," she would fill their bowls. T he amount one
person got was enough for th ree or four. Every day food worth
sixteen kahapaoas was given as alms. Now one day a monk had
enjoyed the Meal for Eight at her house, and went to a monastery
three yojana'd away. Now, that evening as he was sitting in atten
dance upon the Elders they asked him, " Friend, where did you
, Set DhA. iii. 104.
2 See Jalt JUSt ;,efare the verses begin.
WOMEN'S MANSIONS lJ
food from just before you Cline here?" " J partook of the Meal
for Eight from Sirimii."1 " Did give food that she had
made appetizing?" " I simply cannot describe her meal. She
gave food that she had made most sumptuous. What one alone got
was enough for three or four. Hut even more excellent than t he
alms she gave was her appearance, for she has beaut y of such and
such a sort .. . " and he recounted her charms. ,
Now when one of the monks had heard the account of her charms,
althoJgh he had not seen her, by merely hearing about her he fell
in love, and thinking to himself, "I want to go and see her," he
spoke 01 the number of the rains- residences
1
(spent by him), and
questioned a monk about his standing
3
in the Order. Whet! he
heard him say, " Tomorrow, friend, as you are the SClliormost
Elder,4 you will be able to receive a Meal for Eight," taki ng bowl
and robe that. very moment, and setti ng out at dawn, he entered
the tickctroom, and being the seniorm051 Elder reccivt!u <t Meal
for Eight in Sirima's house.
But at the very moment when the monk. who had tlillcd the day
before had gone aW"J.y a disease arose in Sirimii's budy. So took
off her ornaments and lay down. Then her serving women, seeing
that the monks had come to receive the Meal {III' Eight, told her.
Unable to take the bowls with her own haml ur invite the monks to
be seat<.>d, she gave orders to her serViltg WUtUClI saying, "'Vomen,
take the bowls, invite the reverend gt! l1 tlemen to be seated, give
them gruel to dri nk, serve [hem with hard food, S aod when it is
time for the main meal,6 fill their Luwls and give them to them. "
T hey did 50. She said, "Put yuur arms around me and lead me in.
1 will greet the reverend gentlemen," and supported by them she
was led into the of the monk! and greeted them, her
body shaking. When the IT,onk (who had fallen in love with her)
saw her he thuught, " Even though ill this woman has radiant
beauty, 5U when she is in healt h, decked in nil her adornments,
, Si ritdya Ee, see Be.
, PED takes vass'gg" as vardgll ra. The phrase kathet i refer! to.the
dilclosu re of nllmiJn "f (,os .. ) hy" monk. a ..,nlor_
ily in the Order ,N,knncd from th number of vuse kept.
J \hitikam refers to his seniority ill the Ordtr .
SilT,ghatthen may huw th'" me,ming of the .cniormo81 Elder in lite II
L
.,uP
pal of the meal. at Sirimd'3 h",, :;e Iha follo"" "" day.
I khajj.ka. or molasses taken .... ith as (pa rt of) the
mormng
bhatta, taken hefOle midday.
S TORI F:S OF T H E MAN S I ON S
what must her beauty be like ?" m d defilement t hat had been
accumulat ing for many crores of years past beset him. He became
distraught, and being unable to eat his rice, took his bowl and went
to the monastery, covered the bowl, put it on one si de, spread out a
corner of his robe and lay down. Then even though a fellow- monk
ent reated him, he coul d not eat. He went withoul food.
In the evening of that very day Sirima died. The king sent a
message to the T eacher, " Reverend sir, Sirima, the youngest
sister of Jivaka, has died." When the Teacher heard it he sent a
message to the ki ng, "Sirima' s body is not to be cremated. Have
her set down in the place of the unburned bodies and keep guard
so that crows and so forth may not de,'our her." The king did so.
T hree days passed in succession, and on t he fourth day t he body
swelled up. From the nine apert ures maggots oozed forth. T he
entire body was li ke a pot of broken rice. T he king had a pro-
clamati on dr ummed through the town, " For everyone who docs
not go to see Sirimii , except the children who should be protected
indoors, a fine of eight kahii pa[Jas." And he sent t message to the
T eacher : " Let the Order wi th the Buddha at t he head come to
look at T he Teacher announced to the monks, " We will
go to look at Si ri mlL" T he young monk had lain for four days
payi ng no heed to what anyone said, and without any food at all.
E" en though the food in his bowl turned put rid, he did not rise.
Nowa fellow-monk wen! up to him saying, " Friend , the Teacher
is going to see Sirima," and at the very menlion of the word
"Sirima" the young monk, t hough overcome by hunger , gO[ up
4uid1y. "TI le 'I'ead u:r is going to Sirima, will you go
his fdlow monk asked. " I will gu," lu;: alill thruwiug away tli e
rice, he washed Ihe bowl and went wilh the Order. The Tt:al.: her
surrounded by the Order stood in one group. T he Order of nuns ,
the king's court , and the crowd of lay-devotees each stood sev-
erally in groups by themselves. T he Teacher asked the ki ng,
"Great King, who is shei" "Sir, tbs is the sister of Ji \'aka,
Si ricna by namc." " Is this Sirima ?" " It is, Sir. " " WeB then, have
a proclamation drummed through the town that an yone may have
Si ricna for a thousand kahapat:L as." The king had t hi s done. T here
was not evell one who so much as said" Yes" or "No" to the
offer . The lling Gaid to the Tcneher, "Rcverend sir, no one accepts. "
"Well then, Great King, lower the price. " ! T he ki ng had the pro_
' Ce reads for algh.m, it (t he price) d(lwn hy half".
WO MEN'S MA NS ION S
"
clamation drummed, "For five hundred take her)" When he saw
no taker, he had the proclamation drummed, ", r ake Sirima for t wo
hundred and fi ft}' ," " For two hundred," ,. For one hundred ," " For
fi fty," " For twenty-fi" e kahapary3S, " " Vor tcn," " For fi ve," " For
one," " For a half," " A quart er," .. A misaka," I " For a kakaryikll , " I
and at last he had the proci::>. mat ion dru mmed, 'T ake her for nothing."
Even then there was no one who said so much ::>.s " Yes" or .. No"
to the offer. The king said, " Reverend sir, there is no one who will
take her c,'cn for nothing. " T he Teacher said, "See, 0 monks, a
woman greatly loved by the worl d. In this very City formerly they
gave a thousand kahapary as for one day with her, now there i:!l ILU
one who will have her even for nothing. Such is beaut y, full of
corrupt ion and decay, made attracti ve only by pla1.: ed
lIpon it, a m 2SS of sores by reason of the nine festering: orifi1.:l;:S,
held together by three hundred bones , forevcr ail ing, ti n; lupic of
many a thought because the foolish worM 1.:UlLtcllljJlales on it, a
non-lasti ng body. " J And to teach thi s he reeill;J llu.: verse;
" Behold the painted puppet , a mass of sores, a thing compounded,
Ailing, the object of many ::>. thought. It has no lasting stability. " 4
At the end of t he Teaching, the monk who had been in love with
Sirima became devoid of his passion of infatutt ti on i he developed
imight lind schicved nrahantship. Eighty-four thOU5and humm
bei ngs realized Dhamma.
At that t ime Siri ma, the deva-maiden, had contemplat ed her
success and pro5peri ty, and as she contemplat ing the place
from whi ch she had come she saw the Blessed One surrounded by
t he Ordcr of monks and the crowd of people all a.sembled bl'_'1ide
her own body. And surrounded by hcr fi ve hundred deva_mll idens
with fi ve hundred chariots, she arri ved in visible for m,
from her chanot, paid homage to t he Blessed One with her retinue
and stood in an attitude of devot ion. At time the venerable
Vangisa was standing near the Blesserl He said to the Blessed
One, " 0 Blessed One, I shoulrl like tn ask a questi on. " " Do so,
Vangisa, " the Blessed One T he venerable Vangisa put to
Sirima, the deva_maiden, the foll owing question :
, A bean, l ee BD. i. 72. , n. I.
, Alouut un eighth ur lCll ll, of a kah! p8'.'H, hft l! a .. I.ft, wor th next to nothinR
'ni' writt.n for Ii .
Dh. ' 47, t he verse on which Sirim5'. lI(l ry i. hased at DhA. i i i. ' 04. !t also
at M. ii . 64, Thag. 769.
"
S T Olt I R!; OF THE MAN S I Or.;S
"Your yoked steeds, superbly adorned, downward through
the sky are headi ng, powerful, swift , and fi\'c hundred chari ots,
created (by your own deed of merit I), accompany YOll, t hei r
steeds urged on by charioteers.
'l Adorned you stand in a glorious chari ot, effulgent, of flawless
appearance, brilliant, li ke the shining fire of stars. I ask you, of
glorious form, from which class. ot being you come to
approach the unsurpa3sed (Buddha)l, "
Thus questi oned by the Etc\e:r the devata explained about
self :
3 " That which, they suy, is t he supreme (c1l1g!O) of who
have reached the heights of desire, (where) are the oev:l.tas who
ever del ight in creoting, from ('lat class of being, a nymph \Nho
aS5umcs any form ilt will, have I come here to rf' vewnce the
unwrpllssed (Buddha) ."
When the devi had thus explained her appearance among the
devas who delight in cicating, then the Elder wanted her to lell
about her former state of c.1{iste ncc, the deed of merit she had dum:,
and her religious belief.
1 "What good conduct did you formerly perform here? Be-
cause of what are you of boundless glory, thri'/ing in happiness,
and na\'c the unsurpassed psychic potency of going through
ai r and your beauty shines forth over the ten quarters?
5 You are surrounded and esteemed hy devas. From where
have you deceased, dcvatii, that you are come to a good
bourn? Or to whose inst ruction were you obedient ? T ell me if
you were a disciple of the Buddha."
Speaking of the matt er asked nbout by the Elder, the devatii
these
6 " In a glori ous ' ... 'ell-planned ci ty3 on a the atteu-
clant on a gloriolls ill ustri ous
'
king,6 I was highly trained in
dance and song. In Rajagaha they knew me Sirima.
7 And the Uuddha, foremost of seers, guider away, taught TIle of
origin, anguish, (which are) impen naneOl; the unconuilioned,
I 50 VvA. 79. l 80 at VvA. 80. Cf. l A. 2J3.
) Rijll!:nh ... , .lao called as said at VyA. 82.
Ont of t he fi,c mount"in .... R4jlsah ..., enumcrat ....J ihid .
lirimar.l, i!l u.lri<IUs; ibid., mos t ly III of grefit meri: .
Bimbisiln, ibid.
WOMEN 'S M A NS I ONS
J7
the ceasing of anguish, (which are) ctemal, al!u about tbis
Way, not crooked, di rect, auspicious.!
8 Wilen I had heard of the undying statt:, the uncondit ioncd,
Ihe Dispensation of the unsurpasset.! I was most
highly controlled in the moral habits, ('lILt.!) in the
l) hamm2 taught by t he Buddha, lilt: !llano
9 When I knew of that stainl ess state, the unconditioncd, taught
by the unsurpassed Tathligilta, thell I myself reached con-
centrat ion that was calm.l The highest assurancc
J
was mi ne
indeed.
10 When I had acquired tht: undying stat e which made me dis -
tinct,4 assured,s emint:ll! ill penet ration, wit hout perpl exi tiea, I
,vas honoured by tht: populace. I cxperience considerabl e
amusements anti cllj vyments.
II Thus I am a seei ng the undying, a disci ple of the un-
surpassed one who secs Dhamma, is established in
the fi rst fruil, (lhat of) st ream-cntry, and not again is there a
bad OOUfll (fur me).
12 With rt:spcct toward the illustrious king under Dhllmm::l , T
appruached t o honour the unsurpassed one, and to reverence
Ihe gracious monks who delight in what is skilled, an :m!'ipi -
eiulis gat hcring of reclusell.
I ] Ju'yous at heart was I, elatcd, when I saw the sage, 1'Mhagata,
glori ous man, charioteer of the tameable, cutter off nf craving.
del ighting in what is ski lled, gui der away. I honour the
suprcmely merciful, the eomp:.l.ssionate one."
T hus Sirima, the deva-maiden, by way of a formal dt:ehnation
of the belief she had accepted, declared her fait h in tht: Three
Jewels; she paid reverence to the Blessed One and the Orut:r, and
having made a ceremonial circui t about them, went uaek 10 the
deva-worl d itself. T he Blessed One made her (flOm the
cleva-worl d) the occasion for a discourse, and taught Dimmma. At
the end of the di $course t he monk who had longt:d for Si rimii
attained arahamship, and the discourse was vf uCllclit to the whol e
assembl y too.
I cr. No .. 41 .5.
VvA. thai .he <c <I(: hed concenc .... t ;on " n
supermundane (m.tteto) cxcecdini/l y cal m.
, Of the way. Vv A. 85.
From the ordinary penple. ibid.
U 10 J ewd etc. , ' b' d.
,.
.c;TORIES OF T H E MANS I ONS
17. THE KESAKARI)S MANSION
(KesakarivimMla)
The Blessed One was d welli ng at Baraoasi, in the deer park at
Isipatana. I n the morning the monks dressed, lOok bowl and robe
lind entered Biira03si. They went near the door of a certain
hrahman's house. Tn that house the brahman's daughter,
by name,l who was taking lice from her mother's head near the
door of the house, saw the monks going along, and said to her
mother, "Mother , these men who have renounced worldly life
seem to me to be in their first youth, delicate, very handsome,
worth looking at, not o'/ercome by any calamity whatever. Now
why is it that they renounce the world at this age
Her mother said to her, "Daughter, there isasan of lhe Sakyans;
he has gone forth from the Sakyan clan and has appeued in the
world as a teacher called the Buddha. He expounds Dhamma,
lovely in t he beginning, mi ddl e, and ending, with the meaning and
the letter; he proclaims a Brl!hma-faring that is utterly complete
and perfectiy pure. Because theee men have heard Dhamma they
have gone forth."
Now at that time a certain lay.follower who had attained the
fruit and had understood the Teaching, heard the conversation as
he was going along that street and came up to the two women.
Then the brahman lady said to him, "Here now, lay-follower,
many men of good family renounce great wealth and a great circle
of relat ives and go forth in the Sakyan clan. Now from what moti ve
do they go forth ?" The lay-follower heard her and sa id, II Because
of the danger in sense-pleasures and the advantage in renuncia-
tion," and he spoke in detail of the motive to the best of his own
understanding, explained the qualiti es of the Three Jewels and
expounded the advantage and benefit of the five precepts in rela-
tion to this world and to the world to come.
Then the brahman's daughter asked him, " Is it possible for us
too to part ake in the advantage and benefi t you have toM IllJuut,
through dependence upon the refuges and the precept::l ?" " Why
not i" he said. "To be shared by all are these which the
.Blessed One has spoken," and he gave her the refuges and the
precepts. When she had accepted the and had undertaken
to observe the precepts, she thell said, "What is there further
I Lit. the Gid who ATI.nged Hair.
WOMEN 'S MANS I ONS
39
to be done besides this?". Observing her intelligence he thought
to himself, "She must be one uf those who hasthe qualifu;,tliom,"
and, explaining the lIature of lhe body, ht: spoke of the ob-
jects of mcditatioll which are its thirty-two ,,:ullstituenu; he
aroused disgust ill her fOt' the body, and in lIddition, having
moved her with a talk on Dhamma connected with imper manence
and so forth, he Jluinted out the Way to insight and left her.
She lOok to heart all he had said, and with hel' thoughts
posed by the realization ('If the impurit y of the body, she de-
vel oped i1l:.ight and before long won the fruit of stream-entry
on accoull t of her attainment of the qual ifications.
l
Then later she died and was reborn as a maiden attendant upon
Sakka, killg of devas. Her retinue was a hundred t housand
When Sakka saw her, he, 2stonished and admiri ng, askcd
her what deed of merit she had done:
"This mansion, my abode, gleaming, lustrous, pillared in
beryl, well built, to last for ever, shaded on every side with
trees of gold, was produced as the fruition of a deed of
mine.
2 These who have arisen here formerly were nymphs, a hundred
thousand ; because of your deed, you have attained to this, you
are II: lorious. Effulgent you stand, a devata pre-eminent.
3 Even as the moon, the king of constellations, shines forth
surpassing (all ) the stars, so do you shine forth dazzlingly
among this throng of nymphs.
4 Now where ha'/e you come from, you of flawless appearance,
arising in this ahode of mine? As the devas of the (Three-and-)
Thi rty with Ind2, beholding Brahma, so none will tire of
beholding you."
Thus questioned by Sakka, chi ef of devas, the devata spoke these
two verses:
5 "Since this you kindly ask me, Sakka: I From where have you
deceased and come here? '-there was the city of Kasi people,
Bara l) 3Si by name. There, in the city, formerly I was Kesa-
karikii .
6 With a mind of faith was I, utterly devoted to the Buddha and
t he Uhamma and the Order, without perplexities, the rul es of
,. STOR IES OF' THE MANS I ONS
training untorn, arrived at the fru its, ;o.ssured in the IJhamma
of Awakening, healthy."1
Then Sakka, rejoicing in her att ainment of merit :md in her
attainment , t o her ;
, "For that we greatly rejoice and welcome you; with glory do
you shine forth through Dhamma. Uf believing heart are you,
utterly devoted to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Order,
without perplexiti es, the rul es of training uolorn, arrived
the fruits, assured in the Dhamma of heahhy."
And Sakka, king of dev3s, told the venerable Elder Mahi-
Moggaltan:l ahout this occurrence; tht: Elder told it to the Blessed
One. The Blessed One made the matter the occasion for a di s-
course and taught Dhamma to the multitude. That
teaching was of benefit to t he world, including the deva-world.
The Summary =
Five seats,' three boats, a lamp, a gift of sesamun,
Two wives, two daughters-in-law, Uttara, Sirima, Kt:lIakii ri ki,-
On account of whom is the Division known.
WOMEN'S MANSIONS: THE FIRST DIVI SION
I anlmayi. \\;thout disease. heall ily.
I More preci lely .. Seal!, One
II . THE SECOND DIVISION:
CITTALATA
I (18). THE FIRST: MANSION
(Dasivimana)
Wlli le the messed One was dwelling at Jetavana, a certain loy-
{oUIMer who lived in Savanhi went to the monastery at cventime
wi th many lay-foll owers, listened to Dhamma, and when the
'Isselllbly had ri scn, approached the One and said,
"Revercnd sir, from now on I will givc four perpetual meal5."
Then the One talked (I tnlk on Dhammn to him as befitted
the occasion and dismissed hi m. I-Ie 81l id to the superintendent of
meoh, " Reverend si r, I have appointed four perpetunl meals for
the Order. From to-morrow on, let the worthy gentlemen come to
my home", nnd went home. He explained the matter to his
woman Dnd said, " [n matter you must be constant ly dil igent."
"Very well," she repl!ed. By nature she was full of belief, delli rous
of foerit, virtuous, therefore every day she rose very earl y,
p:lrcd excell ent food :Ind drink, having made the places for sitti ng
well swept, well rubbed with perfume 1: she prepared the seats, ;:Inn
when the monks had arrived, caused them to scated there,
respectful homage, honoured them with perfumes, AnwerR,
incense and lamps and served them respect fully. Nnw nne day
when the had finis hed rhdr mefll, approached them,
her respects and spoke thl1f'.: "How, pray, reverend si rs, is there
l1ttf' r from ills; nf hirth and so forth?" The monks
gave hf' r the ref1lges :md the five precepts, explained the nature of
the hndy, ;:Inrl inci t.ed her to give thought to decay. Afterwards
they tallght. her flhollt impermanence. Keepi ng the precepts for
sixteen years, from
2
time to time reflecting attentively.2 one day
she had t he benefit of hearing Dhamma. and because of the mat-
urity of her lmderstandi ng she developed insight and realized the
fruit of st ream-ent ry. Soon afterwards she died, and reborn as
a favourite attendant of Sakka. killg of devas. And she rol mcd
I l upari bhaoQakala, or Iprinkled with fragrmce.
1 1 Ce omits.
STORIES OF TH E MANS I ONS
about in the parks and 110 on, feted by sixty t housand musical
instruments, enjoying great deva-bliss, amusing herself with her
entourage. The venerable Maha-Moggallana saw her in the way
described above and asked her:
,
3

5
6
7
8
9
" Like Sakka, lonl of it l the del ight ful Ci ttalati Grove,
you stroll about, attended l>y a throng of women on every side,
making all the quarters effulgent li ke the healing star.
Because of what is your beauty such ? Because of what do you
prosper here, and there arise whatever arc those delights that
1 au you, dcvi of great majc!ty, what merit did you perform
brilliant maj esty thus and your beauty ill umines 211 the
quarters ( "
Th. t devatu, delighted at being questioned by Moggalla na, when
asked the explained of what deed this wat the fruit :
" V!.' hen I was born a human being among men, a wOtnll n
sln"e 1 was. a menial in a hou8ehold, a lay-foll ower of the One
with Vision, of Got3.ma, widely famed.
With effort gained was I in the Dispensation of that steadfast
one. Let thill body break up 3.S it may, htrein on rela.'( ing (of
tffort).l
The Way of the fi ve rule& of training, sectl T'l'\ , lI1!;picious, is
said by the wise to be withollt. Ihorn, wit hout a tangle,
st raight.
Behold the fruit of effort all achieved by a li ttle woman. Com-
panion of the king:tm T, of Sakka who is of highest power.
lSix.t y thousann instruments wake me from my sleep:
Alamha,' Rhima, Sadhuvildi n and Saffisaya,'
I ...... h.nam, for unlhinam, m.e. Be, Ce explain nev. me
(Ee Illali- ).
' The '1ene. from here to the em! ofver. 15 O(ClH aglin Qt No. 50.'4- 30.
AI nOled al III. Edn. , p. 36, n. " \'vA. 96 sayl, " T hey say Ihi, i,. I"" ';al
li.tin, of nmonel of devIl-mul ie;on. , but ;1 i. " tilling of
T hose from ViQlimokk:,ti. on are dev.-women. " Mr. RhD. adds thaI moal of the
women'. namel Ire recognizable as occurring in various sioria, e.g. Nlndi at
Ji . i. DhA. i . z69. Sunandl at Vv. III . 9, VvA. '70 Tlte: vh,-, e
p ..... ' _tnm nAm:.a_han. '" ot \'vA. 96 (11100 of mmi cal instruments) would
have UI hel ieve tlut thele musicians were named d t er the instrumcntJ they
handled.
A, at 50.14, above Ce, Bc ( ... it h v.I . -mal; Ee Caggama, VvA. 93
DbagC ..
, il w.r. in Ee; ea Sarilsaya at VvA. 93, Be, Ce, and NC!. So. Z4.
C ITT AI.ATA
4l
10 Pokkharll and Suphassa; Vil)amokkha and ot her (women):
Nandi as well as Sunandi" SOl)adinna} Sucimhiti,'
I I Alambusa, Missakesl, and the pitiless one called
Eniphassa,' Suphassa,6 and Subhadda, MuduviIdint'-
J2 These and other more lovely (devatas) arouse the nymphs
(from sleep). 1n the morning they come to me and say, Come,
we will dance, we will sing, come, let us delight you.
I ) Not for those with deeds of merit not done, for lllOse alOHl:
with deeds of merit done is this Nandll na, without gri tf,
delightful, the great Grove of the (Three-and-) Thirty.
14 Not here nor beyond is there bliss for those wi th tleeu;j of
merit not done, but bliss there is here anti beyonu fvr Ihose
v. jth deeds of merit done.
I S Of such as long for companionship, by tht:l! c IIl Ul.;1i skill must
be done, for they who have done llt:cds oi merit del ight, re-
joice in heaven" .
Z (19). THE SECOND, LAKHUMA'S MANSION
(Lakhu mavimi na)
The Blessed One was dwelling ill Dalal.lasT. No..,. there was a
gate to the c':y of BiiraJ:jasi (.:IIJleu Fisberl nan' s Gate. There was
al so a vill age situateu lien it kuvwn li kewise as Fisherman's Catc.
T here a woman Ilauled Lakhuma, a bdiever, having faith, cn-
UUWtU wi li. iUldligellce, greeted monks as they went in by tnnt
h:: d Ill cm to her homc, gave them ladlefuls of food, and, her
bdief growing thereby, she had a pavilion built and there enter-
taincd monks, listened to Dhllmma in t heir company, and having
'See DPPN.
, Occurs at Vv. 6. Other (ace I n . Edn. p. 36, n. 2) are SO'.llldinna,
Sokat; '.''.Ii (al at VvA. 93) .
Suei mhiti at VvA. 9). wit h .. .II. St:cimi llt. Sucibbhitl . Above Sucimbhitl ,
not alwaya usil)' distir.guishable from Sucimhi t a in Sinh. orth6(!Uphy.
.. Alambud Mi l sll is lound at Jl . 'I. 13 al:d Kesi in Shanavamsa, p. I
have not found Alambud C>r AIi3 ... I,eol", 101 Edn. p. )6, n. 3. Eo, Coo A1AmblioA.
Dr Ablllbllsi . Siam. ed. Alambusi .
, S( e n pPN.
Suphasd at VvA. 94 (with v.I. Susaya), and In I II edd., except Ee whid, rei '"
Supaae 4.
, Ee Mudukivldi ; Be and.U other rdd. -vidin!. VvA. 94 l\{udukJ Carl. A
Hard)' nCles. VvA. is in famu, of Muduki as 1\ separate word ; it adds "or . he
name Itself was much like VAdHr.aSll a " . Sec OPPN, . v. C. r1.
ST OR I ES OF T HE MANS I ONS
become established in the refuges and the precepts, wi th rapt
attenti on she diligently developed the topics of insightmeditat ion
that she had learnt and. in no lime, on account of her qualifi cations,
established herself in the fru it of stream-entry.
Afterwards she died and was reborn in a great Mansion in the
realm of the Thi rty-Three. And her retinue was a thousand
nymphs. Enjoying devabliss she dwelt there in del ight . The ven
erable Maha.Moggaliana on a devatour questioned her thus:
" You who stand wi th surpassing beauty, devata. are making
2 Recause of what is your beauty such ? Because of what do you
prnllper here, and there arise whatever are those delights that
:Ire dear to your heart ?
3 T aflk you, devi of great majesty. what merit did you perform
when you were born a human bei ng 1 Because of what is your
brilliant majest y thus, and your beauty illumines all the
quarters ?"
... That devata. delighted at being questioned by Mogl::all1i na,
when asked the que!ti on explained of what deed this was the
fruit :
5 " IS3ui ng forth from the Fisherman's Gate, there was my
dwelling. There to di sciples, great seers, as they were passing
by.
6 With a devout mind I gave rice, kummasa, greens and salted
sour gruel to the upright .
7 On the fourteenth, fifteenth and eighth of the bri ght
fortnight, and a special day of the fortnight well cODm.'Cted
wi th the eightfold (precepts)
8 J observed the Observance always cont rolled by the moral
habits. And (thus) in the Mansion re;;trained and generous I
dwell . I
9 Refraining from onslauaht on cregtures, and restrained (rom
liquor far removed,
10 Delighting in the five rules of trai ni ng, proficient in the ari yan
I T hi, senlence in VvA, 'I 'hi, moy in port occoun: for the numberinll
u{ versu which to co" copo"d CKQCtly in Vv. and VvA. My ""mbl'rine
would Daree wi th E. had it not been numbered there from 3-1 4, nnd hnd it not
made twO velse. OUI of the last veue. My of this last vcr!le follows
Be which has p.', sign of abbreviation. ",he.e there are dQU HboYc.
C I T TALATA
4S
truths, I was a lay. follower of GOlama, One with Vision,
wiJely hlmed,
II Because of this is my beauty such . .. and my beauty illu-
mines all t he quart ers,
And, re\'erend sir. em my hehalf, will you pay homage with your
head at the One'!; feel, l>:lying: 'The laywoman follower
named Lakhumi homage with her head at the Blessed One's
fect.' Tr.deed, this wnuld not. he !<u rprising, reverend sir. that the
Blessed One were to rl er.larc for me one of the fruits of recluse
ship." The nl essed One did declare for her the fruit of once
return.
J (20). THE TffiRD: RICECRUST-GIVER'S MANSION
(Acamadll. yikavimiilla 1)
The Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagaha, at the Squi rrels'
feeding-place in Bamboo Grovc. But at that time the members of a
ccrtain household in Rajagaha were affl icted by an epidemic of
cholera. A!I thc people di ed t here except one woman. Terrified by
the fear of death, she abandoned t he house and all her money and
grain that were inside it and fled through a breach in t he wal1.
1
Having no one to help her she went to the house of ar:aother family
and stayed back of it. The people in that house taking pity
on her gave her the rice-gr uel, boiled rice, rice-crust and so on that
were lcit in the riccpot and other cooking vessels. By means of
their generosit y she was able to Ji ve there.
And at that time the venerable l\1aha- Kassapa had entered the
attainment of cessat ion for seven days, had emerged t herefrom,
I Idm_1. give two meamngs : {I) the scum or boili'18 rice
(",I lid. j " ... >pill:> 0"' l'C Ihe pot and i. loal unl.,,,,, th" co',,, r of . htl pot i.
remmprJ Rlltff. hi'ijiya. is taken out. not U$Ualiv done); h) erult st ick-
inc to the pet wheT. wdl boilt d rice i, removed. SI.'<: OA. 356. I l'd CPO. for
furthn Both meanln8' EpJlly. !'t8 It ddicul! [0 coHect the liquid
k,dj iy .. th l boit. o.er. kim ... mcnn,ni ri ce erult might be prefnr rcd but we
cannot he hert . At \,vA. 100. Inst line. kAmahiljika occurs. but at V.A.
10 ]me 8. and Dc there il Ad.T.arn hhui'ijitvl pi .. it .... ;;. though Ce omits bhui\ -
JltvA, I'iv.tva can mean having drunk wMcr. and can refer to water drunk IIh".
the "",,,I.
I bhittichiddena: a breach was in the oaek wall of the !IO t bot the
Sl1fvi\'Ori eO'Jld cscape. See MH & Ill, 175. n. I for further references to thil
... snake-wind digellse . cholera.
6
ST OR I E S OF' THE MANSIONS
and as he was thinking, "Now, to-day wh()m shall I favour by
accepting food? Whom free from di st ress and woe?" he
saw that thill woman was nea r death and that a kamma conducive
to purgatory had made its appearance for her. He t hought, " When
I go (near), this woman will give me the rice-crust she has received
for herself : through t hat very deed she will hi! reborn in the world
of the devas-who-delight-in-creati ng. When I ha ve t hus freed
her from rebirth in purgatory assuredly I shall be producing cl eva-
bliss for hcr." And having dressed early in the morning, he took
howl and robe and went toward the place where she was li ving.
Now Sakka, chief of devas, in disguise, offered him cleva-food of
many flavours and with many soups and curries , The Elder recog-
nized hi m and d eclined, saying" Kosi ya, why do you whose good
acts are accompl ished act thus? Do not ruin the luck of un happy
wretches, " 1 and came and stood before thc woman. She wishing to
offer him something t hought : T here's nothing sui table here to
l!;he this Elder of great majesty, and she said , "Please go fu rt her l"
The El der, retreati ng only a step, accepted naught t hat others
offered hi m, She, di scerning he wanted to help her, gave him her
rice-crust, and he at e it there, and said : " In your third life before
this you were my mother, " and went away. She, dying t hat very
night , was reborn among the devas-who-delight-in-creating. Then
Sakka, knowing of her death and not seeing her among the
Thirty-Three, went during the middl e watch of the night to the
venerable Maha-Kassapa and asked him:
" As you, walking for alms-foorl , standing silent there
was a wretched womm living at the back of another' s
house.
:2 She who having faith, g:'Ivt: YOII rice-crust with her own hands,
sloughing off the hll man body, to what state! is she gone?"
T hen the Elder, replying to him, s poke of the place of rebirt h ;
3 T, wal ki ng for alms-food, was standing si lent t here was a
wre.tched beggar woman living at the back of another' s house.
'1 She who, having faith, gave me rice-crust wi th her own hands,
, CI. DI,A Ud. for accounts of Sal.J,a' . Aue ..... plA to hi.
..... n,lition in heaven.
l Read d diaatamgall, wit h De, for Ee sadiutam gatA. To w};. t region III the
li x wllrld. of devIlS 01' desire ? V"A.
CI"l'ALAT A
47
sloughing off the human body, deccaEing from here IS
utterly freed.
S There are devas of great psychic potency, delighting in crea-
ting. That blissful woman, t he j oyous giver of rice-crust is
there. "
And when Sakka had heard of the great fruit , the great advan-
t::. gt:s of her !lift , he said:
6 " Ah, gift of pauper to Kassapll, well-placed. The aim! given
with food begged frulI1 anOl ller did indeed bri ng results.
7 'She who shall holl.! sway as COIiSurt of a wheel-t urning ki ng, a
woman lovely ill tVl; ry lilll u, graceful in her lord'lI cJc- (not
e Vt Il siJe) worth a sixteent h part of t his gift of ricc-crust.
8 A liul1d".: d uikkha&,l a hund, ed horses, a hundred mulc-
drawn clliuiots, a hund red thou6and maidens bedecked in
jewelled ear-drops- (not even they) arc worth II sixteenth
part of thi6 gift of rice-cru6t.
9 A hundred Himalayan elephants with t UlI ka like chariot-poles,
hefty and lordl y elephant! wit h armour lind trappings of gold
- (not even they) arc worth a si xt eenth part of this gift of
rice-crust.
10 Not even he who may hold sway here over the four continents
is worth a si xtcenth part of thi3 gift of rice-crust."
The Elder Maha-Kassapa recounted to the Lord all that had
been said to him here by Sakka, ki ng of devas. Taking it as a topic
the Lord taught Dhamma.
4 (21). THE FOURTH, CANDAL!'S MANSION
(Ca1)9alivimana)
While the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha, he entered into
the attainment of great compassion practised by Buddhas, arose,
and surveying t he worl d, saw that in that very city, living in the
Cat)Qii la
3
settlement, was an aged woma n whose span of life was at
, From her e 10 end is ume Q! 43. 7- 10.
One is equal IQ fifteen dhafut,m (parts, PRO. doubt fu l) of g,,!d, VYA.
' 004 DJ. "vi" ", in DSOAS xi, 4, 19.;6) wOll ld like 10 lake nik1<M oS
u Vin. Ii. ' 56 where the Plilli e has hallhl. But VvA. is
IIlent and nikkl;. has ot htr meQninga.
'unl<>ucbables'.
,8 S T O RIE S OF T I![
an end, and that for her there existed a kamma conducive to purga-
tory. With great compassion he made her do a kamma conducive to
heaven, and thi nking, " I will establi sh her in heaven", with a
great Order of monks entered Rajagaha for 21ms. And at that
moment the woman was coming out of the city leaning on
a stick; she saw the Blessed One approaching, and when she was
opposite him, she stopped. The Blessed One also stopped and
stood in front of her as if hinderi ng her from going on. Then t he
venerable Mahii-MoggalHina, because he knew the T eacher's
mind and that the woman's span of life was over, spoke urging her
to veneration of the Blessed One:
" CII.1).4ii.1i, honour the feel of Gotama, widely famed. Out of
compassion for you yourself the supreme 3eer
l
stoon (in
front of you).
2 Indine your mind favourabl y tow:ords one who is worthy and
a8 he.
2
Make haste, honour him with hands,
for brief is your life. "
And she li stened to him, and with emotion she came to have fai th
in the Teacher, paid homage with the five-fold venerati on, and
with mind become one-pointed through joy in the Buddha
stood with head bowed. The Blessed One saying, "Thi!! i!l
cient for her attainment of heaven," entered the city wil lI t ill: Order
of monks. Now immediately after that a run-away ww with a
young calf, rushing toward the woman, auat:ktJ her wit h its
horns and killed her.3 To explai n all this the rer.:t usionists spoke
two ,"erses:
3 Urged on by one who was self-developed, beari ng hi s last
body, the Car:t Qali honoured the feet of Got ama, widely
famed.
4 That cow struck down that CatgHili as she was standi ng with
clasped hands reverencing the Self-Awakened One,
bringer in the darkness.
And she was reborn among the Thirty-Three. And she had a
retinue of n hundred thomand nymphs. And on that very sa me
day she came, a dev3ti with her Mansion, alighted, went up to the
L i!isattaml, Inc best, ilUpreme of seen, j8tn; VvA. lOS lIivn
.ddi t ional glo .. , 'tne eeventn from Vipulin ' .
J Cf. TheR. 117.1.
'Cf. No. 47.
C1 TT AL ATA
venerable Maha-Moggallana and paid homage to him. To explain
thi s she sai d:
5 .. Hero of great majest y, I who have attained the psychic
potcncy of devas, approach and honour you whose cankers
are destro}'ed, who are stainless, imperturbable, seated in
solitude al one in the forest ."
The: Elder asked her:
6 "You of gol den colour, radiant, of great renown, with divers
ornaments, from II Mansion ali ghted, surrounded by Il throng
of nymphs, who are you, lovely devatii , who are honouring
me ?"
Questioned by the Elder she spoke four verses:
j " I. reverend 5ir, am a urged by you, by the hero,1 I
honoured the feet of Gotama, worthy one, widely famed.
8 When J had honou red his feet, deceasing from birth as a
Cal). Qiili, I arose in a Mansion, lovely in every respect, in
Nandana.
9 A hundred thousand nymphs stand in attendance upon me.
Among them all am Jl pre-eminent and supreme in beauty,
fame and long life.
10 Mindful and selfpossessed, having done much good, I come,
sir, to hOllour the sage pit iful toward the world."
Again. 1 verse was added by the recensionists :
I I When thi s had been said, t he CaQ9iil i, grateful, acknowledging
what had been done, having honourr.d the feet of t he worthy
one, di s2ppeared then anrl
And the vennable Mahii- Moggallana recounted t hi s event to the
Lord. Taking it as a topic the Lord taught Dhnmma to the
company to whom it was of grept benefit.
j (22). THE FIFTH: LOVELY LADY'S MANSION'
(Dhaddhiuhi vimana)
The Bh::;sed One was dwelling at Savatthi in }ctavana, in
monastery. At that time in Kimbila city there was
, HeHding v!rcna With Ce, VvA.' s II reading noted Qt
ne. cr. V'l!r . 5
I ' ha,i, + ahnril =tlsiha.n.
, Bhaddiuhi. Hec was Bhaddi al . aid in the prOSt I nt roduction.
,. STORIRS O F T HY. MANS I ON S
a householder's son named Rohaka. a believer, having fai th,
perfect in the practi ce of morali ty. There too in a family of li ke
circumstances was a young girl, a believer, having faith, named
Bhaddii, because of the goodness of her nature. Now the mot her
and father of Rohaka asked for the girl , Bhadda:, in marriage for
their son, and at the proper time brought her and performed t he
marriage ceremony. The two of thcm lived a life of harmony. The
woman, because of t he perfect ion of her conducl, became com-
monly known as the Lovely Lady. At that time the two chief
disciples and a retinue of fi ve hundred monks were making a tour
of the <.uuntry arrived at Kimbil a. Rohaka learned of their
arriva l t here, and j oyfull y went to the Elders, greeted them rever-
entl y, invited them for the morrow, and on the following day after
he h::d entertained the Elders and thei r retinue, Rohaka
wit h hi s wife and children I to their teaching, accepted the refuges
and undertook to observe the five precepts. And his wife observed
the Observa nce days l'.nd was altogether perfect in t he practi ce of
morali ty. And she was favoured by devas. Through that vcr)' favour
she brought to nought a wrong accusation2 that befell her, and the
fame of her great purity and morality spread to the ends of t he
carth. Because she, who had remai ned by herself in Kimbila city
while her husband for business pur poses was stayi ng in Takkasiia,
when the mood for amusement arose on a holiday, she, encouraged
by her companions, was united with her husband (m Takkasil.i)
aft er the household deva
J
had taken her there by his own power.
From that very meeting she conceived, was conducted back to
Kimbila city, and when in course of time her pregnant conditi on
became known she was suspected by her-mothcr-in-law and others
of being an adulteress. Hut through the power of that devatii hi mself,
when Kimbila city appeared as though it had been submerged in a
great Ganges (-like) flood, she, by the powerful gale of her solemn
dechlration accompanied by her resolute determi nati on for truth
indicat i'/e of her chastity, made the di sgrace falli ng upon her
recede like the great flood of the Ganges wit h its turbulent waves .
On being united wi th her husband, and di splaying the st a[-r illg
and token which he had trul y given her, she destroyt:tl hi s 1:I1IS-
picion and became honoured by her husband, kinsful k all d aU the
i Rendinil ,ap"Uadii,o with He. Ceo
I Reading with ne, Ce, instead of micchAcAll!rilat \' vA. l Oll.
, ghara dc{att.
C I TTALATA ,.
world. Therefore it is said, the fame of her great purity and moral-
ity spread to the ends of the earth.
Afterwards she died and was reborn in the realm uf tltt: Thirty-
Three. When the Blessed One had gone tllt:n: fculll Saviluhi illl d
was seated on the l)aQ9ukambala Rock at tilt: fuul of the Coral
Tree, and as the company of dens came up to the Blessed One and
reverently greeled him, the Luvd y Lady 100 approached and
stood at one side. Then the Blesseu Olle askt: d her about the deed
she had done:
" Bl ue and yellow and black, cri mson and red too, covered
with filaments of many a colour (are the mandarava trees),
2 A wreath of mandarava blossoms on your head you wear. ' l'hese
trees are found in no other realm, lady most wise.
3 Why have you arisen, widely famed one, in the realm of the
Thirty-Three? Devata, when asked, tell of what deed thi s is
the fruit."
That devala, questioned thus by the Blessed One, answered with
these verses:
4 " In Kimbila they knew me a3 Lovely Lady ', a laywoman
foll ower. I had belief, was possessed of moral habit, always
del ighti ng in li berali ty.
5 Clothing and food, lodgings and light I gave to the upright
with a devout mind.
6 On the fourteenth, fifteenth and eighth (da)'s) of the bright
fortnight and on a special day of the fortnight well connected
with the eightfold (precepts)
7 1 observed the Observance always controlled by the moral
habits, refraining from onslaught on creatures, and restrained
from lying speech,
8 From theft and unchastity and the drinking of liquor fa r
removed, delighting in the five rules of training, proficient in
the ariyan truths,
9 A laywoman foll ower of the One wit h. "ision, my li fe was one
of diligence. With opportunity created, with good deeds
done
l
I roam through Nandana by my own lustre.
IO And to monks, most merciful and compassionate, I gave food,
and to the pair of ascetics and the great sage. With oppor-
"
STORIES OF THE MANSIONS
tunity created and good deeds done I roam through Nandana
by my own lustre.
I t Ever did 1 observe the eightfold Ubservance bringing un-
measured W!th opportunity created and good deeds
done I roam through by my own lustre."
6 (23). THE SIXTH, MANSION
(Sol)adi nnavimanil)
The Blessed One was dwelling in Savatthi, in Jctavana. At that
time in Na: landa: a laywoman foll ower named SOQ.adinna, a believer
and having faith, hospitably and with constant moral habit and
great purity waited on the monks with the four requisites, and ob-
served the Observance consisting of the eightfol d (precepts). She
had the benefit of hearing Dhamma and because she was possessed
of the qualifications, developing the four truths as her topic of
meditation, she became a stream-entrant. Then, afflicted by a
cert ain disease, she died and arose among the Thirty- Three. The
venerable Maha-Moggallana questioned her with these verses:!
"You who stand with surpassing beauty, devati, are making
l Because of what is your beauty such i Because of what do you
prosper here, and there arise whatever arc those delights that
are dear to your heard
3 I ask you, devi of great majesty, what merit did you perform
when you were born a human being ? Because of what is your
brilliant majesty thus, and your beauty illumines all the
quarters? "
4 That devatii , del ighted at being questi oned by Moggallana,
when llsked the question explained of what deed thi s WllS the
fruit.
S " Tn Niilannii, thf'.y knew fIJI-
: VvA. 115 llivel no verses, bl.!t in,ji(ate5 the first and lplt spohn by
Moggaillna; then the firu Rnd lUI w<;>rd! ill the IIcxt verse. ' That dovacA,
delighted ... Ihis \l'RS the fruit'; la!tly Sooadinnil's reply, . They knew me 88
SOl)Bdinnl ... folio""" of COlomo, One with Vicion. ll.couse of Ihi.
is my be8'Jty 8uch ... nnd my beaut}' illumine! a!llhe Quarters. ' As these paral-
lel verses are rather .cntlered Imllnlf previous Mar.sions it is beller to them
ill fu ll w_ oJ", Eo,: Be.
C IT TALATA
"
lower. I had belief, was possessed of moral habit, always
delight ing in liberality.
6 Clothing and food, lodgings and light I ga\'C to the upri ght
with a devout mind.
7 On the fourteenth, fifteenth 2nd eighth (days) of the bright
fortnight and on a special day of the fort night well connected
with the eightfold (precepts)
8 1 observed the Observance always controll ed by the moral
habits, refraining from onslaught on creatures, and restrained
from lying speech,
9 From theft and unchastit)' and the drinking of liquor far
removed, delighting in the five rules of training, proficient in
the ariyan truths, I was 2 laywoman follower of Cotama, One
with Vi;ion, widely famed.
10 Because of this is my beauty such, because of this do I pru:;per
here, and there whatever are those delight::! thai are dear
to my heart.
H I make known to you, monk of great what merit I
performed when I W2S born a hUlllan lJeing. of this
is my brilliant majesty [hm ami my beauty illumines all the
quarters."
7 (24). THE SEVENTII , UPOSATHii's MANSION
(Uposathavimana)
This is similar to the foregoing Mamion, with the differences
that here Upmatha was a laywoman fol!ower at Saketa, and that,
after she had explained to the venerable Maha-MoggalHtna how
it come about that her beauty now illumines all the quarters,
she then told of a blemish of hers :
12 "Often I heard of and yearning arose in me ; m}'
mind on it with longing !l.et, I arose in Nandana.
13 I did not do the hidding
l
of the teacher , the Awakened One,
kinsman of the !l.lln; my mind was set on low for
which I nm a repent cr later."
, Shc puised nnd Cid not Ifet rid of her de8ire fo r It , YvA. 116. Thi .
was her misdemcJnoor, for il ;s Slopping of btcoming il nibb1no',
8. ii. 117, A. ,'. 9.
"
S TORIE S OF Til E M ANS I O;.JS
The Elder slid:
1+ " How long a time, Uposat hli, here in the Mansion will yOIl
dwe:l Devata, when asked, tell me jf you know, how long
will the life-span be?"
She sa!d:
15 "Sixt y thousand yean and three crorC5 of years, abiding here.
great sage; on deceasing from here I will go to companionship
with human beings."
T he Elder said:
16 " Do not fear, Uposathii; you are declared by the Self
Awakened Onl2'. to be fi n eminent stream-entrant; for you bad
bourn is got rin. of."
8,9 (25,26). THE EIGHTH AND NINTH:
NIDDA'S AND SUNJDDA'S MANSIONS
( Niddii-Sunidd1iyi mana)
Thp. and nint h Mansions have their origin in Raj agaha.
And nnf'. und erstand (t hNe to he the verses):
" A laywoman follo,":cr named Ni ddi ... of Gulallla, wi del y
famed. Because of thiS is my beauty such." 1 AlLd till:: for
Sunidda, t exactly as Ius been said. Even in the verses thcre is
not hing new. They are therefore omitted from some of the books
on account of the repetiti on of lines: as has been said : "(You who
sta nd) with surpassing buuty ... and your beautv illumines all
the quartcrs. That dctati, delightcd ... this wa; the fruit. Tn
Rnjagnhn, they knew me as Ni ci dii , a laywoman follower (No.8),
Suniddii (No.9) ... and my beaut y ill umines all the quarters."
10 (27). THE TENTH: ALMSGIVER'S MANSION
( Dh ikkh5di yikii vimana)
T he messed One was dwell ing at Siivatthi. And at that time in
cerhin woman whose span of life had come
, A. at 23. 5- 1 J. So named at YvA. ",f and Be; :;lIo1Of.' nt Ee.
C I TTALATA
to an end and who was due for rebirt h in a state of woe. As the
Bl essed One, towards dawn, was emerging from an attai nment of
great compassion, and was the world hesaw that woman.
Desiring to establish her in a good bourn, he went alone to Ma-
dhura and entered the outski rt s of the town in sea.rch of alms. And
at that time the woman had prepared food in her home, had set it
aside. gone to the watering place with a pitcher, and bathed. She
was returning home with the pitcher full when she saw the Blessed
One, and said, "Perhaps the reverend sir has already received
alms?" and when the Blessed One sai d, "We shall receive". she
knew t nat he had not yet received alms. So she down her pitcher,
went up to the Hlessed One, pai d homage to him and said,
"Reverend sir, I will make an almsgiving. Permit me." The
Dlessed One gave consent by keeping silent. She, knowing his
consent, went on ahead, prepared a seat in a place sprinkled and
swept and stood watching for his arrival. He went in and sat down.
She gave him to eat , and sat down. When his meal was finished and
hand withdrawn from bowl, the Blessed One gave thanks to her
and went on his way. She heard his benediction and. experienci ng
great joy and happi ness, not losing t he joy caused by the Buddha.
stood doing homage until he had passed out of view. After the
of only a few days she died and was reborn in the realm of
t he Thirty-Three. Nowthe venerable MaM-Moggallllna, as he was
touring among devas, saw the devatll who with the great psychic
potency of devas and with the great majesty of devas enjoying a
deva-Iike splendour, limits of which cannot be set even with II
Buddha's knowledge. He inquired in these verses about the uct:u uf
merit done by her. The verses are like those preceding:
" You who stand wit h surpassing beauty, devata, are making
z , Because of what is your beauty such 1 Decause of what do you
prosper here, and there what ever are those delights that
are dear to your heart 1
when you were born a human being? Became of what is your
bril liant majesty thus, and your beauty illumines all the
quarters
4 That devatii, delighted at being questioned by MoggalilIna,
when asked the quest ion explained of what deed thi s was the
fr ui t.
56 STOR I ES OF l' H E MANS I ONS
men in Ihe world of men
6 I saw the Awakened One wi thout defilements, serene in
mind, without confusion, to whom I , having faith, gave alm3
with my own hands.
7 Because of thi3 is my beauty such, because of t his do I prosper
here ami there arise whatever are those riel ighls thai are dear
10 my hcarl.
8 Because of this is m}' brilliant majesty thus and my beauty
illumines all the qUlHtcrs."
11 (28). THE ELEVENTH,
SECOND ALMSGIVER'S MANSION
( 0 lL I iya bh ik kbadayi kavi mana)
The same as the foregoing Mansion, except here the Blessed
One was at Riijagaha, and the woman gave alms to a monk without
defilements, serene in mind, without confusion.!
The Summary;
SillVc.WQman, and LakhulT'.a, then ricecrust giver,
C'I)<,iiili, Lovely Lady, and SOl)adinna, Lposatha,
Nlddii , il nd Sunidci ii, and two almagivcrs-
On account of whom is thc Di vision known.
WOMEN'S MANSIONS: THE SECOND DI VISION
THE FIRST PORTION FOR RECITAL
, VI'A. 12' him an Elder had canke:s.
III. THE THIRD DIVISION:
PARI CCHATTAKA
1 (29). 1HE FmST: SPLENDID MANSION
(Uliiravimana)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha, in Bamboo Grove.
At that ti me in Rajagaha in a household that ministereLi to the
venerable MahiiMoggallana was a young girl whv intent on
giving alms and loved giving. In that hvullt: liu;: hani <l ud wft
food and so on was prepared before the (mai ll ) llu:al.
1
Theil the
girl would give away half her UI'III purti ull (t hat came to be ill the
house). Unless she had given alll1s sht Jid lIot eat. Even when she
saw no one worthy to receiv!! a gift slit: p Ul (some food) aside till , he
saw such a one. She gave to bt:ggars as well. Now her mot her was
joyful and happy as she said tv ht:rself, "My daughter is intent on
giving and loves to give," auJ site gave her a double portion.
Whcn the single portion sil t was given was shared , (the mother)
gave her (yet) anut her. She even ploceeded to share from that. As
time thus went b}, her mother and father gave her, when of age,
t o the son of allotht r fami ly in the same city. But the fami ly was of
fabe vie\Ys, ullbel ie,ing. the venerable Maha Moggalliina,
while wal king fur alms from house to houee, stoppcd at the door of
the houlic uf Li le young girl's father inlaw. When she saw him,
tht yVUII!; gi rl, having faith, said, "Enter, revercnd sir," ushered
hi m in, greeted him with honour, and took a eake whieh had been
set asi de by her mother-i n law; not bcing able to see hcr ,l she
said to herself, "I will tdl hcr about it
3
(Inter) nnd make her
rejoice (in my good decd)", and !lhc gave it to the Elder. T he
Elder thanked her and wcnt on his way. The young girl told her
mothcrinlaw, "1 g3ve t l:e c(lke you hnd put aside to the Elder
Mahii>Mogga1liina." When she heard that, the motherin\aw
cricd, " What imperti nence is thi s! You gave a monk something
of mine without even asking I" and splutteri ng with rage, over
I purebhattam. 2 To as k her I'emllilion.
, Rcad wilh Dc, Cc, for Ec uk'lhuva..
;'
STOR I ES Of THE MANSIONS
come wi th enger, without thinking of ri ght and wrong, she took up
a broken piece of a pestle
l
and the girl on thc shoulder.
The girl, she had been delicat ely reared and her
had come to an end, was overcome with severe pain and in only a
few days di ed and was reborn among t he Thirty-Three. Although
she had kamma of other good deeds, that particular almsgj'/ing to
the Elder was the pre-eminent onc. The venerable Maha-
:vioggallana went, as described above, and questioned her:
"Splendid is your retinue, your beauty is effulgent over 311
the quarters. Women are dancing and singi ng, adorned nre
the deva-youths.
2 They make you rejoice, devata, with. honour they attend you ;
these are your golden Mnnsions, you who are fair to behold.
3 And you are mistress over them, richly endowed wit h every
plcaaurc, of nohle birth, mighty are YOu; in the asacmbly of
devas you rejoice. Devatii, when asked, tell of what deed this
is the fruit."
Questi oned thus by the Elder, the devata explained:
-+ "When J was born a human being among men I a
daught er. in_l aw in a fami ly poor in moral habit.
S Among unbelievers, among miserly folk, I, believing, was
possessed of habit. When you weTe wal king for alms
I gave you II
6 J told my mother-in.bw, ' A recl use came here, to whom I,
h:lVing faith, gave a cake wi th my own hanns.'
7 Thus sp(lkr.
3
mnther-in. lnw, rt'.vi li ng: ' Daughter-in-law, you
aTe lacking in uphringing. VOII did not want tn ask me saying
that YOIl wished to give to a recluse'.
8 Then my mother-in-law, angry, struck me with a pestl e. It
hit my shoulder and injured me. I could nor live for long.
9 And 1, at the breaking up of the body, well-freed, deceasing
thence, arose in t he companionship of the devas of the Thi rty-
Three,
IO Because of this is my beauty mch ...
11 . and my beaut y illumines JIl the quarters."
I mUlalallhBQ.Qn, or p sholt pctl le "&l ump?
r Here ppc. ..... , Imp"U"puVO '<It VvA. 1'13.
I itisA. Comy. tnke!! it. ' ssA PI iti nad and calls assA a niJXjta, hut the daubiinr
of I in II (demon,. adj. ) ;8 metri
PAR IC C H ATTAKA
2 (30). THE SECOND, SUGARCANE MANSION'
(Ucchuvimana)
' l1Ie Blessed One was dwelling at Rijagaha ... and so fort h, the
same as in the foregoing. But the difference is this: she gave sugar-
cane, was struck with a stool, died that very instant and was reborn
among the Thirty-Three. That same night she came into the
Elder' s presence and, like the moon and like the sun, making
Vulture Peak radiant the whi le, she paid homage to him, and
stood at one side in an 2tt itude of devotion. T hen the Elder ques-
tioned her:
" Having made effulgent the earth with the devas, you shine
for th li ke the moon and the sun with your splendour and
beauty, glory, incandescence, like Drahma outshining the
devas of the (Three-and-) Thirty together with Inda.
2
2; I ask you who wear blue lotus-ga rl ands, and garlands on the
forehead,') whose skin resembles gold, adorned one, wearing
the finest of robes: Who are you, lovely de'latii, who are
honouring me?
J What was the deed you did of yourself of old when in a former
bi rth you were born a human being;4 Giving well accom-
plished, or control in moral habit? By which are you, one of
great renown, arisen in a good bourn ? Devata, when asked,
explain of what deed this is the fr ui t."
Thus questioned by the Elder, the devata explained:
4 .. Just now, revered si r, in this very village, you approached
our house for alms-food. So J ga\e you a little piece of sugar-
cane wi th a mind of fai th, with boundless zest.
S And aft er wards my mother-in-bw took me to task: ' Now
where have you frittered away my sugarcane, daughter-in-
law ?' 'I neither threw it out nor ate it. I gave it myself to a
tranquil monk.'
'VvA. 'Z4 call I this Uechudliyikll.vim4na. Ste No. 48, another Sugarcane
l\Iamion, dIfferi ng from this om in one respect only.
1 See Jatlava,abha-outt., D. ii. :>coff., fO<" Brahm! '. mppunnce in
cr. 17.4.
J livelini, pelhaps (hapl et . --of flowerR nnd precious thinRs, \'vA. us. Cf.
DvA. '17(): caroro ph.le Ii cntllri pllaU"i ... kn,il htvA, the . fruit.
a, A garland for the fcrehead hMVinlJ ..... thn .. fruits imo R helld-orna-
ment (cr, chaplet) .
VvA. omih these z lines.
STORIES OF THE
6 'Now, is the authority! here yours or Thus spoke
mother-in-law revi ling me. Seizing a chai r, she gave me a
blow. Deceasing thence, my time Jone, I am 1\ devata.
7 That is the skilled deed itself that I did, and a happy (fruit of
the) deed do I myself enjoy. I amuse myself together v{ith the
devlls; I find delight in the five kinds of sense-pleasures.
8 That is the skilled deed itself Ihal I did, and a happy (fruit of
t he) deed do I enjoy, guarded by the chi ef of dcvas, protected
by the (Three-and-) Thirty, furn ished ",ith thc five ki nds of
sense-pleasures.
9 Such is the fruit of merit, nol mull. My gift of faith of the
suga rcane is great in fruition. f amuse mysel i together with
the devas; I find del!ght in the five kinds of sense-pklsurcs.
JO Such is the frui t of mcrit , not small . My gift of faith of the
sugarcane is great in glory; guarded by the chief of devas,
protected by the (Three-and-) Thi rty, in Nandana Grove (1
dwell) like him of the thousand eyes.
I I And you, revered sir, compassionate, wise, I approached and
asked about your health. Then f gave you the little piece of
sugarcane with a mind of faith, with boundl es!; zest."
3 (31). mE THIRD, DIVAN MANSION
(Pal!anka\'imana)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Savanhi, in j etavana. At that
time in Savatthi the daughter of a certain lay-follower was given in
marri3l!;c to the son of another family of simil::r lineage and cir-
cumstances in t hai same ci ty. And she was good-tempered, perfect
in the practice oj morali ty, ; hc held her husband in honour, had
undertaken the five precepts, and duly on days she
kept the precepts. Aftcrw2rds she died and arose among tile
Thirty-Three. The venerable Elder Maha-Moggallana went there
as has been described above and questioned her :
"Upon a fi nest divan adorned with jewels and gold, Aower_
bcstrcwn, a couch of splendour, there you bide, devi of great
majesty, by psychic potency manifold forms.
' VilA. iidh;pacca. Ihus confirnls Ihal is<a riva ia ' roulhor;,y' . HUI,
per!laps ''''"allh ' ;, !:>e ne.
Pl\.R I CC H A"I'TAKA 6,
2 And thest:, your nymphs, on every side dance, sing, and enjoy
themselves.
1
You are attai ned to the psychic potency of devas,
one of great majesty. What merit did you perform when you
were born a human being? Because of what is your brilliant
majesty thus and YOllr beauty illumi nes all the quarters?"
She explained to him in these verses:
3 .' When I was born a human being among men I was a daughter-
in- law in a wealthy family. I was without anger, obedient to
my husband, diligent on the Ohservance (days).
4 When I was born a human being, young and innocent, with a
mind of fai th, 1 delighted my lord. By day and by night I
acted to please. Of old I was one of moral habit.
S Refraining from onslaught on creatures, not a thief, utterly
pure in body I fared in chastity ; not drinking liquur ami Itul
speaking li es, 1 was one who fulfilled the rul t:!; uf training.
6 On t he fourt eent h, fi ft eenth and eighth (JayiS) of the bright
fortnight and on a special day of tilt.: furluighL well connected
with the eightfold (prn:cl' liS) I uiJscllled the Observance day
with a mind of {ailll , .... ont: who was faring according to
Dhamma wit h zeal ill Illy hearl,
7 And undcrtakill g lhis ariyan skill connected with the glorious
eighlflJIJ (precepts), happy in result, charming and obedient to
my IUfJ was I who formerl y was a disciple of the Well-farer.
8 Hcc.:ause I performed such 5killed decds in the world of the
living, I partake of diMinction. At the breaking up of the body,
attained in the ncxt statc to the psychic potency of devas, I
(ame to a good bourn.
9 In a glorious delightful Mamion-pnlaee, attended by a throng
of nymphs, a throng of lustrous deVilS delight me who wi th :l.
long lifc-span ha\'c come to the cleva mansion.":
4 (32). '!HE LATA'S MANSION
(Lata\"iml'ina)
The Blessed One wa!; dwelling at S1ivatthi, in Jetavana. At that
time a daughter, Lata by name, of a certain lay-follower who lived
1 Ih .. as ut 12.:. But bere. VilA. u<) prefer! to
lake it HI "make you bappy ".
The numbuing of t he IIerses dilfel8 in the d:fferenl ednl .

S T O RIE S O F T HE MANSIONS
in Sa\":ltthi, :1 le::lrnen, :1ccnmplished and intelligent girl, \\' C" llf to
the hOITI p. of hll shar,d , She was charming to him, to her
mother_ and father -in-law, pleasant in s peech, kind and good to
the servanlS, capa ble of taking charge of affairs in the household,
gO(Jd-tempered, perfect in the practice of morality, delighting in
generosity; she was diligent in keeping the five precepts untorn
and in the observances on Observance days. After a time she died
amI was Tebom 3S a daughter of the great King Vessav3Q3. But
her name was still Lata. There were fou r other sisters eJf hers
besides: Sajja, PaV3ra, Acchimat jl and Suta. All five of them were
brought by Sakka, king of devas, and placed in l he posi tion of
attendants on him ill the capacity of dancing. women. But Lat a
was the favourite because of her skill in singing, dancing and so on.
When they had assembled a dispute arose regarding proficiency in
mmic. They aU went to the great King VeSSaVal).3 and asked hi m,
" Father, which l! mong us is hest in dancing and so forth ?" He
sai d thus: " Daughters, go di!'.play your music in an of
devas on the bank. oi Lake Anotatta. The re your specialit y will be
apparent ," They did as he sa id. There the deva-youths were not
able to contain them3el ves while Lata Wl!S dancing. Full of
laughter, filled with amazement, applauding without stopping and
waving garments, they mr: de an uproar that camed the Himava nl,
as it were, to tremble. Aut when the others danced they sat silent
like cuckoos
2
in t he cold seaSOIl. Thus in the assembly there Lala'S
speciality was l!pparent . T hen to the deva maiden Suta this thought
occurred: "Now because of what deed ha$ thi s r ,ala surpassed us
in glory and splendour? Come, I '.vi!! ask about the deed done by
Lata. " She asked her. The other explai ned the matt er to her. The
p;reat Vessaval):l told t hat same story in full to the venerable
MahaMoggallana when he arrived on a devatour. T elling the
matter to the One from the primary cause of the question,
the Elder said :
" Lat a and Snjjii Ilnd Pnvnrii, Acchimati
l
and Suta, dt:v:lt as,
daughters of King VeSSQVtH)a, gl ori ous king, king most noble,
resplendent wi th , irtuoll s quali ties were shming.
:2 Here the fi ve women came to the cool water, to the lotus.
filled blest ri ver to bathe. When these deyatas had bat hed
there, played t here, danced and sung, Sula s:lid to Lata :
, B." c., Acci . , kok;b. Sc:., I. 11.1. Som., .,dn . Ace;.

"
3 I I ask you who "''tar blue lotusgarlands, and garlands on the
forehead, whose ski n resembles gold, whose eyes are like
dark copper, shining like t he sky, of long life-span, by what
was made your repute 1
4 Why are you, my dear, your lord's bestl oved, in beauty
indeed of utter loveliness, clever in dancing, si nging, and
inslrumental music Tell us, you who are questioned by men
and women. '
Lata, questi oned by SUla, said :
5 ' When I was born a human being among men I was a
in a very opulent family. I was without
anger, obedient to my husband, diligent on the Observance
(d,y,).
6 When 1 was born a human being, young and innocent, with a
mind of faith, I delighted my lord, my brother-in-law,
parents-in-law, and slaves. Dy this was made my repute.
7 I myself by that skiUed performance have attained dislim:tioll
in four respects: (long) li fespan and beauty and happiht:Ss
and strength. Not a little play and delight do r expcricuce.'
Have you heard what thi s Lull says? Whal we have she
has explai ned it. ' Husbands are the pre-eminent oourn 10 us
women,l they are their glorious devatlls.
9 Let all in Dhamma serve our husbands wheren:r women
arc chaste wi ves. Having all in Dhamma our hus'
bands we shall receive that of which Lata
10 As a li on, ranging the mountain forests, dwdling on a moun-
tain, support of the earth, having kill ed
l
by force other four-
footed (ones), being a fl esh eater, dcvuurs the weakl ing beasts,
1 1 Just so here a woman disciple of the nub!!: ones, having
beli ef, depending on her husband, towards her lord,
having slain anger, overcome
l
avarice, she who farcs by
Dhamma, rej oices in hea'/cl1."
, Thi, I nu ,,;mho;n SUlK's que.l;on.
J YvA. 136 n .... m pBrisaraoa,n ca, and their mainluy. !Jul since pat ino
is not the nom. pI. but d3l._gen . ;n, ., this could .110 be. translated HI " they fay
the husoonc's hourn is lor \IS pre-.,mmerll "'omen, (Ihey art) th.,;r gk,,;uu.
R .. ad;ns hantv! wilh YvA. 113 and B." and not gantvA with Ee, though Ihi,
i. reeog.u!td IS. d. at VvA. 'lJ.
Reading Ibhihhuyya .... il h VvA. for Ee's anu.
STORIES O f.' THE MANSION S
5 (33). THE FIFm, GUTTILA'S MANSION
(Guttilavimana)
Whi le the messed One was dwelling in Rajagaha, the venerable
YIaha-Moggallana on a deva-tour, <.s related above, went to the
realm of the Thi rty-Three. There in thirty-six Mansions in
succession he saw thirty-six: deva-maidens each enjoying great
wi th a retinue of a nymphs, and in succession
he asked. with the verses beginning (" You who stand) with sur-
pa&ing beaut)" I about the (good) deed formerly done by them.
After his question they replied with the verses of which the
one is: "I was one who gave raiment most fine."2 Then the Elder
came from there to the world of men and told the story to the
Blessed One. When he had heard it the Blessed One said, "Mog-
gallana, not only by you have t he clevas been questioned and have
replied in this fashion, but indeed in a former time they were
questioned by me, too, and they answered in like fashion," and
entreated by the Elder he told the life of Guttila, a story of his own
past.
3
" The sevcn-6tringed (Iutc), melodious , agreeable, I made to
speak. One
4
summons me to the dancing stage. Kosiya, be my
refuge."
z " I am your refuge. I r.m one who honours tcachen. The pupil
will not defeat you; teacher, you will defeat the pupi1."
It is said that the women who existed in tile human
state in the time of Kassapa, the fully Self-Awakened One, per-
formed such and such deeds of merit. There one woman gave
raiment ; one a wreath of jasmine ; one, perfume; one, superh
fruit ; one, sugarcane juicc; one gave a five-finger perfume-mark
at the cetiya of the Blessed One; one observed the Observance;
one gave water to a monk as he was eating at the approach of
meal time; one attended, wit hout anger, to bad-tempered mother-
and father-ill-law; one was industrious as a slave; one ga\'e mil k-
'See vCr. 3; cf. I:eginning of No. 45.
'Vet. 7 and end of this introductLon both . ead nari. womar . for ahmn. I.
2bove.
.1 For the story sec H ii. 248ff" verses at ibid. , r. ' 5<1 (included in \Tv. and
VvA.).
Mi", ilA, to V\lA. '3?- C"rti!', idt'ntifiu Mf>oila wi6
Dcvadaua.
PARICCHATTAKA 6,
rice to a monk who was seeking alms; one gaye molasses ; one, a
piece of sugarcane; one, timbaru fr uit; one, a sweet cucumber;
one, a cucumber; one, the fruit of a creeper; one, pharusaka
(flower) ; one, an earthenware coal-pan; one, a handful of roots of
the wat er-lily; one, a handful of fl owers; one, a bundle of (lotus)
roots; one, a handful ofnimb leaves; one gave (sour) gruel; one,
sesame seed-cake; one gave a waistband; one, a shoulder-strap;
one, a bandage; one, a fan; one, a palm-leaf (fan); one, a peacock-
feather fly-whisk; one, a parasol; one, sandals; one, a cake; one, a
sweetmeat; one, a sweet cake.
1
They each with a retinue of a
thousand nymphs were reborn in the realm of the Thirty-Three as
attendants upon Sakka, king of devas. Questioned by the teacher
Guttila, they each explained in turn her own good deed performed,
beginning with" A woman who gave raiment most fine ... " and so
0'.
3 "You who st:lnd with sllrp;lssing heauty, devata, are making
:Ill the efful gent like the healing star.
1 Tlf>Call!>f' nf what is your beauty such? Because of what do you
prospf>r hr.re, and there arise whatever arc those delights that
5 I ask you. devi of great majesty, what merit did you perform
brilliant majesty thus, and your beauty illumines all the
quarters? "
6 That dcvata, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
whcn asked the question explained of what deed this the
fruit.
7 "A woman who gave raiment most fine was glorious among
men and women. Thus she who gave things of such a pleasing
sort has reached and received a charming deva-abode.
8 Behold the Mansion of such as me. A nymph am I who assumes
any form at ,vill. The most glorious oi a thousand nymphs am
I. Behold the fru it ion of merit.
9, 10 Because of this is my beauty such ... and my beauty
illumines all the quarters."
As this Mansion of the Giver of Raiment , so the next four
Man:;ions should be eKpnnded. Verses 3 - 10 are to be repeated four
, The words used in this list sometimes vary from those ustd in the \'erses .
VyA., JilT.,- from Ce.
66 STORIES OF TI-IE MANSIONS
times with the variations of (I) a woman who gave flowers most
fine, (2) a woman who gave perfumes most fine, (3) a woman who
gave fruits most fine, (4) a woman who gave sayourics most finc,
(instead of a woman who gave raiment most fine).
18 "I gave the five-finger perfume-mark at the thOpa of the
Lord Kassapa.'"
As this Mansion of the Five-finger perfume-mark, so the next
four Mansions should be expanded, repeating vcr. 8 10, but with
the following variation instead of verse 18:
19 "I saw monks and nuns as they travelled along the road.
When I had heard Dhamma from them, I observed one
Observance (day) .. ,"
20 "Standing in the water, with devout mind I gave water to a
monk ... "
21 " A mother-in-law and a father-in-law, ill-tempered, and
cross and rough, I waited upon, free from spite, diligent in
my own morality ... "
22 " I was one who worked for others, a slave-girl industrious in
duty, without anger, not conceited, I was one who shared what
was my own.
23 Having thus performed a deed, arisen in a good bourn I find

:.!4 "I gave milk-rice to a monk who was walkiug for alllls. Be-
holu Illy Mallsioll ... .1"
As this Mansion of the Giver of Milk-rice so there are 25 Man-
sions that should be expanded:
25 I gave . ..
26 I gave a little piece of sugarcane . .
27 I gave timbaru
4
fruit ...
28 I gave a sweet cucumber (kakkarika) . . '
29 I gave a cucumber (eliiluka) .
30 I gave fruit of a creeper . . .
31 I gave pharusaka
5
(flower).
I I follow VvA. for the numberins of the vcroco. al." at
60.5,64. '17, was the Buddha preceding Goum .
'In VVrt . cnly. BUI I insert thi. ve,Se 30 us te keep to VvA.' s numbeling. It i.
Hut >II "'4.
l QlJotf!d m J3. iii. 409. MA. i. '59, AA. v . 5 r (line r) . MA. ii. J7 "ames .11
the things given.
Diospyros. 'Allowed to rr.onks at Vin. i.
P./i.UTCCHATTAKA
32 I gave a fire-vesseJl (for the hands) . . .
33 I gave a handful of greens
2

34 I gave a handful of small flowers
3

.15 I gave a bundle of (l otus) roots 4
.16 I gave a handful of nimb .
37 I gave mango-gruel ..
38 J gave oil-seedcake . . .
39 I gave a waistband .. .
40 I gave a shoulder-strap . . .
41 I gave a bandage .. .
42 I gave a fan ...
43 I gave a palmleaf (fan) ...
44 1 gave a peacock-feather fly. whisk .
45 I gave a parasol .. .
46 I gave sandals .. .
47 I gave a cake .. .
48 I gave a sweetmeat ...
49 1 gave a sweet cake to a monk who was walki ng for alms.
50 Behold the Mansion of such as me. A nymph am 1 who
assumes any form at will, t he most glorious of a thousand
nymphs. Behold the fruition of merit.
51 Because of is my beauty such ... and my beauty illu-
mines all the quarters."
52 " Well indeed is it that I have come this day, happily dawned,
happil y risen,' because I have seen the devatas, nymphs who
can assume any form at wilL
53 Ha"ing heard of their I will perform abundant
skill. By giving, even-faring, control and taming I myself will
go there where they who go gri eve not."
6 (34). THE SIXTH: DAZZLING MANSION
(Uadda!havimana)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Siivatthi, in J etavana. And at
that time in the little village of NaJaka a certain man of means, a
I hatthapatlpaka. Sec Yin. i. 32. Called ai\allrakapalla. a pan for burning
at VvA. 142 .
VvA. 142 ;eads .iluka-, edible lotus roots or seeds.
l pupphako; VvA, pupph.iln .
mir laka; VvA. mulakalip", 'Cf, Sn. I7S.
6 Of the good deeds they had Gone 1 Perhaps her" meaning' practice' .
"
S TORI ES OF T H E l\I A N S t ONS
voluntary servit or of the venerable Elder Revata, had two daugh-
t "' ffl. One of them was named Bhadda, the other Subhadda.
Rhadda. of the two, went to the home of a husband, was full of
belief and wisdom, but was barren. She said to her husband : " I
have a younger sister named Subhadda. Take her. Should she have
ason, he would be a son to me too, and t his line would not die out,"
Her husband assented, " Very well ," and did asshc suggested. Now
Bhaddii advised Subh::ddii, "Subhaddii, take pleasure in giving
alms, and be diligent in faring rightly, so will there be in your power
advantage in the world that we see and in the world to come."
One day Subhadda, on her sister' s advice and acting according to
what she had said, invi ted the venerable Elder Revata to a meal
bringi ng se,'cn ot hers with him. I They went 10 her house. Having
faith, serving wi th her own hands, she satisfied the venerable
Revata and the monks with sumptuous food, hard and 50ft . The
Elder gave thanks and went. Aft erwards Subhaddii: died and was
reborn in the companionship of the deva. -who-delight-in-creating.
But Bhaddii, because she had gifts among individuals,l was
reborn as an attcndant of Sakka, lord of devas. Kow Subhadda, on
thinking over her own success and wondering, .. Now because of
what (act of) merit have I ari sen here ?" realized that she had so
attained her donation to the Orde r based on Rhaddii's
advice, and as she was wondering "Now, where is fl hadda?" she
saw that she had been reborn as an attendant upon Sakka, and
with compassion for her entered her Mansion. Then Dhadd:i asked
her :
" D2zz1ing in beauty and with splendour, 0 resplendent one,
you outshine in beauty eve ry deva of the Thirty-Three.
2 I do not rccollect your si ght, this is my first si ght of you. From
what assembly of dens have you come hither and address me
by name?"
Replying in two verses she explained:
3 " I, Dhadda, was Subhaddll in a former human existem:e.
,vas a co wife wi th you and was your younger sister.
4 I mysel f :!. t the breaking up of the body, well freed,
from there arose in companionship with tbe
dclight.in-crcating. "
, for t ight also ,n No . 6.
'puggalesu. yn ll nu.uailerm b such a COntexl -,.' F.<.111 . gifu
giv .. r. 10 Sangha bUI Uh .ddl'. In ind i .. irl " ,,1
Pi\R I C CHA T'fAKA
Again Bhadda questioncd her:
5 " Beings who have done much that is lovely go unto these
devas, your birth among whom, Subhadda, you proclaim.
o But how, by what means or by whom instructed, by whilt
kind of giving. by what good practice are you resplendent ?
7 Auai ncd to such renown, finding abundant distinct ion,
devatii. when asked, explain of what deed this is t he fruit ."
Agnin Subhudda spoke:
8 " J ust eight alms-portions was the gift of old I gave:: with my
own hands, having failh, to the Order wort hy to receive.
9 Because of this is my beauty such, bceam:ie:: uf this do I prm
per here, and there ari se whatever are thOSe del ights that are
dear to my heart.
10 I make known to you, devT of grc<lt llI<lj esty, what I did when
I was born a human being. Ikeause of is my brilli ant
majesty thus and my beauty ill uwines all the quartcn,"
Then Dhadda asked:
I I " With m y own hands, hl'l ving faith, I refreshed with food and
drink more monks, Brahma-farers. than you.
1:1 Having givcn more Ihlln yOi I I have COlllC to a low group. How
is it that you, given less, have found abundant di s-
ti ncti on I Devat;'i, asked. explain of what deed thi s is the
fruit."
Again Subhadda said :
Ij " Of old I saw a monk, one who was inspi ring to the mind. I
invited him, Revata, and seven others to a meal.
14 He, Rcvata, intent on my welfare I and out of compassion, said
to me, 'Give to the Order.' I di d his bidding.
15 That gi ft to the Ordtr was established in the immeasurable.
2
Your gift to individuals was not of great fruit for you."
When Subhaddii thus, Bhadda, accepting the mean-
ing ll nd WIshing to emulate her, spoke the verse :
16 "Now do I know thnt n gift to the Order is of great frll it.
, Re!l d with VvA. IS2.
> Ee . pp"",eyyl, VyA. Il c "ppo,neyyo, "field ef merit of in."'d.;rnahle
val ue. vcr. 15 below; ,Iso lee M. ii i. {or t he seven kinds of gifts to the
Orde, and whcl'C' a lI'i :'t to lI:e Order i, called incalculDbJe anc! immeas urable,
asuikhc)'Y1I appameYYl.
,. S T OR I ES OF THF. ).1ANS ! ONS
When I have J!one (again) to human stat us, bountiful, without
sti nginess, I wil! give gifts diligently to the Order again and
again."
And Subhadda went to her own dev,_world. T hen Sakka,
lord of devas, saw the deva-maiden shining and slI rpa!(!( ing in t he
effulgence of her physicd form all the devas of the Thirty-Three
and heud the conversation between the two, immediately Sub-
had&i had disappeared, since he did not know who Ihis could be,
he asked Bhadda :
'7
" Bhaddii . who is this devata who earntstly spoke with you ?
She outshines in beauty every deva of the T hirty-Three."
And she said to hi m:
.s
" Lord of devils, when she we.s born (\ human being in (l former
human existence, she was co-wife with me and was my
younger sister. Having given gi fts to the Order, she Rhines
with meri t done."
Then Sakka talked Dhamma, showing the great frui t of her
worthy gift to the Order:
' 9
20
2)
2,
25
"She who wa!l formerl y your sister, Bhadda, 5hines by means
of Dhamma in that she established her gift to the Order in the
immeasurabl e.
For. upon Mount Vulture Peak I asked the Buddha about the
fruition of liberality where the gift is of great frui t:
I' for human beings. creatures, who give alms for
meri t. for whom is meri t made of me in rebirths where the
gift is of great fruit:
Then the Buddha who knew for himself the fruit of deeds, and
about the fruition of liberality where giving is of great fruit,
explained to me;
' And four arc they upon the Way and four established in its
frui ts. This Order is upright and concentrated on wisdom
and mora lity.
For human beings, creatures, who give alms hoping to gai n
merit, bounty bestowed on the Order brings merit of use in
rebi rths; the gi ft is of great frui t. .
For this Order is wi despread, vast. It is immeasurable like
I Ver. 20), 24 n150 ul S. i. 23) ; vtr. 21, 2), 20 4- 27 al Kvu. 554 : ami vcr.
0lI)-27 at 44. belDw.
pARI C C H ATTAKA
,.
t he ocean, the sea. Dhciple.i of the hero among men I
are the best of these, bringing lustre where recite
Dhamma.
2
26 They who give gi fts dedicated to the Order- theirs ri ghtly
given, rightly offered, rightly sacrificed. That gift
upon the Order is of great fruit, and is praisetl by klloweI'8 of
the world(s).3
27 Recollecti ng merit such as this, those whu fan: in the world
with joy arisen, having destroyed the !Staiu uf with
its root, blameless att ain a heavenly pla.ce.'''
Sakka, lord of devas, tol d this whole occurrence to the
who told the Lord. He made it an occasIOn for
teaching Dhamma.
7 (35). 11-IE SEVENTH: SESAVATI'S4 MANSION
(Sesavativi mana)
The Dlessed One was dwelli ng at Sivatthi, in Jetavil na. At that
time in Nalaka vil lage, in the country of the was a
daughter-in-law named SC38vati in the fllmily of a householder, a
man of substance. T he story goes that, when the golden thupoa a
yojana in extent was bei ng mllde for the Lord Kassapa, she ai a
young gi rl had gone with her mot her to the site of the monu.ment,
and asked her mother, "Mother, what are these people domg?"
"They are making golden bri cks to build the cetiya." When she
heard thi s, the girl wit h a mind of fait h said to her
"Mother, around my neck is this little golden ornament of mme. T
would like to give it for the cetiya. " Her mother said ,,;e1l,
g
ive it " and loosened it from her daughter's neck and gave It Into
, h'
the hand of a saying, "This is a contribution from t I II
girl. I nclude it in the brick you are making." The goldsmi th di d 110.
Afterwards the girl died and because of that particular deed of
I nara'liriya in Ee. naravi rt at VvA. IS4 and uplaine:l by viriynampann.
nara\!rl .
Ee read. pabharilkari dhammakatharil udlnyallll; VvA. 154 ..
dhammom WIth v.I. kalham. fDr yo!!ha, and for
uddi lat'!ll; lie pnbharilkaci dhnmmf m udlrayant i. with v.l. as iound in Ee.
l Buddhal, VvA. 135.
,"vA . Be Pesavati, Ee, VvA.Ce Se,a-.
"
STO RI ES OF TH E MANSIONS
merit was reborn in the world of devas, and fa ring on in one good
bourn after another, was reborn in Nalaka in the time of our
Blessed One. In course of lime she became twel ve yean old.
One day she \\';:\8 sent on an errand by her mother, and went with
some money to a certain shop to buy oil. And in the shop a certato
householder was digging to get a great quantity of coin and gold,
pearls, gems and jewels which had been buried and left by his
father. The shopkeeper saw that because of the fruit of his deeds
they appeared as pebbles, li tt le fragments of rock and gravel. Then
he made a heap and put them in one place to examine them, saying
to himself, " Through the power of those who are of merit it will
become coins, gold, and so (orth."
Now the girl saw it and said, " How is it that kah3paJ:l.as and
jewels are heaped up like this? Surely they ought to be properly
put away." The shopkeeper heard this and thought , " This gi rl is
of great merit. Because of her, all this has become gold and so on,
and will be of value to us. I shall treat her with kindness," and he
went to her mother and when he had asked for her in marriage,
saying, "Give this girl . for my son," he gave great riches, cele-
brated the marriage feast and brought the gi rl to his own
home.
Then reali zing her conduct, he opened up hi s store-
house and said, "What do you see here?" and when she " I
see a heap of nothing but coins, gold and jewels," and when he
said, " These were vanishi ng because of the fruit of our (bad)
deeds, but because of the excellence of your deeds they have
become of worth ; therefore from now on in thi s house you alolle
are to take charge of We will usc ollly wl,al yuu allol "
- from then un peuple knew her as Sesavati
l
And at that time the vem: raule C"'ptaiu uf Dhallllll a (Saripotta)
knew that the cUllwmit,mh of his life-span had come to au eud.
Thinking, "I shall give weillth
2
tu my mother, Rilrilsari the
brahmin lauy, fur her support auu shall att ain final nibbaua," he
appruached the Blessed Olle, tnformed
l
him of his (approaching)
' VvA. ' 58, rud;nll Pe ... "al l, , h. who hu . .. vantl, gives v.I. SetavoU""hi ch
is the reading al Ee, V"A.Ce, she who has wealth.
, mnla, used for la pital or investment for the fruit of stream-
cn:ry in whith
I C' nnO! he. wi th f: f>n. In nhl.in I'erm;ssion, fo r
of fil"'] depends on one's OWl> kamma, Dnd cannot be
by anyone else.
l' A.R I CCHAT TAKA
"
final nibbiina, and on t ile command of the Teac: her displayed a
great rr:arvel; wit h many th.ousand praises he praised the Blessed
One, and set out on his way, faci ng straight toward' the Blessed
One until he p2ssed out of his sight ; when he had moved out of
sight he once more made obeiS2nce, and left t he monastery sur-
rounded by the Order of monks ; he gave instruclion to the Order
of monks, consoled t he venerable Ananda, made the four ciasses
of people turn back (from accompanying him), and in due time
reached Nalaka, established his mother in the fruit of stream-cll try
and at dawn att ained final nibbllna in the inner room when: he Ilad
been born. Then both devas and men spent seven cl ays ill paying
respect to his body. They made a funenl pyrc II hundred cubits
high with aloe and sandalwood and the like.
Scsavati, too, heard of the Elder's final uiuuaUll, Saying, "I will
honour him, " she had caskets fi llt:d wilil fl owel's and per-
fumes brought, and wanting tu gu asked pel'lnission
l
of her father-
in. law. Though he said to her, "Yuu are pregnant and t here is a
crush of people there, sentI your Iluweu aJld perfumes and May
here," yet being full of bclid she tbuughl, "Even though there be
danger to my life there, gu I will and perform the ceremony of
honour," and not taking his advil:t sl!e went there ",ith her aUen
dants, paid honour with tht: perfumes and flowers, and stood with
her hands clasped Lefore her in an attitude of devotion.
And at that ti lli e, a rutting elephant belonging to the roynl
entourage that bad come to pay respects to the Elder, happened to
W IIIC to the place. As the people saw it and were fleeing in terror of
the fear of death, the crowd trampled and killed Scslvnti, who had
been knocked down in the crush of pcople. She had performed the
ce remony of honour, and dying with belief in the Elder and a mind
of faith, was reborn among the Thirt}.Three. Surveying her own
success and reasoning out its cause, she S3W that it W38 the cere
mony of honour paid to the Elder, nnd with a mind of fait h in the
Threc Jewel s, she camc with her Mansion to revere the Teacher,
descended from)! and stood with her hands clasped before her in
an attitude of devotion.
And at that tirr:e the venerabl e V:ulgisl'l, who near
the Blessed One, spoke thus:" I woult1 1i kr:, One, to ques
fi cm this devata as to the deed (nf m!'.rit ) which she di d."" Do so,
, I. e. walking backwprds.
, ilpuechilva, .sked rl>r lI r uUlHi"e.J I' ... ",i .. i<>". See lall note but one.
STO RIES OF MAN S I ONS
Valigisa," the Bl essed One said. Then the venerable Vangisa
spoke, first of all praising her
2
3
4
5
6
7
" \\'ith a blaze of crystal , si lver and gold overspread, its
surface' of many a colour, thi s fair Mansion r see, a del ight.
ful well wrought :l. bode
2
complete with archw:.II YII, Atrewn with
goMen AlI nfis.
And as t he mn, thouswd-rayed, dispelling darkness, in
autumn shines in the sky to the ten directions, so this, your
Mansion, glows in hi ghest heaven like a blazing smoke
crested (fi re) in the night.
It blinds the eye, as it were, like lightni ng, ravishi ng, set in
the sky. Resounding with lute, drum ami cymbal.c1ap,
magll ifict'lIl all ImIa's (;i t y is this of yours.
Red, whit e and blue lotuses arc thefe, yodhiki,l gaIJ4ildi:< and
anojaM, S blossoming sab trees and Rowering asokas. It ill
filled with the lovely fragrance of many a mperb tree.
Rordered with !lala1a,ft labuja' and bhujaka,8 with blossoming
creepers overhanging palm-trecs ,O with jeweilike lotusstalks,
o resplendent one, a deli ght iullotus-pool springs up for you.
Whatever flowers there are that grow in t he water, whatever
the kind of trees t hat grow on land, whether belonging to
human beings or non-human beings or deva.like, they all
io
grow in you r dwelling.
Of what self-control and taming is this the fruiti on ? By the
fruit of what deed have you arisen here? How was this
Mansion attai ned by you? Tell the full story, 11 lady of t he
thiek eyelashes."
, Rnding tal a with VilA. 159 and Be fa. u's phaJa.
I vyamhll , as .t 81 .a.
PED. a w ."i .. l ki .. ,J uf ja.minc.
VIA . 6, hibiscus ap. Its fl ower i. red, D. ii. III,
M. ii. 14, Vilm. 174.
, PED. CPO uy this i, the same B1 mOjA, tree whose fl ower. are used for
wreath., oIc. \V"uJ rlc(un, in (;o",pouods, II DhA, ;;, ,,6.
I Dil''''''''' 'I"'''" Indic ..... a swee t. seenled perna! a pine,
T Artornrput incilll, the breadfruit tree.
I VvA. 16l .ays Ih is is 9 Iree which is on1:o in the d eva-wo:-ld
" .. oJ on MI. Gandhlm!dll oa.
kll ... h , ,entric name for palm. tAla. III this was thought 10 belong to the
kusa-h dau, hence VvA. explains IAl aoilikerldihi til).ajitlhi.
" V,A. 160, ile readsabbe; Ee ugge. 'in heallCfl'.
II l ad anupadom . "oolla; . Lit . Vou &pnk of th. t word by word' , .. in fnl1.
The use of the lorilt in what i, dearly a must be taken I I I poli te form of
requC\t ... " You are apeaking of that. " VvA. 162 Ivachi ... kalhe)"ybi. [1St
"':dn.)'
pARICC IiATTAKA
"
T hen the devatii said:
8 "And how I have attained this Mansion, frequented by Rocks
of herem, peacocks and fr:mcolin p:l rtridgfs, 1 fi lled with de\'a_
li ke ducks and kings of ruddy geese, l"Csounding with (t he eriel!o
of) birds, of grey geese
2
and cuckoos,
9 Full of many a blossoming t ree with outspreadi ng braoches,
trumpet fl owers, rose-apple and !lsob in profusion-
how I have attained t his Mansion, that I wi ll tell you. Listen,
re"erend si r.
I 0 In gl ori uus eastern Mugudha there was a village called Nii laka,
reverend si r. Formerly I was 3 daughter-in-law there. There
Ihey kncw me 3 S Sesavati.
I J I my$d f, rej oicing, scatt ered blossoms there upon him. the
great Oll e, who was honoured by devas li nd men for hi s skill in
weal and Dhllmma, upon Uplltissa, tile immeasurable, who
had waned out.
Il Alld after I had honoured him who had gone to the highest
bouril, miglllY seer bea ring his last body, abandoning my
human physical frame, coming to the (T hrceand ) T hirty,
I here inhabit Ihis place."
8 (36). TIlE EIGIITH, MALLIKA'S MANSION
( !\'Iallikivimana)
Aflel the Dl essed One, refuge of the world, had fulfilled his
Duddha duty from the time of setting in motion the Wheel of
Dhamma up to t he time of in3trueting the rel igious wanderer,
8ubhadda; and toward5 dawn of the full moon-night in the month
of Villii kha, between a pair of sala trees in Upavattana, the sUa
grove of the Malia kings in KlJsiniirii, had waned out completely in
the clement of nibbina that hilS no substrate (remaining), and
whil e homage was being paid to his body by devas and men, a
laywoman foll ower of Kusiniirii, Mallikit of the line of the Mali a
, c.korol , ' Di d to drinl< rain drops only for "at,,". VvA. c alli il "potier_roc. n.
.' klTaQQava. expl a;Jl ed by kldamba at V"A. 163. PED gille. as "w
kmd of 100.c with grey winiS". but s.v. 11)'1 "0 sort of duck . . .
ka<.! amba. blQck goose ".
,. S1'onIRS OF TH E M Al\S I ONS
kings, wife of Bandhula, a believer, having faith, washed with
scented water her "great creeper " parure, which was like t he
parure of t he great laywoman follower Visiikhli ,: poli shed it wi th a
pad of fine clot h, and taking an abundance of other thi ngs, pcr-
fume, garlands and the li ke, paid homage to the bodily remains of
the Blessed One.
This is a summary here, but Mallika's story occurs at length in
the Commentary on the Dhammapada.
1
Afterwards Mallikii died and was reborn among the Thirty-
Three. Because she had so paid homage she had magnificent in-
comparable cleva-bliss. Robes, ornaments, mansions,
wit h t he seven jewels, having altoget her the radiance of purest gold,
utterly lustrous , made all the directi ons of the colour of gold,
spri nkling them as it were with sprays of gold essence.
Now the venerable Niirada , going about among the devas,
saw her and went near. She greeted him reverently, and stood wi th
her hands clasped befor e her in an attitude of devotion. He
questioned her:
nf the golnt n-Yf'Jlow and banner, adorned with
golden-yellow jewelry,3 wi th heall teous upper robes of golden-
yellow, ynu I'.vrn without (t hese) ornaments.
2 Who are YOll who wear hangles and bracelets and are adorned
with chaplets of gold, covered wit h a golden net, wreathed wi th
strings of divers gems,
3 Things wrought of gold and wrought with rubies, wrought with
pearls and wrought with beryl, cat's-eye jewels and rubies,
resplendent with gems clear as pi geon's eye?
4 Here is the lovely cry of the peacock, here of the king of the
ruddy geese, and here the cuckoo's sweet cry- heard is their
dulcet song as t hough the fivefold instrumental music was
being played.
5 And your fair chariot shme;; , handsome, wi th di vers gems
inlaid, well proporti oned in its parIS of varied form.
6 You whose form li ke a golden image, who, standing in this
chariot, shine upon thi s place, devatii, when asked, tell of what
deed this is the fr ui t ."
, Cf. 1\'0. 44.
I DhA. iii. II I), .
AI at No. 47.1 .
pAR) CC HA TTA KA
77
And she answered :
7 " A golden net hri ght wi th j ewel s and gold, thick wit h pearl s,
covr.red by a net of gold. I, with a mi nd of faith, gave as an
offeri ng when Gotama. the immeasurable. waned out com-
pl etely.
R I, having performed t hat deed of skill praised by the Buddha,
rej oice without grief, happy and healthy."
And at the time of t he Council matter was reci ted by Ihe
venerable NArada I to those who were compil ing DhulIl lIIl exactly
as he and the demtA had then said it ami they (the compilers)
added it j ust as it was to t he CoUecti ulI.
9 (37). THE NINTH, VISALAKKHI'S MANSION
(VisabkkbidUiana)
After the fi nal nibbana of t he Blessed One, when King Aj ata-
sattu had built a great t hupa in Raj agaha over his share of the relics
and held a festival of honour, a ga rl and-maker's daughter named
Sunandii. a laywoman follower, an ariyan discipl e, a stream-
entrant, both sent fragrant wreat hs to t he cetiya, and on Obser-
vance days went herself to offer homage. Dyi ng later she was re-
born as an at<endant on Sakka, king of And he, entering one
day t he Ci ttalata Grove, saw her t here unaffected by the
luminance of all around her . And he asked her for the reason :
" Who are you, 0 large-eyed one, in the dclightful Cittalatii
Grove, that you go to and fro leading the throng of women
who surround you;
: When the devas of t he ' rhirly-Thrce enter in this Grove with
their horses and chariots all thcir brilliance is diffused.
J But you who havc comc hcrc, moving about in the plcusounce,
no diffusion (of colour) is sccn on your body. Why is your
form such 1 Dcvatii, whcn nsked, tell of what deed this is the
fruit ."
Asked by Sakka this devata (Suna nda) answered in these verses:
+ "Thut deed of which, lord of devas, this form and bourn are
, See VvA. 2"3 for N!rada 8gam.
"
S TORIE S OF TH E MANSIONS
mine and prospt rity and majesty-listen to it, bounteous
gi ver .!
5 In t he delightful Riijagaha I was a laywoman follower n:lmed
Sunanda. I had belief, was posse5sed of moral habit, always
delighting in liberality,
6 Clothing and food, lodging and light I gave to the upright
with a devout mind.
7 On t he fourteenth, fifteenth and eighth (daY3) of the bri ght
fortnight and on a special day of the fortnight well connected
wit h the eightfold (precepts) I observed the Observance (day)
always cont rolled by the moral habits.
8 Refraining from onslaught on creatures, and restrained from
liquor far removed,
9 Delighting in the five rules oi training, proficient in the adyan
truths, I was a laywoman follower of Gotama, One wit h
vision, widely famed,
t o And a relat ion's house I had, thence they always brought me
garlands.
l
I offered them all at the Lord's thllpa.
t t Going on Obser vance (days), I , having fai th, offered garland::!,
perfumes, ointments with my own hand at t he thOpa.
12 Because of this deed of mine, lord of devas, of offering gar-
lands, are my form and bourn, prosperity and majesty.
13 For that (deed) when I wa!! uf mural habit til t;: fruition is yet to
cumt;:. And my hupt i!l, lord of deVilS, that I should be a once-
rdurlltr."
And Sakka told thi s matt er to the "enerable \'aitgisa. And
Vaitgisa, at the t ime of the Council , told it to the great Eld,ers who
were compiling Dhamma and they added it just as it was to the
Collection .
10 (38). TIlE TENTH, CORAL TREE MANSION
(Pari cchat takavimana)
The Blessed One was stayi ng at Savatthi, in J etav:ma. Now a
pious lay-follower entertained the Blessed One at hi s wi th
'purindodo, one of &. "1<0'. epilheto, her .. rne3ning 'boumeou, ii"er'
accordinl/ to VvA. 171.
l V .. A.Ce, Be ru d tud me iU.ti kull dhi (for Ee, V .. A. i si) sadl mll l bhi_
hi , at i (VvA. -harat!). V .. A. '7' cxpll lni fl6likula!U hou,ehold '.
pARI CC II AT TAKA
79
great honour_ Just then a woman gat hering ki ndling wood in Dark
Wood an asoka t ree in blossom. Gatheri ng sprays she went and
spread them around the Blessed One, reverenced him and left.
Dying later, she was reborn among the Thirty-Three, and en-
j oyed in Nandana Grove, together with her dancing nymphs, a
festival of the Coral Tree. Her toO the venerable Mahli-Muggalliilla
saw and enquired of her thus :
" With the flowers
1
or the Coral and ebony trees,2 chuming and
delightful, binding deva-like garlands and singing, you rejoice_
2 JWhil e you are dancing wit h all you r limbs in every way, deva-
like sounds fort h, delightful to heaT.
3 While you are dancing wilh all your limbs in every way, deva-
li ke scents are wafted around, sweet scents, delightful.
4 While you are swayi ng your body, the sound of the trinkets in
your braided hair is heard like the fivefold instrumental music_
S Ear-drops4 breeze-blown, trembling in the breeze- the sound
of these is heard like the fi vefold instr umental music.
6 And the perfume of those sweet-scented, delightful garlands on
your head blows in all directions like the manj usaka tree.
, You breat he that sweet scent, you see unearthly beaut y. Devata,
when asked tell of what deed thi s is the fruit_"
Then the demta explaint;:d :
8 " I offered to the Buddha garlands of asoka flowers, fiery,
glowing, of a beautiful scent.
q t, having done this deed of skill praised by the Buddha, rejoice
wi thout grief, happy and hea lthy. "
The Summary:
Splendid, sugarcane, di van. Lata, and concerning CUllila,
Dazzling, Scsavati, Malli(ki ), Visalakkhi, Coral Trcc-
On account of which is t he Division known_
CORAL TREE DIVI SION: THE THIRD
I Supplied by VvA. 174. 1 Cf. A . iv. II7.
l AI 50.2--'7.
vllamulta. to be a Harland, sec 39.7. Allo Yin. ii . '0,
ii i 5u. Here, YvA. 174 UY' a (.v._ ?) eu,.dlOp ",ode of je",'eI .
IV. THE FOURTH DI VISION:
CRIMSON
1 (39). THE FIRST: CRIMSON MANSION
(Mai'ijenhakavimiina)
T Ilt: Blessed One was dwel ling at Savatthi, in Jetavana. While
ht: was being entcltaincd in the way descri bed in t he preceding
Ma1l5ioll , a slavc girl of a certain household had gathered flowers
from a sala t ree in full bloom in Dark Wood, them on shreds
of bark for bouquets, 1 and then gathering a great quantity oi choice
flowers, flowers that had fall en,: she ent ered the ci ty. She saw
the Blessed One seated in the pavilion and, with a mind of fait h
doing honour with the flowen, placed the bouquets all around his
scat, scattered the ot her f!.owe rs, greeted him reverently, mnde the
tri ple ceremonial circuit around him, and went on her way. After-
wards she died and was reborn among the Thirt y-Three. for her
there was a Mansion thcrc made of red crystnl llnd in front of it :I
great sala grove, thc ground of which was strewn with golden
sand. Whcn thc devatii came out lin d entered the sala grove, the
boughs bent low and scntt ered blossoms over her. The venerable
Mahi-Moggalliina approached her described above, and
questioncd her:
" In a crimson Wansion strewn with golden swd, you delight
in the sweetly sounding fivefold instrumental music.
2 Descending from that stately Mansion made of jewels, you
enter a sala grove that is in perpet ual bloom.
3 At the root of every sala tree where you stand, devata, that
magnificent tree sheds ils blossoms, bending low.
4- The perfume of Ihe sala grove, breeze-shaken, sti rred, fre-
quented by bi rds, blows in all directions like the manjOsaka
tree.
pi"ce, splillle,," i. a doubtful word . "nd va\arnsakn mean.
OTM"",nt foo head or t ar. Probllbly here t he mad. sma!! formallit;!e
burocllCs of ft<>wtU 10 be worn in the 0 1 bcbind the car [1St Edn.). cr. 38.s.
: mutta also has Ihe meaning 01 tully opened, cf. 60.5.
C RIMSON s.
5 You breathe that pure scent, you see uneart hly beauty. Devata,
when asked, tell of what deed this is the fruit."
Qllestioned thus by the Elder the devatii answered in these
:
6 "'vVhen I UUflJ a hUUlall being among men I was a slave-
girl in Illy IlI1Sb<luJ's On seei ng the Duddha seared, r
shuwcrcJ :iala blossoms (round him).
7 AmI I. having fai th, with my own hands offered the nuddlu a
g<uland wdl fashioned with siila bloMoms.
8 J, having done this deed of skill praised by thc Buddha, rejoice
without grief, happy and healthy."
2 (40). THE SECOND, SHINING MANSION
(Pabhassara '/Im1ina)
The Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha. And at that ti me in
Riijagaha was a certain lay-fol !owcr having faith in the Elder
Maha-Moggallana. One of hi s daught ers, a believer and having
fai th, also had great esteem for the Elder. Now one day the venerable
whil e walking for alms in Rajagaha came up to
the house. The gi rl seeing him waS fi lled with joy, had a seat pre-
pared, and when the Elder was seated there honoured him with a
ga rl and of jasmine and fi lled the Elder's bowl wi th molasses.
Wishing to give thanks, the Elder remained seated. The girl ,
intimating that because of many housekeeping duti es she had no
time to li sten, said, " I will listen to Dhamma some other day,"
paid her respects to the Elder and took leave of him. And on that
very d2Y she died and was reborn among the Thirty-Three. The
venerable Mahi-Moggall ana approached her and questioned her
in these verses:
" L'ldy of shining beauty, superb, clothed in brightly glitteri ng
1
garme:Jts, ",hose psychic potency is great, whose limbs are
gll!lIming (as though anointed with) sandal-wood- who are
you, fair devata, who honour me (
2 And your very costly divan is inlaid with divers jewels. gleaming,
'ayya l'mku1e; VyA. 178 ayyi-. explained by ayya]",]. 3Amikugoh". De readl
a}i -. prob. of ayin < ari ya (with meulhtsisl. Skrt, AT)a.
) 8UrUlt a, lee PED ".v. "sometime. it comcs ncar a me.ning like 'shiny,
slmun.ll . glmcrlng, ..
B.
STORIES OF THE MAN S IO NS
on which you when seated shine forth like the ki ng of devas in
Nandana Grove.
3 What good conduct did you formerly perform, lovely Of
what deed are you enjoying the fruition in the deva-world?
Devata, when 33ked, tell of what deed this is the fruit ."
Questioned by the Elder Ihus, the clevata expl:iined in these
verses:
4 " When you were walking for alms I gave you a garland and
mob.sses, reverend sir. This the frui tion of that deed that I
am enjoying in the deva-world.
S But remorse is mine, for a misdeed have J commi tted, reven:m.l
si r. I did not listen 10 Dhamma well taught by the Ki ng of
Dhamma.
6 Therefore I say, 'Blessings on you. Whoever would be com-
passionate towards me he should incite me in tilt: tt:ad lillgs ' 1-
well taught it is by the King of DhallllIl3.
2
7 Whosoever have belief in the Buddha alld in Dhamma and in
the Jewel of the Order, they lIIe in life-span, fame and
brilliance; thelle other lleyas are above me in splendour and
beauty, of greater plI)'chi c potency than I am."
3 (41). THE THIRD: ELEPHANT MANSION
(Nagavi mina)
The Blessed One was rlwPo lling Baraoasi at Isipatana in the
deer_sanctuary. At that time a laywoman follower who lived in
Biirii .Qasi, a believer, having faith, one who practised t he precepts,
had II f'I:lir of woven for the Blessed One and thoroughly
washerl . Ar r roaching. she laid them at his feet and spoke thus.
H Reverend sir, may the Blessed One in compassion accept this pair
of rohes. that it may long be for wel fare and happiness. " The
nies.'Icd One accepted them and, perceiving her qualifica tions,
taught her Dhamma. At the conclusion gained the fruit of
st ream-entry, reverently greeted the Blessed One, made a cere-
monial circuit round him, and went home. Very soon afterwards she
I In hAhil ann.,., Ohamma of the Dispensation. 19
meaning, VvA . 80.
I The lynt3K of this velie ;1 not clear. Pcrhap5 it could be taken lIS : Till!,
(_tun,A of YvA.) '''1'Jl v"dim, 'bhaddan II, yo ko c, me anukampiyo AS_' ' '''1'
(ml<Jl) (iti) dham:narii;eno wdnium.
C R I M S ON
"
dl ed, was reborn among the Thi rty-Three, became beloved of S3k-
ka, king of devas, as favourite, Yasutlarli by name. Through the
powe r of her deed oi merit there arose a noble elephant covered
with a net of gol d; upon his back a pavilion of gems arose, and
inside it a beautifully prepared jewel-couch; and in his two tusks
two lovely lotus pools, bright wi th lotus and wa(er-li lies, made their
appearance. There, standing upon the cali x of lotus{."S, dcva-
maidens, holding the five sorlS of musical instrumclIls, were
dancing and singing.
The Dkssed One, having dwelt in Barlh:l3sl as long ht: wisht d,
set (Jut on tou r toward Sava!t hi. Once there, he d ..... d t ill JelUVa1l3.
No," that devl in t:Onu:mpl ating her bliss and its l.:itll Se, realized,
" It has as its cause dmt gift to the Teadler," allli filled with hap-
piness, fai th ami n:verelH;e towarJ him, she came though the sky
upon the ual:k of her gl urious elephallt as the night was far ad-
vam;eJ, uest:Cllded Lhence, pai d il0mage to the Dl essed One stretch-
illg furtb her clasped hands, and stood near. The venerable
Val"gisa, witl l l hc Dlessed One's approbatioll , questioned her thus:
1 "Mount ed on a glorious elephant covered with jewels and gold,
2 mighty one
l
beautifully caparisoned, covered
2
with a net of
you, one, are come here in mid-air through the
sky.
2 Upon the two tusks oi the elephant are created crystal-clear
lotus pools in full bloom; among the lotuses burst forth orches-
tra l bands,3 and these enchanting ones arc dancing.
3 You of great majesty have attained cleva-like psychic potency.
What merit did you perform when you were born a human
being I Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus and you r
beauty illumines all the quarters?"
Asked thus by the Elder the dewtii replied in these
4 .. Having gone to Baral)aSi a pair of robes to the Buddha I
gave; having honoured his feet 1 sat down on the ground.
Gladdened, I raised my clasped hands to him in sal utation.
S And the Buddha whose skin resembles gold taught me of
I From h. lfway in this yerae to the end olver. 3 is the lame 11160. 1- 3.
1 For Ee', suym;u)ajiil acitta. VYA. 181, lk rtad -cim. Or il this Aci lnm become
, .... \" TI,,, occuU' cnc:e of ' .<>yacd i. -leila in Ee, Dc,
VvA.
Cf. VvA. ,83.
Ee, YvA. yittA. but <':e. VvA.U(, VvA Ce c'UI.
8, STORIES O F THE MA NSIO N S
origin, anguish, (which are) impermanent; the unconditioned,
the ceasing of anguish, (whi ch are) eternaP; he taught me t he
Way whereby 1 may come to know.
6 lhief was my li fe-span, J died; deceasing tram there, and
arising, renowned, in the company of the (Three-and-)
Thirt y, I am a consort of Sakka, Yasuttara by name, famed in
(all) the quarters. ,.
4 (42). THE FOURTH: ALOMA'S MANSION
(Alomavimana)
While the Blcgscd One wua dwelling ncar Biiral).asi at Isipatana
in the deer-sanctuary, he entered Riiriil),afi for alms. There a
poor woman named Aloma saw him, and having a mind of faith
and seeing nothing else that could be given, thought , "Such a
thing even as given. to the Blessed One will be of great fruit for
me", and she offtred crumbled, unsalted, dry kummiisa. The
Blessed One accepted it, Because of that ahnogiving the woman
experienced joy. Luter she died and was reborn among t he Thirty-
Three. The venerable Maha-Moggullana asked her:
"You who stand with surpassing beauty, devata, are making all
the quar ters effulgent like the healing star.
prosper here, and there arise whatever are those delights that
brilliam majesty t hus and your beauty illumi nes all the
quarter.;? "
4 'That devata, delighted at being questioned by MoggalJana,
when asked the -question explained of what deed this was the
fmit.
S " In Baral.lasl, having faith, I gave to the Buddha, kinsman of
the sun, dry kummaSl with my own hands.
6 BdlUlJ lilt: fruit of a dr y, unsalted morsel of alms of kumrnasa.
vVho will not perfor m IIH.:rit .... hell he h<ls that Aluma is
happy?
7 Because of this is my beauty such, because of this do I prusper
1 Ee has $accam; most other read sassatam, as at Ko. 16.,.
CR IM SON 85
here, and there arise whatever arc t hose delights that are dear to
m)' heart.
S I make known to you, monk of great majesty, what merit I
performed when I was born a human heing. Because of this
is my brilliant majesty thus and my beauty illumines all the
quarters."
5 (43). THE FIFTH, RICE-
GRUEL-GIVER'S MANSION
(Kaii jikadayiki'i\'imana)
The Blcllsed One wa5 dwelling at Andhakayinda. At that time a
winJ-disease in the One's abdomen) The Blessed
011e sai d to the venerable Ananda, "Co, Anandn, when you have
'l'alked for alms bring some sour rice-gruei lls medicine for me."
" I will do 50, reverend sir," he promised und, taking t he bowl that
had been given by the Great Kings,l he stood at the door of the
home of a ph)'sician who was his servitor, J The physician's wife
saw him, went out to meet him, greeted him, took the bowl and
t he Elder, "What sort of medicine do you need, reyerend
sir?" She, you see, was an intelligent woman and realized, "The
Elder here when he needs medicine, not for food,"
when he said ., For some rice_gruel",4 she thought, "This medi-
cine is not for my master; indeed this bowl is none other t.hat
of the Blessed One. Come, let me get rice-gruel fit for the protector
of the world," and filled wit h happiness and reverence !\he pre-
pared gruel with jujube juice, filled t he bowl, 11lld, to go with it,
she prepared und sent him other food Ry the use of that
the illness of the Blessed One rel ievf! d. Afterwards the woman
died, arose among the Thirt y-Three and was happy, enjoying
great de\'a-bliss _ T he venerable Maha-Moggallana quest ioned her
thus:
1 "You who stand with beauty, J evat a, are makiog
aU the quarters effulgent like t he healing star.
, Cf. Psalm! of Drethrc", etL
l Po .. ih:y a r .. f .. Ih" howl (formed from the 4 b()wh) offc,..,d by the 4
Great Vin. i. 4.
l Perhaps meani ng the (personal) physician "'ho him .
'I'h" fo. kailjika give" .1 VvA. ,86.
"
S'fO HIE S OF TH E M A N S I ON S
2 Because of what is your beauty such? Because of what do yOIl
prosper here. and there arise whatever are those del ights (hat
when yOll were horn a human being? Because of what is your
brilliant majesty thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarters
4 That devata, deli ghted at bei ng questioned by :'vloggallana,
when asked the question explained of what deed Ihi5 was the
fruit.
5 " I n Andhakavinda 1 gave to the Buddha, kinsman of the sun,
some gruel cooked with j ujube, Jlavoured with oil,
6 Mixed with pepper and with garlic and with lamaijaka I- with
a devout mind I gave it to the upright one.
7 l She who shall hold sway as consort of a whccl*turning king,
a woman lovel y in every limb. graceful in her lord's cye- (not
even she) is worth a si xteenth part of this gift of rice-gruel.
8 A hundred nikkhas. a hundred hon es. a hundred mule-
drawn chariot s, a hundred thousand maidens bedeckt in
jewelled ear-drops- (not even they) arc worth a sixteenth pa rt
of t his gi ft of rice-gruel.
9 A hundred Himalayan elephants with tus'<s like chariot-poles,
hefty and lordly elephants wi th armour and trappi ngs of
gold- (not even they) arc worth a sixteent h or this gi rt of
rice-gruel.
IO Nay, Il ot eveu he who shall hold sway here oyer the four
contincnts is wurth a sixtct:nth part of this gi ft of ri ce-gruel. "
6 (44). THE SIXTH: MONASTERY MANSION
(Vi haravimana)
The Blessed One was dwel li ng Sli vatt hi, in Jetavaua. At tlt at
time Visi khli, the great laywoman follower. had beell urged by lu.: r
friends and attendants to ma ke a tour in the park on a certain feast
day:1 Bathed and anointed with care. she had eaten a good weal ,
adorncd hersclf with her "great creeper " parure and, sUll' ounded
, The root of Andropogon IllUricBtus. VvA. ,86 reads !funai\ja kn.
1 Fr om here to the end i. the S&mC U
cr. DhA. t 'I l iff. for the following ,tory.
C RI M S O N 8,
by fi ve hundred companions. sct out from home in great ceremony
with a great retinue, and while going toward the park. thought,
,. What is there for me in idle amusement as if I were a young girl i
Come. I will go to the monastery, pay my respects to the Hlessed
One and the honourable gentl emen who are inspiri ng to the mi nd,
and I will li sten to Dhamma." She went to the monastery. Slopped
at one side. took off the " great creeper" ornament. ga\'c it into the
hand of a slave-girl. rcpectfully saluted the lI1essed One, and sal
down at one side. She li stened to Uhamma, respectfull)' saluted the
Blessed One. made a ceremonial CIrcui t around him. left the
monastery. went a little way and sai d to the slave-girl, " Come
now. I will put on the ornament. " T he girl had tied it into a
bundl e. put it down in the monastery. wandered here and there,
and when it was time to go had forgotten it. She confessed ... r
forgot it. It should be there. f will fetch it," and she wanted to go
back. Visakha said, .. Well. if it has been laid down and forgotten
in the monastery. then for the monastery' s benefit [ sh211 give it
up. " and she went to the monastery. approached the Blessed One.
greeted him reverently. and declaring her intenti on said. " Your
reverence, 1 would build a monastery. may t he Bl essed Ont' in
compassion permit me." The Blessed One gave consent through
8i1ence. When Visakhli had made the gift of that ornament. whidl
was wort h 9 , 1 00,000 crores. the venerable Elder Maha-Muggallal.,a
superintended the new work. The monastery W;l S cumpleted In
nine months. making for the Buddha. the Blessed Om; amI fur the
Order of monks a palace guitable ror their abode. :u.Jurned wi th il
lhousand rooms-fi ve hundred rooms on the lower fl uur and five
hundred rooms on the upper Aoor. it is said- a palace like
a deva-mansion, its fioor made [0 resemble a IIII}:$aic of
inlaid with beautifull y designed wreath and
with white plasler. with beautiful woud- work Cind y polished.
having weU proportioned house-part,j- wull :$, pillars, rafters.
beams. cornices. doorposts. wi ndow:$. stair:$. and 50 forth-
well arranged, charming ; and, um;i llary cclls.
pavilions. c10istet walks and thl! like were made. When the mon-
astery was finished. and she wa:$ perfurming the dedication spending
90.000. 000 crores of gold s he saw the splendour (of the
edifi ce) while she was as(;euJiug into the palace with her five
hundred companioC1:$ aud joyfully said to them, " Whatever merit
[ h<lve gained in building a palace as this, do you rejoice in it;
..
S T O R I E S O F THR MANSION S
I confer upon you merits therein for participation." "Indeed, so
be it, so be ii, indeed," said they with minds of faith, and they all
rejoiced.
On that occasion a certain laywoman follower took part in the
sharing of the merit with spl.:ci al thought . Soon afterward she
died and was reborn among the Thirty. Three. Through the power
of her merit there appeared for her a great Mansion that could
travel through the sky, beautified with many pinnacled houses,
with p!easaunces, lotus-ponds and the like, sixteen yojanas in
length and breadth and height, diffusing light for a hundred yojanas
by its own radiance. And when the devi went (anywhere) she
went with her Mansion and with a retinue of a thousand nymphs.
nut Visakhli, because of her rmmificent liberality and the tri-
umph of her belief, was reborn among the devas-who-delight-in-
creating, and attained the rank of chief consort of Sunimmita the
deva-king. Now the venerable Anuruddha, on a tilur among the
dcvas, saw rhe friend of Visakha who had been reborn in the realm
of the Thi rty-Three, and he questi oned her thus:
"You who siand wi th surpassing beauty, devata, are making
all the quart ers effulgent like the heal ing star.
2 1 you are dmeing with all your limbs in e\'ery way,
deva-IIke sOlmds stream forth, delightful to hear.
3 you are dancing with all your limbs in every way, deva-
hke scents are wafted around, sweet scents, delightful.
4 Whi le you arc swaying your body, the sound of the t rinkets in
your braided ha ir is heard like the fivefold instrumental
musIc.
S Ear-drops breeze-blown, trembling in the breeze- the sound
of these is heard like the fivefold instrument al musi c.
6 And the perfume of those sweet-scented, delightful garlands
on your head blows in all directions like the mai'ljQsaka tree.
7 You breathe that sweet scent, you see unearthly beauty.
Uevata, when asked tell of what dced this is the irui t."
She repli ed to him thus :
8 "In 3allatlhi , rt.'Vered sir, a fri end of mine built a great mon-
for rhe Order. 1, having faith, rejoiced therein on seeing
that dwdl illg which was pleasing to me.
9 By precisely thal pun: rejoicing of mine I obtained a wonder-
, AlaI 38.1- 1: 50.1-'7.
CR I MSON 8,
ful Mansion, good to look upon, sixteen yojanas on every
side. By my pS)'chic potency it travels through the ai r.
10 My dwellings are pinnacled houses, partitioned, the pro-
portion;; planned. Dazzling, they shine forth for a hundred
yojanas all round.
II Lotus-pools halle I here, frequented by puthuloma fisb,1 the
clear sparkling waters fringed with golden sand,
12 Covered with \'arious lotuses, with white water-lilies O\'cr-
spread, entrancing, fanned by the breezes they waft a lo\'ely
fragrance around.
13 Groves oi rose-apples, jak-fruit, palms and coconut and
various unplant ed trees grow imide the dwell ing.
' 4 Resoundi ng wi th many a musical instrument, reverberati ng
with the noises of a host of nymphs, he who saw me even in a
dream a happy man would be.
15 A Mansion such as this, wonderful, good to look upon,
lustrous in every respect, has been produced by my deed. It
behoves one to do meritorioU!. (deeds)."
Then the Elder, desi ring that she spoke of Visikhli's place of
rebirth, sa id this verse :
16 Precisely by that pure rejoil:ing ofyolI !,5 have you obtained a
Mansion, wonderful, goud to look upon. And that woman, the
very one who gave lht: gift, tell me of her bourn. Whcre hns
she arisen?"
Then explaining the maner asked about by the Elder, she said:
17 "Shc who was my friend, revered sir, built a grellt monlll!lf'.ry
for thc Order. She who understood Dhamma (:1lld) gllve the
gift has arisen among the devas-who- del ight-in-crp.ating.
18 She is chief queen of Sunimmita. Unimaginahle the fruiti on
of the deed. That which you asked me, rew.rcd si r : Where is
she ari sen ? I have explained as it is.
19 Because of this, urge other.> forward 100 that gladly they give
gifts to the Order and listen to wilh mi nds oi faith.
Birth. \Imong men, \'ery difficll it tn obtain,2 is obtai ned (by
you).
, cr. 8' .5 . VvA. '9' ""US Ihi, dibb_maccho, del.'o-like fi sh. al This. 508.
ntlt .. A' !':V. II . , ,6.
'cr. thc Si mile ofllle Blind Turtle, M. iii. ,69, S. II. Thig. 500, &nd lee
A. i. J5.
STOUIES OF THE MAN $ IO:.<S
20 The Way-master taught that Way, him of the Brahma.voice
with gold. Gladly give gifts to the Orde;
wherem .t he gifts of fait h will be of great frui t.
21 Those eight SOrts of men extolled by the wise, four pairs are
they, they are to receive gifts, di sciples of the Well-
farer . Gifts to these are of great frui t.
22 I And four are they upon the Way and four establisned in
frui ts. This Order is upright and concentrated on wisdom and
morality.
23 For .human beings, cre2tufes, who give alms hoping to I':ain
mem, bounty bestowed on the Order brings merit of use in
rebirths ; the gi ft is of great fruit.
24 For this Order is wi despread, vast . It is immeasurable like the
ocean, the sea. Disci ples of the hero among men are the best
of these, bringing lustre where they reci te Dhamma.
2S W?O give gifts ded.ieated to the Order- theirs is rightly
given, nghtl y offered, nghtly sacrificed. That gift bestowed
upon the Order is of great fruit, and is prai sed by knowers of
the worJd(s).
26 Recoll ecting merit such as this, those who fare in the world
joy arisen, having destroyed t he stain of stinginess wi th
Its root, blameless attai n a heavenly place. "
And the venerable Anuwddha, returning here to the world of
men, told this matter to the Lord a; he had heard it from that
devatii . The Lord made it an for teaching Dhamma.
THE SECOND PORTION FOR RECITAL
, (45). THE SEVENTH; FOUR WOMEN MANSION
(Caturiuhivimana)
While the One was dwelling in Savanhi thot vCllccilLlot
Mahii-Moggalli na on a deva-tour, as related above, went to thot
realm of the T hirty-Three. There in four Mansions in succession
he saw four dcva-maidens each enjoying deva-bliss wit h a retinue
of a thousand nymphs and in succession he asked about the (good)
deed formerly done by thcm
2
:
, Vl:'r. 1II111 to eud as Dt 34.2J (0 end.
CC. beginning of NC! . JJ.
C RIM S ON
"
"You who stand with surpassing beauty, devatii, are making
all til e quarters effulgent likc the healing star.
prosper here, and there arise whatever arc t hose delight!! that
3 I ask you, devi of great majesty, what meri t diu yuu perfurm
when you were born a human being ? Because uf what is your
brilliant majesty thus, and your beauty ill umines all the
quarters? "
And t hey, on being asked by him, replied each in
turn. Tn f'xprf'Jls this this verse was spoken:
4 T hat devata, delighted at being questioned by MoggaJllina,
when asked Ihe question ex:plai ued of what deed it was the
fruit:
It is said that in the time of the Lord Kassapa these women had
been reborn in a good famil y in a city named Paf)l,lakata in a king-
dom named Having come of age and gone to a husband's
home in the same city, they dwelt in harmony. One of them saw a
I.. 'ertain monk as he was walking for alms, and with a mind of faith
gave him a bunch of blue water-li lies, one ga'le a handful of blue
lotuses to another (monk), another gave a handful of red lotuses,
another gave jasmine buds. Afterwards they died and were reborn
among the Thirt y-Three. They (each) had a retinue of a thousand
nymphs. After they had enjoyed deva-bliss there duri ng theIr Me-
span, they passed thence and through what remained of the
fruition of that same deed of merit had been reborn during the
existence of this Buddha into the same place, and were questioned
by the venerable Maha-Moggallana in the manner descri bed. One
of them, telling the Elder of that same deed whi ch of old she had
done, ;;aid:
5 " I gave II handful of blue watt'r-lilies to a mnnk who was
walki ng for al ms in the high wd lofty ci ty ) of the Esiki
people, in the glorious l'aryl)akata,l c1urmi ng.
6 !JecDuse of this is my beaut y such, bt-c:al lst": ni this do I prosper
'IU.1l)al a v,A. 197: in the city bl.i!l in a fcgion, in t he fni T ci ty
"'Qching high with lofty pulace and so forl h ",hich BDpearcd
u thou;rh licking (Iihantehi as with Be. CI:' , inllcad of pu iyantehi of Ee) the
interior of (hI:' clouds.
Ee PeOOft .
S' I'ORIES O F TilE MANSION S
here, and there arise whatever are those dcl;ghts that are dear
to my heart.
7 I make known to you, monk of great rr.ajesty, what meri t I
performed when I w::s born a human being. lJecausc of thi s is
my brilli:a nt majesty t hus :u:d my beaut y illumines all the
quart ers."
Tn anntll('r he 9.:l id :
8- 11 (IS I - 4 aiwJe
12 ., I gave a handiul of blue lotuses (0 a monk who was wa lking
for :a lms in t ne hi gh and loft y ci ty of the Esikl! people, in the
glorious Pal)l)akata, charming."
13, '4 os 6, 7 abave
To another he sa id:
15- 18 as I - 4 above
19 "White wntl itll rout, green its (outer) petals. It grew in thl!
water in a lake. I gave it to a monk who was walking for alma
in the high and lofty city of the Esika people, in the glorious
Pa!:tl)akata, ch::lrming."
2 0, :I: I ar 6, 7 (lbOf!e
To another he 3aid:
22- 25 as I - 4 above
26 " I , Sumana, gave jasmine bud8 of ivory hue to one whose
hun "''as joyous,l to a monk who was walki ng for alms in the
high and lofty cit y of the E3ika people, in the glorious PalJl.13-
kata, charming."
27, 28 as 6, 7 above
8 (46). THE EIGHTH, MANGO MANSIOJ'i
(AIIL lJavimalm)
The messed One was dwell ing in Savatt hi . At that time a certain
laywoman follower there heard of the great fruitfulness and grea,
advantage of giving the gift of a dwell ing-place and, fi !led with
zeal, she revercntly greeted til e Bl essed One and spoke thus, "Your
, The pl av Oil wods ial osl of course; sumanamtku-
Uni, IiI . I, S" nwll il, 'Felicily', 10 him who wlS "ununa. 'joyous', gave oumona,
bud .
CRIMSON 93
reverence, I desire to have a dwell ing-place built . l pray that you
will have a suitable place pointed out to me. " T he One
instructed the monks. T he monks pointed out to her a suitable
place. Then she had a beautiful dwelli ng buill and all about it
planted mango-trees. The dwell ing, surrounded on all sides by
rows of mango-ttees, abounding in s hade and water, wit h its
whi te ground strewn with sand like nets of pearls, was altogether
enchanting. The woman decorated the monastery wit h tapestries
of many colours and with tlower-wreathsand perfume-wreaths like
a Mansi on of the de,'as, put up an oi l lamp, wrapped the mango-
trees with a new cloth, and dedicat ed it to the Order. Aft erwards
she di ed and was reborn in the realm of the Thirty-T hree. For her
there appeared a great Mansion surrounded by a mango-grove.
There, surrounded by a host of nymphs, she enjoyed deva-bl iss.
The venerable Maha-Moggallana approached her and asked:
"Deva-like is your mango-grove, imposing is the
here, resounding with many instrument,
reverberating with the noises of ho!'!t of nymphs.
2 And here a great lamp of gold hurn!' surrounded on all
sides by tree!; with cloth (for) frllit!'!.!
3 Because of what is your m:mgo-gmve: charming, imposing the
palace here ?2 Because of wh;!1 i!'! yom heauty such, because of
what do you prosper here, and there arise whatever are those
delights that are dear In your heart ?
-+ I ask you, devi of grl"..3 t majesty, what merit did you perform
when you we.re born a human being ? Because of what is your
brilli:lIlt naj esty thll!' and your beaut y ill umines all the
qU::Lrters? "
5 Th::Lt dev;!tii , delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
fruit .
6 " When in a former birth I was born a human being among
men in the world of men I had a monastery surrounded by
mango-trees built for t he Order.
7 When the monastery was fi nished and I was having the
, duu"(maY8}ph"ln i. not cl eM. VvA. '<)9 eoy. they
d oth f.,,;t of these mantlo-trtes. Ihe mnninl[ II' with cloth Aowing
over" i.e. dOlh usee .18 II "ubsl itllle for fruill.
> Thi! line not found in Ee, VvA. or De. nUL tht respon9c come. i" ve,. 'I.
S T O IUE S O J' THE MANS ION S
ceremony of dedicati on prepared, covering the mango-trees
(with d oth) and fruits of cl oth,1
8 Having lit a lamp there and having offered food to the peerless
throng,l with my own hands, havi ng faith, I bestowed it
3
on
the Order.
9 Because of thi s is my mango-grove charming, imposing the
palace here, resounding with many a musical instrument,
reverberating with the noises of a host of nymphs.
10 And here a great lamp of gold forever burns surrounded on all
sides by trees with clot h (for) fruits.
I I Because of thi s is my beauty such, because of thi s do I prosper
here, and there arise whatever arc those del!ghts that are dear
t o my heart.
12 I make known to you, monk of great maj esty, what merit I
performed when I was born a human being. Because of this is
my brilliant majesty thus and my beauty illumines all the
quarters, "
9 (47). THE NINTH: YELLOW MANSION
(Pitavimana)
After the fi nal nibbana of the One, and when King
Aj atasattu had erected a great !hupa in Rijagaha for his share of
the Blessed One's relics and had performed t he ceremony of
dedication, a laywoman-foll ower with iour flowen of a kosataki
creeper approached to make offering regardl ess of dangers on the
way. Thereupon a cow wi th a young calf rushing forward furi ously
attacked her with its horns, killing her.
4
She, reborn in the realm of
the Thirty-Three, appeared as Sakka. king of devas, was goi ng in
his chariot to SpOrt in the ple2saunce, and he quest ioned her in
these verses:
" Lady of the golden-yellow! raiment and banner, adornt:d
1 See 0 .1. I The Buddha and Order of discip!es, VvA. '99.
J The tncmastery. Cf, No.
, AU the thinge Ascrtbed 10 her in ver. 1,2 are prefixed by pita, yellow, "hich
VvA. aCI 6CY' , hQuld be unders tood 113 'UV",up, gclden. I hllve eo",bined the
two into out in order to avoid tedious rtpetition have ON
always inserted Ihis r,dj ective.
,
J
CR l i'd SON os
with golden-yellow j ewelr)',' anointed with golden-yellow
sandal wood, of golden-yellow lotus wreaths,l
Lady of the golden-yel low palace and beds, seats and bowls,)
of the golden-yellow umbrella, chariot , horses and fan,
What deed did you do, lovely one, in a former huma n
existence? Devata, when a!'.kcd, tell of what deed this is the
fr uit ."
She explained in the9i! verses:
f "There is a creeper, reverend ir, called bitter,S
not pri zed. 1 bore four Rowers from it to the thOpa.
S With a mind devout towards the teacher's relics, with my
attention wrapt upon it,6 I did not heed ils path,
6 So the cow slew me, my longing for Ihe thOpa unfulfilled. Had
1 then stored up (what I should have
1
), greater tban
this would have been (t he result),
7 By that deed, 0 deva-chief, MighavA8, dtpllaul of devas,
getting rid ufthe human body J have come to youfcompanion-
ship. "
3 When he had heard this ov(!riunJ uf the (Threc-and- )
T hirty, elephant of deva;;, gladdening the 11Iii"t y-Three said
this to MataW:
9 .. See, MatlJi, this marvelluus, divel' sified lO fruit of a deed (of
meri t), gven :l trifle fIJr vile merit ing a gift is (a deed of)
merit , of great frui t.
I :> When the mind has faith no gift is trifl ing (whcn given) to
a Tathagata or a Self-Awakened One or to hi 9 di sciples, II
II COllie yuu, Matali, we too could honour repeatedly. Happ}' is
As at No. 30.1.
' Ee pi l uppalndhiir ini, VvA. II .. m!l;ni. Out th .. v"", shoule be
_mJi lm;.
' Ee, VvA. 200 )"ellow food; Ce, De_bhAjane, bowJ(t),
t;e kos3ttki. Also at Vism, 156,260,)5<,1. PI'''' U .".: M(U U loofah gourd or
gourd bUI this or.enninll i. [lot very . .
Ec. Be VvA, 100 with v.I. kAttlkA, I ro!!o,," the furmer rcadlng
\\hieh wi!! thus give poir,t 10 t he next werd anahhijjhilA, ellp!. al VvA. 201 D!
nR r.ot
" T he Ihup3.
T T his mcam: had I reached thilpa to d fer the Aowers and had stored up
the merit well by making the offering "' was my intention, VvA.
A .obriquet of Sokk", 'ncH"j"" 'boun\cou$'.
Hi. VvA . this ve;se to the recenaion;$I6.
'0 Cillo, glossed by "icilla .cint cyya.
11 Vc,sc Ilso at Jii i. iii . 0,).
,6 ST OTUF. S O F THE M AN SIONS
the accumul ati on of merits the relici of t he Talhiigata
(provide).
12 Whether he is alive or has waned out t he frui t !s even for a
mind that is even, for as a result of mental resolve beings go to
a good bourn.
q Verily T ::.t hi gatas ari se for t he good of many so that, having
donc a service, to heaven go t he donors."
When this had been said Sakka, chid of left the pica.
saunce and for seven days pa id homage in the Cn!amary i shri ne.
After a ti me when the ve nerable Niil-ada wa!! on a cl eva-tour he
told hi m in verses of that occurrence. T he Elder t old the recen-
sionisrs. They incl uded it in the Collection.
10 (48). THE TENTH: SUGARCANE MANSION
(UcciJuvimiina)
This is similar in t he text (pii]i) t o the former SugarCllIlt Mnn-
sion,l Dut here t!le mother-in-law used a clod of earth when she
killed the daught er in-Iaw_ Because of this the have heen
handed down separlltel y.
" lTa"ing made effulgent the cart h wi th t he devas, you shine
forth like t he moon and the sun wit h your splendour and beaut y,
glory, inca:ldesccnce, like Brahm;i t he devas of the
(Three-and-) Thirty toget her with Inda.
z I ask you who wear hlue lotus-b'llrlands, and garlands on the
forehead, whose skin resembles gold, adorned one, wearing
the li nest of Who are you, lovely de"at a, who are honour-
ing me ?
3 What t he deed YOll di d of yourself of old whe n i n a former
birth you wefe born a human bei ng?Z Giving well accomplished,
or cont rol in mora! hahit ? By whi ch arc you, one of great re-
nown, arisen in a gllod bourn? Devata, when asked, explain of
what deed this is the fnll t."
Then t he devat ii explained;
f - II As ill .10. r:.\cept fur the 5ubstituliun iii Vtr. 6 of 'dod o{
earth' f or 'chair '.
I NQ. JQ. 1 "i' hc!c t\\'o lines in all cdn!. cxccpt Ee, Ce and VvA.E .
C RIM S ON
11 (49). THE ELEVENTH: HONOURING MANSION
(Vandanavima na)
The Blessed Om: was stayi ng at Savauhi . At t hat time severol
monks having til e rains a: a certain vi llage-residence and
having at t he close, passed through a certllin village on
t heir way to Savauhi to greet the Blessed Onc. There a certain
womall mel and saluted them with mind of faith and full of rever-
Cllccalld goodwill . She was rcborn after deecnscllmong the Thi rty-
Three, and l\'Iaha-Moggullii na illlerrogat ed her :
" You who stand with sur passing beauty, devata, are maki ng all
the quarters effulgent like the healing star.
z Bccause of what is you r beauty such? Because at what do you
prosper here, and there arise whatever are those delights that
3 I ask you, devi of great majC8t y, what merit did you perform
bri lliant majesty thus, and your beaut y illumines all t he
quarters? "
4 That devata, delighted al being questioned by Moggalliina,
whcll asked the question explai ned of what deed thi s was t he
fruit.
5 "When I was born a human being among men, on seeing re-
cluses of moral habi t, having honoured their feet with a
devout mind and joyful, I raised my clasped hands to
them.
6 Because of t his is my beauty such ... and my beauty illumines
all the quarters." (Ar ill I . 6, 7, etc.)
12 (50). THE TWELFTH, RAjJUMALA'S MANSION
(RajjumaJavimiina)
T he Blessed One was staying <1 1 Savallni, in Jela Grove. Now at
the little village of Gay1i t here li veu <I Lrahman who gave daugh-
ter in marriage to a brahman'::; She in thaI hO\lse wielded author-
ity, and took from the finst a dislike 10 the daughtcr of a woman
slave, scolding lUl J abusing and hitting her. As the girl grew up she
her (It is said, that in Kassapa Buddha' s time their
Idatiuws had b L'C1l I"cycned). To prevent her Ini sl res& from pulling
,8 STOR IES OF' THE MAN S ION S
her hair when she beat her, she went to the barber's shop and had
her hair sh:l.ved. Then the mist ress in her anger saying she could
not escape ner by shaving the head, bound a cord about it, pull ed
her down with it, and did not suffer her to remove it; hence her
name.
1
Now one day the teacher, emerging from an attai nment of
great compassion, saw Hajjumala's quali ticalions for the fruit of
stream-entry and sat under a tree emitt ing his rays. And wretched
Ra,ij umai1i., longing for death, took a jar and came along pretending
to go for wat ec, and Iook.ed for a tree on which to hang henelf.
t he Buddha, with heart dra'>"n towards him, she thought,
"What if the Blessed One would teach Dhamma to people even
li ke me ? I might be deli vered from my miserable life." And he
discerning said to her , .. Rajjumabi !" And she, :;s if anointed with
ambrosia, drew nea r and saluted. He taught her the four truths and
she attained the fr uit of stream-entry. Next he went to the village
and sat beneath a tree. Unable now to destroy herself she thought
with patience, amity and kindness : " Let the brahman lady hurt
and injure me or what ever she will," and went back taking water
in her jar. The master oi the house stood at the door and said :
"You've been long in fetching that water and your face is radiant.
You appear to me in a completely different marmer ; what is it ?"
She told him; and the bra hman was pleased and went in saying,
.. Don't you do anything more to Rajj umala." Then he went
quickly to the T eacher and reverently invited hi m to a mea l. After
that he, the daughter-in-law and the brahmm householders who
had come in sat down ncar the T eacher, who wid thelll how
things had !Jew ill that fon ner life witll her ami wit h
5uitaule dis\:OurSt 0 11 Dhall ll1l3 beside. He lhell returned to Siivau hi
ami thc bralullim lIIaUt Rdjjulildia his adopteJ ddugiller, whi le the
daugbter-iu-law tn::. h; d I,cr gcntly. Reborn when di ed alllOng
the Thirty-Three, Rajjumala also was interrogated by the vene,'-
able Maha-Moggallina:
" You who stand wit h surpassing beauty, dcvata, tu the accom-
paniment of music are dancing 100, your hands and feet
assuming various gest ures.
2 2While you are dancing wi th all your limbs in every way, deva-
like sounds stream forth, delightful to hear.
, Cord-wreRl h, from the cords tied round her head, 'IvA.
112, ' Ver. 2-"1 PI 38.1- 7, 44.1- 7.
3
4
,
CRIMSON
"
Whil e you arc dancing wi th all your limbs in every way, J eva-
li ke scents are wafted around, sweet scents, delightfu l.
Whi le you are swaying your body, t he sound of the trinkets in
your braided hai r is heard like t he fivefold instrumental music.
Ear-drops breeze-blown, t rembling in the breeze-the sound
of these is heard like the fivefol d instrumental music.
6 And the perfume of those sweet-scented, deligtltful garlands on
your head blows in all directi ons li ke the manj Osaka tree.
You breathe that sweet scent, you see unearthly beauty.
Devata, when asked tell of what deed this is the fruil."
;
Aiked thus by the Elder that devatii, beginning with her own
former birth, cxpl r. ined in these verses:
8 " Formerly I was a brahman's slave-girl at Gay!; uf lillie
merit unluckv, I was known as RajjumltHI.
9 Brought low by abuse, blows and threats, I took
and going out went off to fetch water.
10 Casti ng the away from the road, I enten:d a wood-
land-thicket , thinking: Here 1 will di e, what u!le it! li fe to me?
11 Having made a 5trong noose and slung it on a Lree, I looked
round: Who now dwell s in the WOOd ?1
12 I saw there the Self-Awakened Oll t: , the !lage friendly toward
all the world, seated at the root of a Lree, meditat ing, with
fear from no quarter.
13 Then I had a wonderful, ' astouuJ ing th ri ll ; Who now dwells
in the wood: man or ucvata ?
14 Serene and faith-i ll!lpiring, from wood to open
3
come, and
what I brought peace of mind ; T his is not j ust anyone.
15 guarded, del ighting in medi lo. tion, mind not
a!llray, til is must be the Awakened One, fri endly toward all
the \'Iorld .
6 Likc a lioll dwelling in its cave, arousi ng fa'lr and awe, un-
assailable, it was a chance as rare to see a6 an udumbara
flower.
4
'VvA, 212 . he th""eht li v; nlll herc I)rcvent her ,uidde.
, abbhuta can also mea"
J vmll. nibbanam play on word, .
Ud""'UHHI (fICUS 01'. or Mavol')' diffic\Jl\ to .. e, VvA. 2' 3.
d. SnA. IOf. In Hindu the lIodsare said tn gather on the t ree on Dipvoli
night and plud all the flowe.s. In flet, however, the little flowers are ins:de the

'00
STO ItI ES OF TH E MA:-.lS I Ol'S
17 With gentl e words the T athagata spoke to me ; Rajjumaia, he
said to me, Go to the 'I'athagata for refuge.
18 When I had heard his voi ce, gent le, meaningful, sweet, soft ,
tender and lovely and di spelling all grief,
19 The Tat hiigata, fri endly toward all the world, knowing that
my mind was pl iant , had faith and was pure, instructed me.
20 This is angui sh, he said to me. This is the origi n of anguish,
this is the cessation of anguish, and the plunge into deathless-
ness is the direct way.
2l Standing firm in the advice of the Compassionate, the skilled,
I came to the deathless, to peacc, nibbiina, t he unChanging state.
22 And I, standing ti rm wit h Jove, by belief aroused in what was
basic
l
was unwavering in vision, own daughter to the
Awakened One.
23 And (now) 1 delight. 1 play, I rejoice with fear from no
quarter. I wear a garl and, I drink a sweet (juice)
inducing suppleness.
2
24 JS1xty t housand musical instruments wake me from my sleep:
A!amba, Gaggara, Bhima, Sadhuvadin and Saril saya,
25 Pokkhara and Suphassa; Vil) amokkha and ot her (women):
Nanda as well as Sunanda, SOJ;l adinna, Sucimhitii,
26 Alambusa, Missakesi and tne pitiless one c3: 11ed PUI)t)arika,
Eniphassa, Suphassa, and Subhadda, MuduvadinT-
27 T hese and other more lovely (devatas) arouse the nymphs
(from sleep). In the morning they come to me and say, Come,
we will dance, we will sing, come, let us delight you.
28 Not for those with deeds of merit not done, for those alone
with deeds of merit done is this Nandana, without grief,
lightfui, t he great Grove of the (Thtee-and-) Thirty.
29 Not here nor beyond is there bliss for those wit h ueeth uf
merit not done, but bliss Ihere is here and beyunu fur
wilh deeds of merit done.
1 VvA. 2' i, Ille Buddha, Dhamma pnd .he Order.
l mat.lhu of Vl'A. 21 1 and Be i.,slu d of madhum .ddhH1'IIm of
VvA. 2.6 explain. by ga:ldhap2na, and maoJ hu i. ,,,,"ui,, ,,.
The " inAnrnins".,( CPD. 0< ;\d3VO CRnnot be ,ill"ht h ..... anti , J inDf'lIHOf'l riale.
n.va is minh, jny, hil .. ily, d. the OI ncni c;11 panage, saying food is 10 be eaten
na madAya nl daviyB not fo: fUn, pleasure, adornment , e. g. M. i.
;4"/:1; (ii-l1,vlO) uwu( v, fOI the u kc of ITar.alMed
"suppl eTll'ss". Pall_Engli.h Gl o,s",y (unpUblished) i/i ves " fluid " as
a for {bVA (not noliced by PED.) but gives no refereocn .
From here 10 end of vcr. JO is ' :I.e lam" HI 111.9-' S, where notes .. " W,ven.
C R I MSON
' 0'
JO For such as long for companionship, by these much skill must
be done, for t hey who have done deeds of merit delight, re-
joice in heaven.
3
1
'J'athagatas arise indeed for the welfare of mally, worthy of
men' s gifts, sources ' for fields of meri t when:i .. , having done
a deed of homage, t he givers rejoil:c in
The Sllmmary:
Crimson, shining, elephant, Alull1a, rice-gruel giver,
Monastery, four women, mungu, yellow, sugarcane,
honouring, and Rajj ulIIaia-
On account of whi d l t he Division named.
WOMI:N' S MANSIONS DIVISION: THE FOURTH
, Ikarl, IiI. mines.
V. THE FIFTH DI VISlON:
GREAT CHARI OT
1 (31). THE FIRST: FROG-DEVA'S MANSION
(Maildukadevapuuavimana)
The Blessed Olle was at Campii, uu lilt: bank of the
Gaggarlllotus pond. towards claWIl alld emerging from the
attainmelLt (If gn:at cumpassion he saw "To-day when in the
cvcni ll g I am teaching Dhamma a frog, hearing my voice and being
altracted by it, suffering violence at hande, will be
killed; he will be reborn in a cleva-world and will come while the
greal populace is looking 011; thereby will be a great penetration of
Dhamma." His day'a work done, by the pond afterwards he began
to teach a fourfold aS3cmbly. Then a frog, thinking, "This is what
is call cd Dhamma," came Qll t of the pond and crouched lit the bnck
of the listeners. And a cowherd, seeing the Teacher speal:ing and
the congregation qui etly listening, stood leaning on his crook and
crushed the frog. The frog was reborn in the realm of the Thirty-
Three with a twelve-yojana golden Mansion :md attended by
nymphs. Reflecting as to what deed he had done to be born there
he saw nothing but (his) attraction to the Blessed One's voice.
Forthwith he came with his Mar:sion, descended from it, and
seeing the Blessed One went up to him and honoured him. The
Blessed One to reveal the Buddha-majesty asked him:
.. Who, bright wi th psychic potency and entourage, ",ith sur-
passing beauty making all the quarters effulgent, is honouring
my
Then the deva-youth, talking about his own former birt h,
explained in these verses:
z "I was formerly (l. frog, n water-denizen. But while I was lis-
tening to your Dhnmmu 0. (young) cowherd killed me.
2
I Quuted Mt OA. MA. i. 129, ii. 124, AA. ii. 375, KhA. "4.
1 By R .. ", VvA "" ,fiff. Anrl Viom. 2011: .tory repe.ted at Saddhamma_
unglhl, JPTS 1890, p. 80f. Dr. E. 1. Thomas, in his eopy of VvA. oddooll
note; "In the Jain NaytdhlmmakahAo, the 13th. ni\Yl of Suyakhandha I, IS
GREAT C HA RIOT
'3
3
For a momem's sen:uily of mind, behold my psyehic potcncy
and entourage anu behold my majesty, beauty, and bchold my
brightness.
4 Those who for long have hcud your Dhaf"!"lma, Cotoma, it is
they who have utained thc unmoving place where they who go
g:ri eve nol."
Then the Blessed One, looki ng upon the qualifications attained
by the congreg<'..tion, taught Dhamma in full. At the end of the
teaching that deva-youth was established in t he fr uit of stream-
entry. Having honoured the Blessed One he returned to the deva-
world.
2 (52). THE SECOND: REVATI'S MANSION
(ReVlltivimiina)
The mfssed One was staying near BlidI1J8ST, in Isipatallu ill the
deer-sanctuary. There was then a believing layfollov.er, a prillcely
giver and serviwr of the Order, named Nundiya.
1
His
wanted him to marry his cousin RevatT? !Jut silt.: was not bellevmg,
not charitable. Nandiya had no desire fur 11I;:r. Hi5 motner told
RevaH to come to her house and ready 10 entertain the Order,
and she did so. And the mother told her son: .. She will now
accept our advice. " So lit: l.:olLscllted and they were married, and
si",e bore hi m two SUIIS. Nandiya thereupon launched out into
chari ty on a large sl.:alc, and built at the mona5tery at [si patana a
hall which he presellled to the T athagata, pouring water of offering
on his hands. Simultaneou51y in the realm of the Thirty-Three a
deva-likt: palace uC t welve yojanas rose up with an attendance of
T he venerable Mahi-Moggalliina, on a tour sow it, und
asked the Dies5ed One for whom it was meant. The Blessed One
the verses:
3"The man long absent from afar safe home, kinsmen,
friends, associates rejoice to have him home.
" frog Roe. on 10 YlBhAvlri!. and on the ;.
killed uttering the words of reverencc, and is reborn a, a god. See 5<;hubrmg,
Die Ldllc tier Jaill!ls."
1 is at DhA. iii.
ISh .... b(>th in the telCt .
l 'Inis verse 3nd the next are at Dh. quoted DA. 130. Both Ee and Be
numhr the.e na 1 anci but VvA. begIns numbering al vet. 3 which it
thorefore cllll. veL I.
."
STOR I ES OF T H E MANSIONS
2 So the doer of meri t from t his to next world gone, t he deeds of
merit wel come askinsmen(vvelcome)a loved one on his return."
Nandiya hearing this 'WaS glad, gave gifts, performed ment .
Then, leaving home on busi ness, he bade Rev:", . carry on with
dil igence. She consented, but whereas he, while ah!lent conti nued
wit h his gifls to the Order lmd the destitute, she aft!!r a few days
slopped her gifts to the destitut e, gave inferior food tn tbt: monks
and sotlt erf\d ri e('..I"." of n!lh ::I nd meat abollt in order to get t he
monk!! hlamed. "Iben Nandiya came hack, and heari ng of the
occurrence RevaH to her own home hut provided more sus-
tenance for her later. After a time he died and was reborn in the
realm of the Thirty-T hree in the Mansion meant for him. But she
cut off all gi fts and continued to abuse and revile the monks
Raying, "On account of them aU my prosperity and gain has
dwindl ed. "
Then Vessavaoa told two of his yakkhas to go to Bliriio.asT and
announce that RevaH would be hurled into purgatory on the
seventh day from that day. People hearing of this were fri ght ened,
but Revati went to the upper store)" locked the door and sat
down. In a week two fearsomeyakkhas with shining tawny hair and
beards, crooked teeth and bloodshot eyes and so on, came and
said ; " Ri se up, Revati, of very evil character," and they took her
neek and crop. marched her up and down the streets that all might
see, then led her through the air to the real m of the Thirtv-Three
and brought her lamenti ng to a crowded purgatory.1 men
cast her into the cro",ded purgatory. As it ii s:li d:
3 .. Rise up, Revati of very evil character, open is the door to
purgatory, 0 woman of niggardly ways. We will lead you
where those gone to had bourns do mourn, denizens of purga-
tory, consigned to anguish. "
This was spoken by the reeensionists:
4 When t hey had spoken thus those two red-eyed, enormous
yakkhas, Varna's messengers, having each taken Re'/ati by one
arm set out for the company of devas.
Thus led by these yakkhas to the realm of the Thirty-Three,
1 ulSadaniraYI; cf. Pv. IV. 1.8 IIttu,"ada niraya, explained at PYA. nl sa
"crowded with bei ng. who Were evil-docn".
GREAT CHARIOT
Revatf, ne .. r Nandiya' $ Mansion and $eeing its lustre
rcsembli ll g the OTb of the $un, asked these yakkhl8:
5 "Whose is this Mansion crowded with people, gleaming,
lustrous like the sun, a fair abode, covered with a net of gold
blazi ng like the rays of the
6 A host of women, anointed wi th choicest sandalwood, beautify
the Mansion mside and out so that in beauty it appears to
resemble t te sun. Who, attained to heaven, is rejoicing in t he
Mansion 1"
They told her:
7 " In BaraQasi there was a layfollower named Nandiya, lIot
stingy, a princely giver, liberal. This is his Mansion, !.: rowded
with people, blazing li ke the rays of the sun.
S A host of women, anointed with choi!.:t:IH salluOi lwood, beautify
the Mansion inside and out so that iJJ beauty it appears to
resemble the sun. He, attaillC::d to is rejoicing in the
l'vlansion."
Then Revati said :
IJ " I was Nandiya's wife, the Indy of the house wit h authority
over all t he family. Now [ will delight in my husband' s
Mansion. I could not wish for the sight of purgatory. "
But saying: "Whether you whh it or not, what have wi shes
to do with us?" taking her to purgatory, they spoke the verse :
10 " This is the pmgatory (meant) for you who are of very evil
chu;l cter. Tn thr world where human beings li ve merit was
not pr.rforrnr.rl hy YOII. For one who is stingy, wrathful , evil in
r: har:l.ctr.r, dOe!; not obtain the companionship of those who
have gone to heaven. "
So saying the two yakkhas vani shed then and there. Bul
t wo similar warders of purgatory who were about tu untg her and
throw her into the Purgatory of Filth called SalhSOIVakit , she asked:
1 1 " What is the fil th and the ordure that is revealed, what is this
fOlll smell, what t he excrement that is hit her blown?"
I2 " This is Samsavaka,1 a hundred fathoms deep, where you,
Revati, will boil for t housands of years."
, Flowinif flowinll with fihh.
,,'
STORIES OF THE MANSIONS
She asked:
IJ "What is the deed (so) badly done by body. speech, mi nci
whereby Slron.w.k., II hundred fuhnm!'l nee!'. i ll
They said:
If "Recluses, brnhma ns and other wayfarers too you deceived
with lying speech: thill was the evil done by you.
I S Therefore ilt S::Im!l3vaka, a hundred fat homs deep, obtained
by YOll, where YOII, Revad. will boil for thousands of years. "
Then they told ner of further torments:
1(; " They cut off the hands and then the feet ; they cut off the
ears and then the nose; and then a flock of ravens, congrega-
ting together. devour the writhing one,"
Again she implored them, wailing, tu take her back tu the world
of men:
I7 " It were wen if you took me back. r will perform much skill
through giving, even-faring, control, and taming. They who
have done this are happy and do not later feel rcmone."
Again the wllrdus of purgatory said:
18 I I Formerly you were heedless, now you do lament. You must
experience the fruition of the deeds you yourself have done. "
And ahe said:
19 "Who, coming from the deva-world to the world of mm,
should speak to me thus when asked: I Give gifts to them who
have laid aside the cudgel, give clothing, lodging, also foud
and drink.
2 0 For one who is stingy, wrathful, evil in dot:S not
obtain the companionship of those whu have gune to lleaven.'
21 Suppose that I, having gum: frum here aTld obtaining human
birth, Iiber.!I, of lIIural habi t, I wi ll perform much
skill through giving, evell-faring, control, and taming.
22 And with a devout mind I wil l establish parks and roads in
bad terrain and tanks and well!.
23 On ,the fourteent h, fifteenth and the eighth (days) of the
bright fortnight and on a special day of the fortnight well con-
nected with the eightfold (precepts)
GR EAT CHAR I OT ,.,
24 I will observe the Observance always controlled by the moral
habits, and I wi ll not be in giving: t his I truly sec
myself."
This was said by the n:censionists:
25 Thus her, wailing li nd writhing in pl1in, thr.y cast feet up,
head down, into the terrible purgatory.
She said the concluding verse :
26 " Formerl y I was stingy, an abuser of recluses and brahmans,
and having deceived my husband with untruths, I boil in a
most terrible purgatory."
T he Commentary concl udca by saying!:
Now, inasmuch as there no devati in RevatI's but
as the story is connected with the attainment of the Mansion uf
Nandiya, the devr:-youth, it is therefore induded in the Men's
Mansions.
2
3 ('3). THE THIRD,
MANSIO::'ll OF CHATIA, A BRAHMAN YOUTH
(ChattamaJ.lavavimiina)
T he Dlessed One wae etnying at S5vatthi, in Jeu Grove. Now
at that time a brahman's eon Chait:!. , who h:ld finished hit studies
under a brahman of Sctavyii, had gone home and got hit teacher's
fcc of a thousand kahiiparylls from his parents, and had set out for
Setavya to pay him. Thieves heard of thi s and ploued to kill :md
plunder the youth on the way. The Bleued One emerging from the
attainment of great compassion set out early and sat under a
on the road the yout h would take. The youth passing by, he
him his mission, and then, did he know the three refugea and five
precepts? The youth, denying, the Blessed One tl1ught them for
him to learn.
.. He who is the most glorious of speakers among men, the
Sakyan sage, Lord, his task done, who has gone beyond, is
furnished with strength and energy3--Q)me for refuge to
this Well -farer.
, VvA. 229.
1 See $ u,,, ,,,uy dL end of ,hi. Divi.ion . I V vh. 330f.,
u.s S TOR I ES OF THE MAN S I ONS
2 ITo this Dhamma, without passion, without desi re, without
grief, uTl constructed, not di sagreeable, sweet, well expounded
and analysed-come for refuge to this Uhamma.
3 And wheroof they have said : great is the fruit of givi ng to
those pure men in couples four-and eight are these men wllo
are of Uhamma----come for refuge to this Order,"
The thieves beset and slew hi m, taking thr. money, as he walked
along hying up these in his heart. Bllt It!! was reborn in the
realm of the with a thirty yojma Mansion throwing
light for twenty ynjanas. Men of Setavya finding t he body told the
and rhno:;c fmm Ukkattha told t he teacher. and a funeral
Cf' remony was hel d. And t he Bl essed One went, that Chatla might
have the npportunity of comi ng to show himself and so reveal to
many the deed he had done. Chatta thought so too and came with
his Mansion. And when people wondered: Is this a deva or a
Drahma? the Blessed One, to make clear the deed of merit t he
deva-youth had done, asked him:
+ "Not thus shines the sun in the sky nor are lhe muon vr the
stal'll brigh.t as is IlIi$ illl.:umparable goTcat lustre. 'Vho
arc you whu l lave COUIt: tu t ht: carth frum the i.!cva- world ?
5 Alii.! tht: radiam.:e t:xlI:nding over twenty Jujan<ls cuts off the
rays of the light-giver. The fair Mansion perfectly pure and
stainless makes even the night (appear) like day.
6 With Olany a lotus of divers hue and water- li ly, Slrewn with
blos50ms and variou5lr deckt, covered with a net of du5tlcss,
spotless gold, it shines in [he sky like the very sun.
7 Draped in red and yel lo" ga rments, fragrant wit h aloe,
piyangu and sandalwood, they with fair complexion radiant
115 gold, fill it to capacity li ke sta rs the nrmnment.
8 Here are men and women
1
of divers aspect, here arc the joy-
ful with blossoms and trinkets bedeckt, wafting fragrance
released by the wind, variously ornamented and covered over
with gold.
9 Of what self- restraint is this the fru ition} By the frui t of what
deed ue you arisen here, and how came you to this Mansion?
When agked, please tell step by step how it was,"
I 2,3 Quoted MA. i. IJ 1 with SubSfifution of upfmi (I corr.e or, .IlO) for
upehi (C<lme, imper8!i .e); and af AA. ii. lo,f .
devapurta, I nd deudbitAI, \'vA 237,
"
"
, .
. '
G REAT C H AR I OT
"9
T he deva-youth explained in these vcrst:!;:
"Since the Teacher had come across the brahman youth here
on the path and had admonished hi m with compassion, and
silll.:e Chatta having heard Dhamma from you, the supreme
jewel, said ' I will do it',
I approached the Conqueror for refuge, and Dhamma
too, likewise the Order of monks. First I said' No,' reve red
sir; afterwards I did your bidding faithfully-
J ,;'IC not in any way impurely hurting any breathing thing,
for wise men do not praise lack of restr3int towards breathing
things. Fi rst I said 'No,' revered sir; aft erwards I did your
bidding faithfu ll y.
And (take) not what another man guard ; not thi nking
what is not givcn is to be taken. First I said' No, ' rcvered si r ;
afterwards I did your bidding fait hfully.
14 And going to another's wives, to those guarded by another
' 5
'7
man- this is unariyan. First I said' No,' revered sir; aft er
wards I did your bidding faithfully.
And do not speak an untruth, what is otherwise, for wise men
do not praise lying speech. First I said ' No,' revered sir ;
aft erwards I di d your bidding fai thfully.
And that strong liquor whereby his perception 1 leaves a man
- eschew it all. First I said' No,' revered sir; afterwards I did
your biddi ng faithfully.
Indeed I, carrying out the five t rainings here, faring along in
the 'l'athagata's Dhamma, came among thieves on a path
between two They slew me there for the
sa ke of my poosessions.
18 To this extent 1 recollect skill; beyond that no other (skill)
'9
20
exists for me. ileeause of good conduct I arose through kamma
among the (Three-and ) Thirty rejoicing at will.
3
Behold the fruition of faring along in accordance wit h
Dhamma and of the practice of restraint for a moment, au
while many wi th lesser joys long for my gaiu seeing
me s hining as it were in glory.
Behold how through such a brief teaching I am gone t o a
J Poret plion of Dha=m", or of VvA. ap ,
1 So VilA. 2+1 .
) Fl.lrn;lhed with the kind, of iense_;>leasu,cs as deli red, VvA. 241.
I.e. for w bricC a """"eul.
, "
STOR I ES OF T H E MANS I ONS
good bourn and attainl to happiness; so metltinks those who
hear Dhamma constantly must deathlessness, the
secure.
21 even a li tt le done in the Tat hagata's Dhamma is of great
fr uiti on, a wide-sprcad fruit . Behold how Chatta, Ihrough
merit done, illumines the earth even as does the sun.
22 What is this ski ll that we may do ?-so some take counsel
together . Should we obtain human status again let us li ve
'
practising the moral habits ::s we fa re along.
23 And the teacher being of great service and compassion came to
me early in the day when I was in this plight.
1
Then did I
approach him who is true to his name: Be compassionate
again so that I can hear Dhamma.
24 Those who here get ri d of attachment to sense-pleasures, and
of latent bias of attachment to existence, and of confusion,
these come no mort tu beu-uf-wumb fur, l:uul become, thty
ha"e gOll e to ft nallliLbana. "
So when the teacher had addressed the assembly the cleva-
youth, announcing his establishment in the ari yan stream, salut ecl
the Blessed One and taking leave of his parents returned to that
cleva-world.
4 (54). THE FOURTH: CRAB.sOUP-GIVER MANSION
(Kakkatakanlsada yakav illifula
3
)
The Blessed One was staying a! Riijagaha, in Bamboo Grove. At
that time a certai n monk fell away therefrom
owing to grievous earache. The doctor's medici ne avai led nothing.
He told the Blessed One who, knowi ng t hat crab-soup was a cure,
asked him to seek alms in the YIagaclha fiel d. He went thitnet and
stood for alms at the door of a fi eld-keeper' s hut. This man having
cooked a meal with crab-soup made him be seated and gave ni m
some. Hardly had the monk tasted it than he became well as if
bathed with a hundred pitchers. His composure regained by suit-
able food, he directed his mind (agai n) to insight and became an
, Readi ng yihuemu with VvA. and Be against Ee'. vichunu.
I iti me nti. when I WII thus.
Ee givc, title 18 cub-lOup, but kakkolaka, al!o munit"lg
crab, In \leI". 6.
GREAT CH ARIOT
'"
arahant even before he had fini shed his meal. Telli ng the field-
keeper:" Lay-follower, by the frui t of this merit you will come to
be wi thout ill of body and mimi," he gave the bcncdi!,;ti un and
went away. When later the fidd-kecpcr died, III;: was n;:bulIl in the
realm of the Thirty-Three in a room made ur ueryl in a twel ve-
yojana golden Mansion pil1<1 TCd wi th gems and adorned with
seven hundred pinnaded hall s. On the door 1V3S hung by a string of
pearls a gul d craU. And the venerable Maha-Moggallana, going
there, ::saw lhis and
,. Lofty is thi s Mansion with jewelled shafts, a dozen yojanas
all round, there are seven hundred splendid pinnacled hal ls and
lovely pillars of beryl spread over with the gleaming metal. !
2 There do you bide and drink and eat while deva-Ii ke lutes make
melody. Here are deva-like flavours, the five kinds of sense-
pleasures, and women decked in gold do dance. Z
3 Because of what is your beaut y such I Uecause of what do you
prosper here, and there arise whatever are those deli ghts that
4 I ask )'ou, deva or great maj esty, what meri t did you perform
when you were born a human being 1 Decause of what is your
brilliant maje8ty thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarters? "
S '[ 'hat deva-youth, delighted at being questioned by l\1oggalHtna.
when asked the question explained of what deed thi s was the
fruit.
6 " There stands on the door a crab finished in gold to serve as a
reminder, and it shines wi th its ten claws.'
7, 8 Because of this is m)' beauty such ... and my beauty illu-
mines all the quarters." (As in I.6, 7, etc. ).
5 (55). THE FIFTH: DOOR-KEEPER'S MANSION
(Dvara palakavimana)
The Blcsscd One was staying at Raj2.gaha, in Bamboo Grove. At
that time a lay-follower instituted four perpetual meals for the
'Vv. rucjhtthata; VyA. 24.;. ruciu- whid. it p, tlutuh t .. .. m
bhurniy .. h ouv' l).l)..ph.lnkchi atthnti, "1" ... ,1 (nv .. c) with golden baarci9 (plank!.
shb.) on the lllOund. Thus "the metal", rucira, i, gold .
Ver,." ',2 IS at 85.1 ,2.
I : thus c1cccl ,, ( ", it cle t(> 8fe"t Vv,\. ... 6.
'"
STORIES OJ.' T H E
Order. But (or fear of thi eves he generally kept his home-door
locked as his house was situated at the out ermost li mit of the cit y.
Hence monks coming for t hose meats sometimes had to go away
hungry. He, learning this from hi3 wife, appointed a doorkeeper to
wel come monks so coming and wai t on t hem. When the donor
died he was reborn among the Yiimas, but when the doorkeeper
died he was reborn among the Thirty-Three wit h a twelve-yajana
golden Mansion, j ust as in the foregoing. To the venerable Maha-
MoggalHina' s simi lar inquiry he repl ied:
1-5 (As 54. I - S)
6 " My life-span is of a thousand deva-like yean;1 (my act of
meri t) consisted of the declaimed word and homage paid by
thought .
2
For 90 long wi ll one who has perfor med merit re-
mai n and be furnished with cleva-like sense-pleasures.
7 Because of this is my bel uty 8ueh . . . and my beauty illuminP.!I
all t he quart ers." (As in I.5, 7, etc.)
6 (56). THE SIXTH, SHOULD_BE_DONI' MANSION
(Karat:tryavimana)
The Blessed One was st aying in l ela Grove. And a
lay-follower, retu rning frol11 a halhe in the Aci ravatf river, met and
invited the Blessed Gne tn II m,.:al at his houge and entertained
him with honour. The remainder is as in the foregoing. T he deva's
answer is 3S
I-5 (As 54 I - 5)
6 " Acts of merit should be done by a wise man uf
wherein what is given to Awakcm:u Giles who ere rightly
faring is of great fruit.
7 Verily the Buddha came fWIIl {urest to village {or my welfare.
Therein, the mind devout , I ClI ll n:: to the Thirty-Three.
S Because of this is my bt!i!.uty such ... and my beaut y ill umines
all t he quartenl." (As in I .5, 7 etc.)
I By hun,.n ... ckcming lhi9 i. rhr.tt nf year. and sixty /Il.md red thou-
land !"ears. VvA. 247.
So expb ined at VvA. 147f.
GRE;\T CHA RI OT
7 (57). TIlE SEVENTU,
SECOND SHOULD-DEDONE MANSION
(Du tiyakaralJ lyavi mana)
"3
This is similar to the Sixth, save only that there the food was
given to the Blessed One, here to an Elder.
1-5 (As in 54 I - S)
6 . Acts nf meri t ghould be done by a man of di scriminat ion,
what is given to monks who are rightly faring is of
sreRt. fruit.
7 Verily a monk came from forest to vill age for my welfare.
Therein, t he mind devout. I came to the T hi rty-Three.
S Recause of this is my beaulY such ... and my beauty ill umi nes
all the quarters." (As i1l 1.6, 7, etc.)
8 (58). TIIE EIGHTU, NEEDLE MANSION
(Sucivimana)
T ilt: Blt:55t:d One waslitaying at Raj ...gaha, in Bamboo Grove. At
111011 li lll t! tiJt!rt! was robe-making to be done for the venerable
Siiri plillil, alld lhere was need of a needle. Coming t o a smit h's
house fur alms and asked what he needed, he told of the need. The
smith wit h a mind of faith offered two needles nnd bade him say if
there wt!re furt her need. After the smith died he was reborn among
the Thi rty-Three and t he venerable Mllha-Moggallana questioned
thill
1- 5 (As in 54. I - S)
6 " What one gives, (the (ruit alone) is not (like) it. What should
be given, that alone is ben er. A needle 'NBS givt!lI , better for me
was the needle.
l
7 Because of t hi s is my beauty such ... allll lllY Lcauty illumines
all . he quarters. " (As ;111 .6, 7, etc.)
9 THE NINTH, SECOND NEEDLE MANSION
(Duti yasuci'li mana)
The Blessed Onc was staying at Rajagaha, in Bamboo Grove,
I\"ow a certai n tailor wenl to see the Grove, there saw a monk
I Thi, cryptic Verl e i. tran./hled here Do far as poSSIble according to the
inter""'Uoti",, '" VvA . "5', !Jut neilhcl is Ihi. CI.Y to follow .
"I
STORIES OF THE MA.NSIONS
stitching a robe with a needle that was made in Bamboo Grove and
gave him needles with his necdlecase. The question put to the
tailor after he had been reborn among the Thirty-Tnree was like
the foregoing.
1-5 (As in 54. I - S)
men in the world of men I saw a monk without
serene in mind, without confusion, to whom T, having faith,
a necelle with my own hands.
7 ReC:ll19.C of this i!l my heauty stich . . . and my heauty illumines
all the qmrters," (A.I in T.fi, 7, Ie.)
10 (60). THE TENTH: ELEPHANT MANSION
(Nagavill!an<l)
The Blessed One was" staying at Savatthi, in Jeta Grove. Then
the venerable Maha-MoggalHina on a cleva-tour in the realm of the
Thirty-Three saw a cleva-youth mounted on a great
elephant with a great retinue going through the air, and went
towards him. The descended and saluted him and the
Elder asked him about the deed he had done:
"Mounttrl 011 an dtphant wiwst burly is dazzling whitt,
breu, a tusker, strullg alLd IWJunltrl 011 tilt gloIious
dtphant,l beautifully caparisoned, YOII are come here in
air t hrough the sky.
2 Upon the two tusks of the elephant are crealed
lotus poob in full bloom; among the lotuses burst forth
tral bands, and these enchanting ones are dancing.
3 You of great majesty have attained psychic potency.
W.hat merit di d you perform when you were horn a human
being? Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus and your
beauty illuminc3 all the quarters?"
4 The deva-youth, delighted at being quest ioned by
fruit.
1 From halfway ill this verse to the end ofver .. 1 is the same as 41.1 - .1, another
Mansion.
5
6
GREAT CHAR IOT
"5
" Eight fallen I flowers, with my own hands, having faith, I
offered at the thupa to the great seer
z
Kassapa.
3
Recause of this is my beauty such ... and my beauty illumines
all the quarters. "
II (61). TIll ELEVENTH:
SECOND ELEPHANT MANSION
(Dutiyaniigavimana)
The Blessed One was staying at Rajagaha, in Bl1mboo Grove. At
that time a believing lay-follower who lived according to the
precepts, kept the Observance days, givf'n to the Order, and
attended with gifts at the monastery 10 hear Dhamma, deceasing
from here arose among the Thirty-Three. And a great white ele-
phant being at his service, with mllr.h retinue he went at times for
sport in a pleasaunce. Nov,' one day heing impelled to show
tude, he went on his elephant at midnight from the to
Bamboo Grove and there in an attitude of devotion before
the Blessed One. The venerahle Vangisa who was standing near
the Bie3sed One, being permitted by the Blessed One, questioned
him :
"Mounted on a mighty all-whitedtphanl, an elephant supreme,
you go round from groVt to gruve attended by a throng of
women, making all tht dfulgent like the healing star.
z Because of what i" yuur beauty such 1 Because of what do you
prosper here, allu tlll:n: arise whatever arc those delights that
are dear to vour Iitart?
3 I ask you, deva of great majesty, what merit did you perform
""htll you wtrt born a human being 1 Deeause of what is your
bril liant majefty thus and your beauty illumines all the
quarters ?"
4 That deva-youth, delighted at being questioned by Vangisa,
fruit.
5 " When 1 was born a human being among men I was a l:ay_
1 mutta al.o hM the mcafling of fully but according tc! VvA. these
were fallen flowers. T hai edn. mutthi (sicl). Cf. Intro. 10 No. 39.
1 VvA. 253 reads bhagavnto; Ee, Be mahulno.
, Mentioned also in 33.18 and 64.27.
,,'
STORIES Or. THE MANS I ONS
follower of the One with Vision. I refrained from making 011-
on brcat hin/;l t hings, I shunned what in t he worl d was
not given .
6 Not a drinker of st rong liC! uOl' was I, and I did not uttcr li es,
and was content with my own wife. With a mind of fai t h I gave
bot h food and drink an abundant giving.
7 Because of this is my beauty mch ... and my beauty illumines
all the quart ers."
12 (62). THE TWELFTH, THIRD ELEPHANT MANSION
(Tntiy:m1igavimana)
The Blessed One \Nas staying at Rajagaha, in Bamboo Grove.
1
Then three Elders came to a village resi dence for the rains,
going thereafter to Rajagaha to sal ute the Blessed One. Passing
the sugar-cane plantat ion of a brahman of false views, t hey asked
the keeper: "Can we get to Hajagaha to-day?"" No, si r, it's half a
yojana lurl her; stay here nnd go on to-morrow." " Is t here a plaee
here we could stay at ?" "No, but I will tell you of a place." And
he improvised huts with sugar-canes, sticks and so forth, he gave
them rice and cane-juice, and after the meal sped them forth wi th
a sugar-cane each, thinking it to be (from) his share of the produce,
and ret urned injoy and hope in his own welfare. But his master,
meeting the monks, asked them how they had acquired t he sugar-
canes, and when he hea rd got furious and ran back splunering with
rage and hit his keeper with a club, killing him with one stroke. By
merit of his deed t be laner was reborn in t he Hall of Sudhamrru:l-
devas, owner of an all-white great elephant. His parent!! ami kill
made lamentation at his funeral, but lie t:ame ridillg ai liullg (hell!
in state, and a man of innate intclligeut:c a:;ked him abuut thc deed
of merit he had June;
"Who now on deva- like mount, on an all-white elephant, with
the sound of tuneful instrumental music is honoured in the
sky;
2 Now, are you a devata, a heavenly musician, or Sakka, boun-
teous giver? Not knowing you, we ask you how are we to know

VvACe. Ue add : in squirrell' feeding-placc. "ef.S311 .
J
GREAT C II ARIOT
'"
He explained this matter :
" I am neither a deva nor a heavenly musician, nor am T Rakb,
bounteous giver. I am one of those namecl Sunhammii-deV3!l."
Again the man asked :
4- " We are asking you, Sudhamma-deva, raising respectfull y our
clasped hands: \Vhat is the deed you did among men that you
have arisen in Sudhamma?"
s
He spoke this verse:
"Who ,gives a hut of sugar-cane, a hut of grass, a hut of robes-
who gives one of the three arises in Sudhamma."
'I'hu!! comforting his he returned to t he cleva-worl d.
13 (63). THE THIRTEENTH,
LITTLE CHARIOT MANSION
(CG!ar:J.thavimana)
After the final nibbana of the Blessed One his relics were distri -
bmed, and under the great Elder Mahi -Kassapa monks were
picked to recite Dhamma; disciples, coming for the rains each
with his own company, were living in various places out of con-
sideration for the amenable folk. And the venerable Maha-
Kaccana was Haying in a wooded spot in a frontier region. At that
time Assaka was reigning at the ci t y of Pota
l
over Assaka. Now
t)ujiita, his son by tllS head-queen, being banished by his father on
the insistence of the j uniormost queen had taken to a forest -li fe. I n
Kassapa Buddha's time, though he had been a monk, he died as a
worldling then and now was reborn and was named When
his mother died young, his father ' s new head-queen too had a son.
The pleased king offered hi s wife a boon; when SUjllta was sixteen
years old she claimed it of him, asking him to make her son tilt:
heir. He refused, since his eldest son was hi s heir. Sin:: keVt
worrying him to keep his pledged word, till the king, fedillg bc
must do so, told Sujata with tears. The youth, grievillg at his
father's grief, asked leave to go ifl to a forc:il-l ife. The king offered
to build him another town, but I II: ,""u uld 1I 0t consent, nor that he
should be sent to neighbuurillg princes. The king, embracing
, VvACc, Bc Potali.
,,'
STOR IE S OF THE MAN SIONS
him, let him go on the understanding he should return when
orphaned to t ake over the kingdom. Living with foresters in the
wood, he one day went out hunting deer and pursued a deer till
it vani shed near t he leaf-hut of the Elder Maha-Kaccana who asked
him thus:
"You stand leaning on a Rt urdy bow made from sound wood.
Now are you a warrior-noble, a king's son or a hunter wan-
dering in t he wood?"
Then, explaining himself, he said:
2 " I, reverend si r, son of the overlord of Assaka, am wa nderi ng
in the wood. My name I tell you, monk, is Sujiita-thm am I
known.
3 Hunting for deer, pl unging into the g ftat wood, that vp.ry el eer
1 see no more, ! but it is you IhM 1 see."
The Elder, with friendly greetings, sai d :
1- " Welcome to you, one of merit, lI ot unwel come arc you.
Here wat er take so that you ml'ly hathe your feet.
5 This dri nki ng waler Inn ill c:ool, hrought from mountain
Drinking nf it, prince, sit down on the (grass-)
llpreading."
Then the prince, ret urning the Elder's friendly greetings, said:
h "Your words are indeed lovely to hear, great sage. You speak
what is sweet and purposeful wi th well thought aim.
7 What is the delight for you dwelling in the wood Bull of
seen, speak when asked. Listening to your way of speech I
will practise the path of Dhamma's aim. " 2
Now the Elder, speaking of his own right practice as suitable
for him too, said :
8 " The non-harming of all breat hing things pleases us, pri nce.
and the shunning of theft, unchasti ty and the drinking oi
liquor.
L The corre,t reading, taken from tnll "".i. nte given . 1 YvA. is rro t ... bly
milil2m rail. uve nAdakkhim.
1 Moral habit and 10 forth, brir.ging ....el fare both li nd hereafter, VvA.
"'J.
GREAT CHAR I OT
'"
9 Aversion
1
and even-faring, learning, gratitude-to be praised
here-now, these things fire praise-worthy.
10 Know, prince, that five mont hs hence you will be in death's
presence- free yourself utterly,"
Then the yout h. asking about his own means of freedom, said:
II " T o what country should I go, lind wh3t is the work of man I
should perform, or by what kno ..... ledge may I become un-
ageing, undying 1"
Then the Elder, in order to teach him Uhamma, spoke these
verses;
12 "There does not exist that region. that work of man or
knowledge, having gone to which, prince, a mortal may become
unageing, undying.
13 lThose of great wealth, great possessions, even warrior-
nobles owning kingdoms-not even these, abounding in
wealth and crops, arc unageing, undyi ng.
14 Perhaps you have heard of AndhakaveI)hu's sons,3 powerful,
mighty, impetuous in attack---even these, attained to the
destructi on of the life-span, broken up, are for ever and ever.4
15 Warrior-nobles, brahmam, country-people, serfs, low-caste
sweepers- not even these nor others are through their birth
unageing, undyin,l\.
[6 Those who recite the mantras of the sixfold lore devised by
Brahma-not even these nor others are through their know-
ledge unagei ng, undying.
17 And even those seers, ascetics who are peaceful and con-
trolled-even these asceti cs cast off the physical frame at the
proper time.
18 Even arahants, their minds developed, duties done, without
cankers, lay down this body on the utter destruction of (their)
good and evil (deeds) ."
Now the youth. speaking of what he hi m!\elf 3hould do. said :
19 " \ Vell uttered. grt:ll arc your verl5(5, purposeful.
Calmed am I wid I yOUI good word. Be you my refuge."
I Aversion from cyi l URtu of mind.
1 Vcr. 8100 ot Pv. II . 6. 11-'5.
See (U . iv. 79ff.), and DPPN.
Simi lar in ctunity to tbe sun lind moon in relpect of lucen.ion of
familiet. "\ivA.
n. STO R I ES Or THE MANSION S
Then the Elder, instruct ing him, spoke this verse:
2 0 " Go not to me for refuge i turn only to him for refuge, t he 30n
of the Sakyar,s, great hero, to whom I h:nc gone for (Pfug!'! ." l
Then the yout h
21 "In what country is your ICllchr r, good J [on will go to
see t he Conqueror, the onp.."
The Elder said :
22 " In the count ry, he who was born of Okklika's line
the thoroughhred of men, but he has waned om
ll lt P. rly."
When the prince had heard the Elder's teaching of Dhamma he
was established in the refuges and the moral habiB. Thus it
said:
23 "Had lhe Buddha, your teacher, been ali ve. good sir, I
would have gone thousands of yoj anas to wait on hi m.
24 But as your teacher has waned out utterly, good I go for
refuge to the great hero who has waned out utt erly.
25 I approach the Budd ha for refuge, and also the supreme
Dhamma. and to the Order of the deva of men do I go for
refuge.
26 Fort hwi th I refrai n from onslaught on creatures, r shun what
in the world is not given, am not a drinker of st rong li quor,
and I do not utt er lies, and am content with my own wife."
T in: Elder spukc: "Go now to your father, your life-spnn is
iJritf, YUli wi ll die within only nve perform merit." The
prill ee did so and after four months he died and wu reborn in the
realm of the Thil"l y-Three. On aCCO\lJlt of the power of his mel it a
chariot arose ornamc:nted with the seven ki nds of jewels, mea-
suring seven yoj anas. It had an ent ourage of many thOUllnnds of
nymphs. When the king had performed the obsequies for the dead
and offered a great gift to the Order of monks, he paid honour to
the eeti ya.
J
The Elder arrived here. The cleva-yout h came in his
1 Cf. M. ii. 90.
a Ee pi; VvA. :1;66 De read tatthhi which I follow.
Prelumably ht had hId this erected in the vihl ra he had cn, ilrining the
reli ct Inc Elder gave Ihe prince, 32, Ilso a. VvA.
G R E A T C H A RI O T
'"
deva- Jike chariot , saluted the Elder, and exchanged greetings with
hi s fat her. T he Elder asked him in these verses :
17 "Like the thous:md-u yed (sun) of mighty lll!! lre as in its
course it illumines the region . of the !lky, so is the way of this
mi ghty ch:uiot of your!! t:xtendi ng all round for seven
E

28 Covererl all over wit h golden plates, its bodywork inlaid with
and pearl!l, ils ca n'ings of gold and of well traced
with heryl!!, make it fair.
29 The fronl with tracery of beryl and the yoke designed with
ruhi e.'l, and these horses (with) trappings1 of gold and of
!'Ii lver, swift as thought, make it fair.
)0 I n t he golden chariot you stand surpassing all like deva-ehief
in chariot yoked with a thousand. I ask you, one of renown
and proficiency, by what means have you obtained this
splendour."
Asked t hus by the Eldt:r, the lIeva-yuuth I;; ;t plained in these
verses:
) 1 " When I, reverend si r, was formerly a king's son I was called
Sujiita. And you, out of compassion for me, established me in
self-cont rol.
32 And knowi ng my li fe-span was ending, you gave me a relic of
the teacher, saying: Honour thi s, Sujiita, it will be for your
welfare.
33 When I, acting rightly, had paid honour with perfumes and
getting rid of my human body I arose in Nandana.
34 And in the delightful Nandana Grove, the haunt of many a
flock of birds,
3
I delight, attended by nymphs with. dance and
song."
Thus the deva-youth, saluti ng the Elder and taking leave of hi,
fll. ther, mouoted the chari ot and went back to the deva-world. The
Elder told the whole of the conversati on that had taken plAce
between them to the recen,ionist, of Dhamma at Ihe time of the
CO\lncil .
J Here lata, B hundred. in bot h k:e and VvA. verse against Be, and Be and \'vA.
a67 pro>c, which read ... tI., ee\"en. See too t he pr oae introduct ion jUl ' .bo .....
J yultl .
3 Flock. of birds are conlidered to add belluty to the!le Grove. ; c. 78.12,
79. 12.
.n 5TOR I ES O F THE MANS I ONS
14 (64). 1'H..E FOURTEENTH:
GHAT CHARlOT MANSION
(M::.hiinthavimiina)
The Blessed One was staying at in Jeta Grove. And
the venerable MahaMoggaWina making a lour in the realm of the
Thirty-Three saw a deva-youth, GOpila, leaving his l\.lansion and
mounting his chariot in state to vi sit the pleasaunce for sport. T he
deva-youth, seeing the Elder, dismounted from the chariot and
stood before him, his clasped hands raised to his head. The ven-
erable asked him:
" Mounted in this diversely painted car, fair and horse-drawn
with a thousand horses yoked, going towards the pleasure-
grounds (you shine forth) li ke bounteous giver, lord of
creatures, Vasa"a, 1
2 Your chariot raili ngs are both made of gold. well fitted with
supporting boards and shoulders, with well made posts
finished by skilled craftsmen, it
l
shines forth like the moon
on the fifteenth. 3
3 This chariot, covered with a golden net, gay wi th many and
divers gems, making sweet sounds and glittering, shines
forth wi th many a hand-borne whisk.
... T hose naves too fashioned wit h imagi nati on'. the wheels of
the chari ot adorned in the cent res-and these naves, also
painted with a hundred stri pes, shille like lightning fl ashing a
hundredfold.
S This cha riot is covered with divers paintings, and broad is its
rim with a thousandfold radiance. A deli cious sound is heard
from these as when the fivefold instrumental music is played.
6 On it s front (part)4 it is ornamented, decorated with gems in
the shape of the moon,' the lustre ever pure and gleaming ;
, '" mme of SakkM
, Th( ehatict, vvA. a76.
l Li ke the full moon on the fifteenth (day of the month) ill the bright fo rr.
night, ibid.
du: head, probably the frool pnl of the chariot .
, Ec hcrt nod. in i mg>:>i _.ondn, but _cnnd. ot VvA. 37", "nf. Dnd
Be. c r. II. v. 408, ver, 176 explained by Corny. uS sU".'ul)Q.amayl
eondakl, and :"v1 hvll . ii. 61 l uarQKchnndra, "crescents of gold", also in du-
cribing a cha rlot.
G REAT CH AR I OT
'"
contammg golden rays in profusion it shines profusely as
though (alternating)1 with rays of beryl.
7 And these steeds, decorated with gems in the shape of the
moon, their necks held high, very swift li ke Brahmi's,: tall
and massive, and speedy, move when they know what is
your will.
8 And these, all their four limbs in harmony, move when they
know what is your wi ll. They bear you along evenl y; they are
tractable. not excitable, they rejoice (in drawing the chariut),
supreme among swift-goers.
J
9 Tossing and moving together in the sky they leap, rattling the
fine trappings. A deli cious sound is heard from thc:tt:: as when
the fi vefold instrumental music is played.
10 The sound of the chariot and of the trllppi ngll, till;: thunder of
the hooves and the neighing of tht: Iluuell , a del icious sound i!
heard from these like ganJhalJua music in deli ghtful grove.
I I With gazelle-like bashful eyes in the chariot they stand, thick-
lashed, smiling, of gentle speech. smoothski nned, clad in
beryl-studded mesh, ever honoured by gandhabbas and deities
great.
12 They, dad in n:d, in garments dyed red and yellow, wit h eyes
large and of crim!on hue, well-born, of graceful form li nd
pkasant smile, standing in the chari ot, attcnd wi th clasped
hands.
I ) They, with their golden braedct3, beautifully clad, with
lovely waist and thigh and breast, wi th round fingenJ, fair
f&ca, good to look upon, standing in the chariot, attend with
clasped hands.
14 Some youthful ones with graceful locks diversely adorned,
braided equally and shining bright , with .ervice to please and
deli ghting in your command, standing in the chariot , attend
with clllsped hands.
]5 They, with chaplets and decked with lotus red and bille,
adorned, fragrant with choicest undalwood, wi th sen'iee to
1 VvA. 277 n'ppli ..s antarantlfl twice. which I uke to "aherosling".
VvA.Ce, Be: brahupaml: VvA.Ee hmhmQpamA, but p. 278, altano
Pdhi ki viya paHiUyanti Ii anho. Braha vuddhl,
cangA.
J tunga, i.e. houes .
Ee vicitrasavane, VvA. z7z, ver, 10 -pavllne, call ed at 2.j'9
Cf. t he Second Division, called CillalatA.
."
S T O HIE S O F TH E l\.IAN S I ONS
please and delighting in your command, standi ng in the
chariot, attend with clasped hands.
16 111ey. with garlands and decked with lotus red and blue,
adorned, fragrant with choicest sandalwood, with sen 'ice to
please and delighting in your command, standing in the
chariot, atlend with clasped hands.
17 Those adornments on the neck, the hands, the fect, likewise
on the head, make the ten quarters effulgent all round like the
autumn sun in its upward rise.
18 Vibrati ng in a gust of wind, the garlands on the arms and the
adornments send fOrl h a charming sound, pure, fair, for all
wi se men the sweetest sound.
19 And standing in the pleasure-ground on both sides arc clLilriub
and elephants and musical instruments that makt: yuu glad
with (t heir) sound,' 0 chief of devas, as (do) lulc with bridge,
blade and bow.
20 Whi le these many l utes, beautiful alld lIf delightful appear-
ance, are played stirring joy :!t hCllfl, lilc well trained young
nymphs upon freely whirl.
21 And when what is danced aud wilat is play(,."(j and what is
sung seem all t he salli e, then here they dance (in your
chariot), thell t hue l lu;:: nymphs, the glorious women, maki ng
(the eITulgell l, dance on both sides.
22 Yuu rejuice cil li vened by the orche!'otra, honoured as if you
were I nda, wielder of the thunderbolt, whi le these mllnv
lutes are played stirring joy at heart. -
23 What was the deed you did of yourself of old when in a former
birth you were born a human bei ng? Did you observe the
Observance (day) or did you fi nd sntisfncti on in Dhnmma-
fari ng and (good) practice 1
24 Of no insignificant deed that was done formerly, or of Obser-
vance (day) well observed is this extensive prosperi ty and
majesty of yours in which you so greatl y mrpass the
devas.
25 Or is this the fruit of your giving, or IIgain, of moral habi t or
of homage paid ? Now, tell me when IIsked."
I VvA. 2.8. doc. not elll qui te 10 kno .... how 10 Ih, . VC<O" . Soro, .ound,
cannot he the l ubj ecl as the verb i, in the pi .. psmooayanti . It i, better to take
t he teoond a. a makes you Glad, pamodeti. 10 do the chariots
and so on .... lIh t rn, lr IIOUl'ul , rathAdayo allllno IIrena
GREAT CHAR I OT
us
The deva-youth asked thus by the great Elder, related that
matter:
;/,6 That deva- yotllh deli ghted at being questi oned by Moggal-
lana when AAkt d the question explained of what deed this
was the fmit :
'7 " The faculties. Buddha. perfect in energy,
supreme among men, Kassapa, I hi ghest man, he who opened
the donr of the undying,l deva abo"e devas, (bearing) the
hundred marks of merit-
28 Him I saw, mighty elephant, Aood-crossed, like orb of
h1lrnished gold. Pure in mind did I become seei ng quickly
that it was he. that he was indeed the banner of the weIl-
spoken word.
29 I, with detached mind. in my flower-bestrewn dwelling
btstowtd upon him food and drink and also robes pure and
excellent in Quality.
30 After I had refreshed the supreme among men with food and
drink and with robe- material. with foods hard and sort and
with lodgings, I am delighting in a deva-city going from
heaven to heaven.
31 In such wise having made this unhampered sacrifi ce, thrice
purified, gett ing rid of this mortal frame, I am delighting in a
deva-city, like unto Inda. .
32 Long life and beauty, happiness and strength- he that wishes
for such excellence, 0 sage, should bestow much food and
drink, well made ready, on orie of detached mind.
11 Not in this world nor in that beyond does there exist one who
is better than a Duddha or his peer. To them that seek for a
ri ch fr uit of merit he becomes the goal of supreme gift among
them that are worthy of invocation."
While he was speaking thus, thc Elder, knowing hi5 mind wu
rcady, wi thout thc hindrances and 50 rorth, expounded the truths,
and at thc conclusion cstabli shed him in the fruit of stream-cntry.
T hen thc Elder, returning to the worl d of men, repeated to the
Lord the conversat ion he had had with the deva-youth. The
'Tlte Il uuJhu \ (> Gotama. M<nli(lned nl.o in JJ.IB Bnd 60.,.
I CI A.eel .;Ar_e , he di!lllPlleannr:e of the Di, per'llation of KOlJii&manl. the
Buddha prtcedinll Kauapll . Now Ihe uiyan way. t he doo, to the ci ly of
JlIbbAna. was opened (again). VvA. lll . Mlln. 217 (J\1!J. Ii. II).
126 STORIES OF THE MANSIONS
Teacher, making the matter thl! occasion for a discourse,
Dhamma to the assembly that was present.
The Summary:
Frog, Chatta, crah, door-keeper,
Two should_he_dones. two needles. three elephants,
ano two charints-
Of Men is the Fifth Division to be known.
THE THIRD PORTION FOR RECITAL
taught
VI. THE SIXTH DIVISION:
PAYASI
I (65). THE FIRST, HOME MANSION
(Agariyavimiina)
The Blessed One was staying at Raj:lgaha, in HamuUI) Grove.
There was then at Rajagalm a wtalthy a well-
:spring of btndit:s for monks and nuns. The parents, having all
wurkeu IIItrit in the name of the Three J eweis, deceased
from and were rebom among the Thirty-Three. For them
there was a ten-yojana golden Mansion. Then did the venerable
Maha-Moggallina ask:
"Even a3 shines the Cittalata Grove, the best and supreme
pleasaunce of the (Three-and-) Thirty, so stands this Mansion
of yours in the mid-air, refulgent.
2 You, attained to the psychic potency of devas. are of great
human heing? Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus
and your beauty illumines all the quarters?"
3 That deva-youth, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
fruit.
4 " I and my wife in the world of men lived in a house and were
of benefits. With minds of faith we gave both food
and drink respectfully, an abundant giving.
5 Became of this is my beauty such ... and my beauty illu-
mines all the quarters."
2 (66). THE SECOND: SECOl\TI) HOME MANSION
(Duti)'a-agariyavimiina)
Identical in all respects with the preceding.
as S T OR I ES O F TH E I'IIANSIONS
3 (07). THE THIRD: FRUIT-GIVER'S MANSION
(Phalada ya kay imiina}
The One stNyilig at Rajagaha, in Damboo Grove. At
that tillle Killg Billlbisara wanted to eat mangoes out of due
The g,mkner, in spite of cli Cflculties, promised to do hi, best and
pru!luced sOllle by forced n:easures. When four had ripened he
picked them for the king. nut on seeing t he venerable Mahii -
MoggalHina who was walking for alms, he thought , " I will give
tbese mangoes to thi s wort hy gent leman and willingly let thc king
kill me or banish me, for insignificant is the merit here-now for
giving to the king, but immeasurable will be the merit here-now
and in a futu re state for giving to the worthy gentleman." So he
gave t hese fruits to the Elder and then told thEl king. The king
sent for his men and said, " Watch if he has told me ri ghtl y." T he
Elder gave the mungocs to the IJIe3Scd One, who shared them with
Sii rip.uttn, Mnh1i Moggallana, and Maha-Kassap:.t. T he
lung henrzng thIS was pleased wi th the gardener's courage, gave
him n villnge, niment and ornaments, and asked him to impart
merit for the deed to him. T he gardener replied: "I gi ve, si re;
(hoose the gain according to your pleasure. " And when the.
gardener came to die, he was reborn among the Thi rty-T hrel! with
a sixteen-yojana golden Mansion. The venerabl e Mahii_Moggal liin3
asked him:
" Lofty is this Mansion wi th jewell ed shafts, sixteen yojanas all
round, t here arc seven hundred splendid pi rlllacled halls and
lovely pill ars of beryl spread over WIt h the gteaming metal. '
2 There do you bide and dri nk and eat whi le cleva-like lut es
make mclody, and ei ght times eight deva-maide:ls, trained and
fair, glori ous denizens of the (Three-and-) Thirtyl, dance, si ng,
enjoy themseh es.
3 attained to the psychic potency of devas, arc of great
majesty. What Ill erit did you perform when you were born a
human bei ng ? Because of what is your brilliant maj esty thus
1 .sec note I<> 54.1 .
!loth Vv VvA . bvr gl .... nl'. e" have (Sinh. and aUT_
Que for and c he.ing ali ke can b. confused when MiSS)
but VvA. doe, g"lVe the vammt readlllJi! "' deniztl18 [>1" T, d .sa"
nmku Ihe belle "mc. See 60 3
pi\yi\ S J
"9
4- Th3t deva-youth, del ighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
when asked the question explai ned of what deed t his was the
fruit.
5 " Fruit-giver acquires 2. bundant fruit. I Giving with a mind of
fait h to those who are fa ri ng upri ghtl y he rejoices among the
Three (-and-Thirty)2 on gaining heaven and experiences
2bundant fruit of merit. So di d I, great sage, gi ve four fruits.
6 Therefore it behoves one in quest of constant happiness and
welfare to give a fru it whcther he be desiring deva-like happiness
or wishing for delights among men.
7 Because of this is my beaut y such ... and my beauty ill umines
all the quarters."
4 (68). THE FOURrH: ASYLUM-GIVER'S MANSION
(Upas,ayadii yab'limiinll )
T he Blessed One was staying at Rajagaha, in Damboo Grove.
At that time a ccrtain monk, on his wav after the rains to salute
the Blessed One, entered a cert ain and sought a suitable
night 's lodging. T he lay-follower whom he asked, after consult ing
with his wi fe. invited the monk to bc his guest, and next morning
as the visitor set out again, he gave him a lump of molasses. Aft er
he had died the Layman was reborn wi th his wife in [he realm of
the Thirty-Three with a twelve-yojana golden Mansion. T he
venerable Maha-l\1oggallii na asked him;
goes the moon in t he zenith when clouds have cleared
shedding effulgence in the sky, so stands this Mansion of yours
sheddmg eEulgence in the sky.
2 You, attained to the psychic potency of deyas, are of great
majesty. What meri t did you perform when you were born a
human Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus
3 That deva-youth, delighted ... of what deed this was the
fruit.
4- " I and my wife ill the world of men gave asylum to:m arahant;
, I.e. of merit, VvA.
t idiv .. , Iii . th" of the Three. since diva is helvcn. \ 'vA. cl1" pl!im
?y '!'Avat i,ilsabhavan", the abode of the Thirt y-Three, and ThagA. ii. by
rusll"-cievdoka, ,r.c deva-world T Ullw.
".
STORIES OF THE MANS I ONS
with minds of fait h we g2ve bet h food and dri nk respectfully,
an abundant giving.
5, 6 Because of this i3 my beauty such .. . and my beaut y illu-
mines all the quarters. "
5 (69). THE FIFTH,
SECOND ASYLUMGIVER'S MANSION
( f)IIt.i ya -11 passayada yaka vimiina)
This is identical with t he foregoing, except that here there are
many monks, and Maha-Mogganana likens t he Mansion to the
", n.
6 (70). THE SIXTH,
ALMSFOOD.()IVER'S MANSION
(Bhikkhadayakavimana)
The Blessed One W2S Ha),jng at Rajagaha, in Damboo Grove.
At that lime a certain monk who was going along a highroad
entered a cerlain village for alms lind halted at t he door of a house.
T he inmate who had just washed his hands and feet and sat down
to eat filled all his portion into t he monk' s bowl; aft er gi ving t hanks
he departed. The man in gladness thought, " I have given to a
hungry monk and left myself fai ting." Dying later, he was reborn
among the Thirty-Three with a twel ve-yojana golden Mansion.
The venerable Maha-l ....l oggallana asked hi m:
" Lofty is this Mansion wi th jewelled sh3fts, a dozen yoj:mas
all round, there are seven hundred' splendid pinnacled
halls and lovely pillars of beryl spread over with the gleami ng
met al.
:2 You, IIttllined to the psychic potency of devas, are of great
majesty . .. and your beauty illumines aU Ihe qua rt ers
3 That deva-you th, delighted ... of what deed t his W,l S the
fr uit.
.;. ","Vhen I was born a hUm:lll being among men, on !weing a
I seventeen,!l8 m No. ". VvA., Be, satta UII on all occur-
n:n,,"s, i.e. NOlI. 54,67.7,(71).17,7'),85.
As at 68.1.
pAyASl 1 1
monk who was hungry' and weary. I offered and gave him
then the only food that was in my possession.
S Because of thi s is my beauty such .. . and my beauty illumines
211 t he quarters."
1 (71). THE SEVENTH, BARLEY-WATeHER' S MANSION
(Yavapalakavimana)
The Blessed One was staying at Riijagaha, in Bamboo Grove. At
that time a certain poor boy was watcher in a field of barley, and he
had brought kummii sa for his b: cakfast. As he sat down to eat it,
there came to that place an El der whosc cankers werc destroyed .
T he boy asked, " Have YOIl got food, sid" The Elder was si lent.
The boy seei ng this meant "No", said, " Sir, it is too late to fi nd
alms so near mealti me ; out of compassion for me eat this kum-
masa." The Elder out of compassion for him pa rt ook of it while he
was looking on, thanked him and departed. The boy, his mi nd
made devout, thought he had done well to give to such a one. When
after a time he died he was reborn in the realm of the' I'hirty-Three
with a Mansion, as just descri bed. The venerable Maha-Moggal-
Una asked him:
1, 2 " Lofty is this Mamion with jewelled shafts ... and your
beauty illumines all the fjllarters ."2
3 Th", cleva-youth, dr.li ghtcd ... of what deed this was the fruit.
" " 'A' hen' hom a human being among men I W2.S a watcher
in a barley ficin. I !l.aw a monk without defi lements. serene in
mind, without confusiun.
S '1'0 him T, having faith, with my own hand gave a portion (of
kllmmasn). Having given a lump of kumrniis2, I rejoice in
Nandana Grove.
6 Because of this is my beau t y such . .. and my beaut y illumines
all the quarters."
8 (12). THE EIGHTH:
EARRINGS-WEA.RER MANSION
(K i v it nana)
The Blessed One was stayi ng at Savatthi, in Jeta Grove. At
I tasi lt is usuall, ...d e!se\\he,e al pipbi t a, thirsty .
A, at 70. ver. 1.2.
'3'
S T O R IE S OF TilE MAI\S I ON5
Ihnt time the pair of di sciples with their foll owers were on
tour among t he and arrived at a vi hara, at sunset.
Then a lay-followr:T c.;;me and bathed and anomted thcltJcct and,
inviting t hem for t he next day, prepared a goodly gift. Af,ter
t hanking him , hI': El ders went on thci r way. He after ',le had died
was reborn among t he Thirty-T hree wit h a t welve-yoJana golden
Mansion. 'I' ll I': venerable Maha . J\1oggali ana asked him:
"Adorned, wearing garland:; of flo wers, in lovely ruiment, with
earrings bright, hai r and lieard trimmed, arrayed with brace-
lets resplendent as the mooll ill a deva-like Mansion,
z While dew-like lutes make: Illdody and eight t imell eight deva-
3
maidens. trained and fair, Kiul ious denizens of the (Three-and-)
Thirty, dance, sing, enj uy tlll:lIlSei ves,l
You, attained to t he pSYl.:hic potency of devns, nfe " f great
majesty. What merit Jid you perform we.re born a
human being? Because of what is you r brll li ont majest y thus
and your beauty illulllillt:s all the quarters?"
4 T hat deva -youth, Jdighted .. . of what deed this wn the
fruit.
5
" When I was born a human bei ng among men, on seeing
virtuous recluses possessed of and (right) conduct ,
renowned, learned, who had come to the destruction of
craving, .
6 (to them) with a miud of faith 1 gave bot h food and drmk
7
respect fully, an abulIJiIlH giving. . .
Because of this is Illy beaufy Mich ... and my beauty Ill Ulluncs
all quarters."
9 (H). THE NINTH,
SECOND EARRINGS-WEARER MANSION

T his happened ill the foregoing Mansion, T he verse .. too are
the ,arne, CXl,:ep L that in vcr. 5 ss maJ:le sadhuflipe,l of
good depurlllu,;ul, replace.'l samllt:\c si bvante, vi rtuOlls rccl u!\es.
, Sec 67.1.
1 stdhurOpa II Uh. lI6l "",,,n varioo.sly IrHns]at"d.
pAyAS I
10 (74). THE TENTH, UrrARA'S MANSION
(Uuaravimana)
' 33
Aft er the Dlessed One haJ altailll:d final nibbana and the
Council was [0 take plat:c:, tlu: venerable Kumira Kassapa had
gone to {he town of Setl:lvYd with many mon ks and was staying in
the Sil'hsapa Grove. 'l'heu t ile ru ler Payasi heari ng of thi s visi ted
arId welcomed. bif f! all J theH, in discmsion of his the El der
persuaded b illl lJf lhe reality of the world beyond as is told in the
Sutta.
1
011 leaving, Payasi g a Y!: gifts of charity, but inas-
much as he Kave poor (aiC and garments that were scarcely ade-
quat e, nul being accustomed to it (earl ier),l aft er he di ed he arose
in a low group in companionsnip w;t h the Four CreAt Kings. And
a brahman yuuth named Utl ara him in his aeti,iti es ;
havillg lt inl:ldf given liberally and respectfully he arose in the
gwup (J f tlte Thil- ty- Three with a twdve-yojana Mansion. To
show his gra titude he appeared with his Mansion before the Elder
KUfnara- K<lssapa and 5<l luted him. The Elder aSKed him:
" E\'en like Sudhamma Hall of t he deva-king,J where bides the
a5sClnblcd company or devas, so does this Mansion of yours
sland in the mid-air, refulgent.
2 You, attained to the psychi c potency or devas, are of great
majesty. What merit did ynu perform when you were oorn a
human heing? Because or what is your brilliant majesty thus
and your beauty illumines al l the quarters 1"
3 T hat deva-yout h, delighted ... of what deed this was the fr ui t.
4 " When I was born a human being among men I was a brah-
m"n you th under King payasi. T he wealt h I earned I did
snare, for dear to me we re those who were virtuous.
5 With a mind of faith I gave bot h food and drink respectfully,
an abundant gi ving.
6 Dccausc of this is my be"ulY such ... and my beauty ill ulll iucs
all the quarters."
The Summary:
Two homes, fruit-giver, two asylum-givers. al msfood-giver,
narl e::y-watcher, as welt 2.S two ear ring-wearers, Payasi.
THE SIXTH DI VU:HUN-
, n. Suttll No. XXII I. 1 Cf. No, 8+. ) Sakka, VvA. 1II98.
So at E" and VvA. 1'4yhlVagga at Be.
VII. THE SEVENTH DIVISION:
SUNIKKHITTA
1 (75). THE FIRST, CITTALATA MANSION
(Cittalatii vimana)
The Blessed Onc was staying at Siivatthi, in Jeta Grove. There
was then a poor lay-foll ower who lived by working for others. He
was believing and supported his aged parents, for he thought,
" Women placed in a household rule the roost . They seldom
respect their in-laws," So he carried on, keeping the moral pre-
cepts and the Observance (days). He was reborn after dying among
the Thirty-Three in a twe1ve-yojana Mansion. The venerable
Maha-Moggallana, coming as aforesaid, asked him:
"Even a! shines the Cittalatn Grove, the best and supreme
pleasauncc of the (Three-and-) Thirty, so stands this Mansion
of yours in the mid-air, refulgent.
2 You, attained to the psychic potency of devas, are of great
human being? Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus
and your beauty illumi nes all t he quarters ?"
3 That del/D. -youth, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana,
... of Wh.1t deed this was the frui t.
4 "When I was born a human being among men I was a poor,
destitute, miserable workman and I supported my aged par-
ents, and dea r to me were those who were vi uuous.
5 With:l mind of fai th I gave both food drink Tf'_<;fI!'ctfu ll y,
an abundant giving.
6, 7 Because of thi s is my beauty such .. . my heauty illu-
mines all the quarters ."
Z (76). THE SECOND, NANDANA MANSION
(Nandanavimina)
The same as the previous Mansion except that here the poor
SUN IK KHITl'A
'35
workm:m had taken a Wife, and t he fint verse begins "Even as
shines the Nanclana Grovel .. . " then to cOnli nue as in No. 75.
3 (77). THE THIRD, JEWELLED SHAFT MANSION
(MaQithOna'limiina)
T he Blessed One was staying at Savatthi, Jeta Grove. At that
t ime many Elden were leading the fores t life. For t hese going for
alms to the village a lay-follower made the paths smooth, cleared
away scrub, bridged watcr-courses, lind drained and banked up
water int o dcep pool! and so on, gave gifts and lIept the precepts.
Dying after a ti me he was reborn IImong the Thirty-Three with a
twelve-yojana golden Mansion. T he "enerllble Mahii-Moggct lHina
questioned him also:
" Lofty is this Mansion with jewelled shafts, a dozen yojanas
al l round, there afe seven hundred
2
splendid pinnaded halls
and lovely pillars of beryl spread ovcr with the gleaming metal.
2 There do you bide and dri nk and eat whil e deva-li ke lutes
make melody. Here are deva-like flavours, the five kinds of
se05c-plcasures, and women decked in gold do dance.
3 Because of what is your beauty such ... and your beauty
i!lumi nes all the quarters?"
4 T hat dcva-youth, del ight ed . .. of what deed this was the
fruit.
5 "When r was born a human being among men I made a walk in
a forcst path and I planted trees in a monastery, and dear to me
were those who were virtuous.
6 With a mind of fai th I gave bot h food and drink respectfully,
an abundant gi ving. Because of this is my beauty such ... and
my beauty illumineS all the quarters."
1 B: Nllndamln nolicir." the \'.1. IS at ar.d "vA' vlIlam Nantiaooril
Citta!atum, but both of thuc gi,'c t his Mansion the title of A
I'wlmhle er ror c f an earl y monn.,ic l,u 1'<I<: \\.1"I<:d by Dhlonm"plil"
If NRndanm I nd hOI Nor.dannvlna it . name to puIS
of se""ral hea\'ens \s DPPN) but Cittalau\ il found in T Jvatiril ..... o:liy.
> &aUDrlSl. S(e r.otl' fO 70. 1.
,,'
STOR I ES OF "' 11 8 MANSION S
4 (78). THE FOURTH, GOLDEN MANSION
(Su val,I I:-" v il nana)
The Blessed One was staying at Andhakavinda. Then a certain
believing and wealthy lay-f()lIower built on a bare hillside a
"fragrant hut" for him, made him stay there and ministered to
him and, having betn controlled by well purified moral habit, after
dying he was r=born in the realm of the Thirty-Three with a
Mansion of jewelled beauty and golden roof. The venerable
Maha-Moggallana questioned him:
"UpOll a golden mountain a Mansion lustrous all round, gold-
lIc:t-bcdrapcd, with tinkling bell-net fitted,
2 well-wrought pillars all made of beryl, their every
side created of the (kinds of) j ewels :
3 Of beryl, of gold, and of crystal and silver, begemmcd with
with pearls and with rubies,
4 Gai ly coloured RooC,' delightful ; no dust is stirred up there;
created zre many yellow
2
rafters that support the roof,
S And created arc four stairways for the four di rections. With
rooms of many j ewels it li ke the sun.
6 There the four railings) partitioned, the proportions planned,
dazzling, lighten all round the four direetiong.
7 In this glorious Mansion, a of great lust re, you
shine forth with beauty like the rising sun.
S Is the fruit of your giving or , again, of moral habit, or of
payi ng homage with clasped hmds ? When asked, make thi s
known to me."
9 Thnt delighted at being questioned by MoggalHina,
when asked the question explained of what deed thi s WAA the
fruit.
10 "When I was in Andhakavinda, having faith , wilh my own
hands I made a vihars for the teacher, of thr.
sun.
I I There, wit h devout mind, I bestowed on the teacher
fumes lmd gll rlands md requisites and unguents and the
vihara.
L c::i:rl bhOmi, as at 81.4.
, M.d. or gold nnd topu .nd 00 ()O, Vvll . l04 . cr. VvA. 1'1.
I Ee vodikl, VvA. vediyl in Ihe verse, n:J)lained at p . 104 : vediYA I; vcdiki.; 'lot
clear whtlher railing or platform ;s me""t.
SUN IKKHITTA
' 37
12 Decause of t his thi s is my gain: that 1 dwell as II master in
Nandana; and in the delightful Nandana Grove, I thehaunt of
many a flock of birds,l I deli ght, attended by nymphs with
dance and song."
5 (79). THE l'U'l'H: MANGO MANSION
(Amhavimana)
The Blessed One was staymg at Rajagaha, in Bamboo Grove.
There was then a certOlin poor man hired by others to guard a
One day in the hot weather he saw the venerable
Sari putta approaching worn with heat and fatigue, and he said:
"Sir, you seem overdone wi th the heat. It were well i f you came
into the mango-grove and rested out of compassi on for me." The
Elder consented, sat down under a and the man
brought hlln water to drink and water to bathe his hands and feet,
rejoi:ing afterwards over the meri t won. After dying he was reM
born among the Thirty-Three, and him too the venerable
Moggalllina asked:
.1 " I ,nfty is thi , Mansion with jewelled shafts, a dozen yojanas
all mllnd, there are seven hundred splendid pinnac1ed halls
and lovely pillars of beryl spread o\'er with the gleaming
metal.
2 There do you bide and drink and eat whil e lutes
make mdody. Here are flavours. the five kinds of
and women decked in gold do dance.
:; Because of whal is your beauty such ... and your beauty
ill umines all the quarters? "
4 That deva-youth. del ighted . . . of what deed this was the
fruit.
S "h Ihe last month of the hot season when the sun was
icording hut, 1, a hireling man, watered the mango-park of
others.
6 Then came there the monk S1iriputta, widely famed, tired in
body but nut tired in mi nd. .
i I, walering the mangoes, saw him coming and said, ' It were
, Ee P'VII'I!. VvA. 3()3, Du ca 'Qne. Sce No. 70), 1:1.
, Cf. 6] 34. 79.1:.
1.1 as al 5+ 1,2, 77. 1,l, 85. 1,1.
,,'
STORI8S OF TH E MAN S I O NS
well that I bathed you, reverend sir ; it would bring me
happiness.'
8 Out of compassion for me he lai d down his bowl and robe I
and in the ont robe' $3 t down in the shade at the root of a
tree.
9 And, with it mind of faith, I bathed that Elderl with dear
water as in the one robe (he was sitting) in the shade at the
root of t he tree.
10 The mango was watered, the recluse bathed, and not
considerabl e merit have I done- thus he suffused whole
body with zesl , J
II This was the extent of t he deed I did in that bi rth. Getting rid
of t he human body I have arisen in Nandana.
12 In the del ightful Nandana Grove, the haunt of many a flock
of birds, J I delight, attended by nymphs WiTh dance and song."
6 (80). THE SIXTH, COWHERD'S MANSION
(Gopalavimana)
The Blessed One was staying at Raj agaha, in Bamboo Grove.
Now a cowherd had left Rajagaha to graze his herds in t he pasture,
and saw the venerable Maha-Moggallana approaching. The latter,
discerning the coming death of t he man, drew near him. He hesi-
tated whether to preseO! the Elder wit h t he meal of kummasa he
had brought, or keep the kine off the bean-fields. Deciding he
could not lose t he chance, whatever t he masters of t hose !ields
might do to hi m, he offered meal and the Elder out of compas-
sion accepted. Then the cowherd, hurrying to keep out the cows,
heedlessly touched a snake and was bitten in the foot. Joyful and
happy at seeing the Elder eating, he was overrun by the poison and
died, being reborn among the Thirty-Three in a twel ve-yojana
, No d()ubllhe OUler robe and rhe inner rn pecl ivdy. He wo rc theantaravbaka
for hill bll h.
l E. ther"",! VvA., n.
J Thi s li m inserted by the recenlioni sh , Ihough not 10 stated in
V.A., which mike! no comment .
Ee pavane (pava re II 78. [2). P . .... appear. tu fo,'nt . t Vi ... '.9 :
IIati rn;glnam o::f. Mhvu. n. 382. 307. Re read f a VIl ne .
Cf. 63. 34, 78. u .
SU NIK K HI TTA
'"
golden Mansion. The venerable :vIaha-Moggallana seeing him
there asked:
The monk seeing the deva decked in bracel ets, renowned, in a
lofty and long-abiding Mansion li ke unt o the moon (-deva.
puna[ ) in his deva-like Mansion, asked him:
z " Adorned, wearing garl ands of flowen , in a lovely raiment,
with ea rrings bri ght, hai r ilnd bean.! t rimmed, dC:l:kc:d wi th
bral:dets, rcnownc:d, ill a uc: va-like eVC:1I likc: ultlu lhe
moon ( uc:\,aputta),
3 Whil e deva-l ikc: lutts lIIilkc: md ody and eighl ti mcs eight deva-
t rainc:d alld fair, glurioulS denizens vf lin: (Three-
anr.l -) T hirty, uallcc, sing, elljoy themselves,2
4 Yuu, attaillcd to tile psychic potency of devas, are of great
1I J<[jesty. \-Vllal IIlerit did you perform when you were born a
hUluan Leing I Decausc of what your brilliant majesty thus
alld your beauty illumines all the quarters?"
5 That deva-you th, delighted . . . of what doed this was the
fruit
6 "Whcn I was born a human being among men with care did I
gultld the kill e by others owned. Then a recl use d,'ew near me
and the cows went off to eat (a crop oP) beans .
7 ' T oday there arc two dut ies both of which 1 must perform ,_
thus did I ponder, reverend sir; thereupon reAecting carefully
and gaining awareness (of Dhamma), r handed hi m the
bundle saying, I give, reverend iJir.4
8 Swiftly then I went off to t he bean-fi eld before the herd had
trampled down another ' , property. But there a great black
poisonous bi t my foot as I wos hurrying on.
9 I was desperate, racked with poin ; t he monk untied the bundle
himself and partook of the kummiisa out of eompl1ssion
toward, mc. Deceasing from there when I had died, I 11m a
devoti .
1 0 Just that skilled deed was done by me, and I am profiting by
my own happy deed. It was you, reverend si r, who were
greatly compassionate; wi th gratitude I salute you.
, fandimi. d c". pUIIO, VvA. 3' 0. Cf. 6, .1.
I Suppl ied by V,A. 310.
Monka may toke o:l ly what i. aivcn to them.
S T O J.tII> S OF TH E MANSI ON S
T T In the world wi th t he devas and with the Maras t here is not
another sage compassionate as are you, reverend si r, who
were greatly compassionate ; wit h gratitude I salute you.
J2 In this world or indeed in one beyond there is not another
sage compassionnte as are you. It was you, reverend sir, who
were greatly compassionate; with gratitude I salute you."
7 (81). THE SEVENTH, KANTHAKA'S MANSION
(Kanthakavimiina)
The Blessed One was stayi ng at Savatthi, in l eta Grove. At
a time when the venerable Maha Moggallana was on a devatour,
Kan1haka, a dc\ayouth, coming out of his dwelli ng, was drivi ng
to the park with a great retinue and with great devapotency.
Seeing the venerable MahaMoggall ana he hasti ly alighted from
his vehicle and saluted him. And the Elder asked him:
" As Ihc moon at Ihe full,' the overlord of st ns, the nare
markcd,l surrounded by the constelbtionr;, proceeds around,
2 So doc, thi s devo-like nbode
3
s hine forth with beauty in a
deva-city like the rising sun.
3 Of beryl, of gold, nnd of erystal and silver, begcmmed wit h
cflt' 9-eyes, wi th pearls and with
4 Goily coloured floor,5 delightful, wilh beryl pllverl , pinnaded
hrlns goodly 3:1d lovely, your palace is wcl l. wrought.
5 And you have delightful lotus-pooh by the
puthuloma fish, IS the clear sparkling w;lter!'; fringed with golden
sand,
6 Covered wit h various lmuses, with white water lilies over-
iprcad, ent ranci ng, fanned by thr. they waft a lovely
fragrance around.'
7 On its two sides "re we.lI -created woodland t11ickets having
both flowering Irees II nrl fruiting trees.
Ee pu.:u)amiye, VIA. 3' 2,3 ' 4, Be
, H>O\II . Fu r of how th .. mOOn came: to haY<' t he mQri. of " hone 8U Sala_
JMRIc., }I. No. JIll.
l vynmha, as at 35.1. As at 78.3. I See 78. +, note.
VilA. 31Z a, at but Eo above read, pUlbala
",accbauviti, a pparently I a en u inc ...nr;"nl reading: ."'p"ns;vo (and) freq uented
hy I"h. De. Ce as well u VvA. ,[ 2 have mlde thi l re.lding uniform with . 4. 11 .
As al 44. 12.
5 U N IKK H ITTA
' 4'
8 (Whcn you arc) seatcd like a deva-king on a goldenfooted
di\'an, on a soft rug of cloth, I nymphs wai t on you.
9 Cnvered with all adornment s, beautified with vari ous garlands,
they delight YOlL who are of great psychic potency; even as
Vasavattin you rejoicc.
z
10 With drum, conch, kettledrum,3 with lutes and tam-tams
you 3rc filled with delight when dancc, song and sweet music
prevail.
II Manifold are these devalike shapes, deva-li ke sounds, also
savours and perfumes that afC agreeable, and delightful Iht!
objects of touch.
12 In this glorious Mansion, 3 deva- youth of great lustrt!, yuu
s hine forth with beauty like tne ri sing sun.
13 Is t his the fruit of your giving or aga in, of moral habit, ur of
paying homage with clasped hands I When asked, make this
kn{)wn to mc."
14 That devayouth, delighted .. . of what deed was lhe
fn!il.
' 5 " In thc superb ci ty of Kapil avatt hu of t he Sakyams I was
Kant haka, conatal with. Sudd hodana's son.s
Ib When at midnight he departed (to seek) for Awakeniltg, with
soft I!ct-likc hands and copper coloun:d Iluii s, 6
17 He patted my flank lUld said, 'Bear lUt: , frieIIJ .' When 1 have
attained supreme SelfAwakenilLg I will help the world
across. '
18 When I heard his voice great j oy was mine; wi th mind up
liflcd, happy, I neig- hn l (in cOlllpliance).8
[ Ce, which I fo:low, for rug of antelope-hide, as
bdng more appropriale.
A Cf. S. IV. A. iv.
l mud.liMa orl1lutilil:a. Forstory of .. drum of , hi. kind cdled Anab see S. ii .
z66. H. ii. 3H . nPPN. Is thertfore the " tabour" of PEL> correct ? Nowadays in
Sri isn bi ll <.i ruIIl . ve, y diffo<;ult 10 find OUI the differ
enee. b",!w""" .''' y in. tr umcnu thHt In he of Ihe drum-cl ass.
Ee devnpullii abhirocasi, VvA. , Be dcvapulla mlhnppnbho
at[cocasi . I follow lhe rea<.iing at 78 7, deVd PllllO mahappabho Ql iroeu[.
cr. FlvA. 131,l 76,'1')8 [u, [I ,,, eon .. lala, boon on Ihe: .. me d"y
SndcU,o<.Ianl" .on, aloo OA 4::1.5 .
The nCI-like or wt bbed hBnd. ore R Mark of a Grell Man, Ihe laWny uib
o nc of Ihe losscr char act er istics, VvA. J 15.
7 K le r", uf Tbe il odhi"'!t. wonted Knn!hakg, hi ,
In ea.ry hi"., th rn" , h mal one when he wu senin.Q OUI on hil Greal
o.,parlUre.
I abhi,i.illiril al Ee, abhi,il i al VvA. 3 t3, explamt a, icehi,
'"
STORIES OF TI-I E MAN!H O NS
19 In knowing that the son of the Sakyans. of great renown, had
mounted me, with mind uplifted. rej oicing, t bore t he man
supreme.
20 Having gone t hrough others' terri tories, as the sun was rising
he went on. without (any) longing, leaving me and Channa!
behind.
21 With my tongue I licked his feet of ropperwcoloured nails and
weeping looked on as the great hero went.
22 Because I did not see t he J;!:lori ous Saky:m son any morc, I fell
sore sick, quickl y I died.
23 And by his very majesty I inhabit this deva-like Mansion i n a
de,'a-city furnished with all modes of sense-pleasures.
24 And whatc\er io}' arose in me when I heard of his Awakening,
by that very root of skill I shall reach destruction of thc
cankers.
25 If you, reverend si r, should go into the presence of the teacher,
t he Buddha, with my words too would you speak in hom2.gc at
his feet
26 l too will go to see the Conqueror, man without an equal ;
hard it is to see protectors of t he world such as he."
27 And he, grateful, mindful of benefits, approached the Teacher ;
when he had heard the voice of the One with Vision he
purifi ed t he vision of Dhamma.
28 Purified of misbelieF, doubt and vows, honouring t he
teacher's Feet, he disappeared then and there
I
.
8 (82), 1HE EIGHTH: MANSION OF DIVERS HUE
(A nekaval)l)avi mana)
The Blessed One was staying at Silvatthi, in Jetu
venerable Maha-Moggall ana was on a deva-tour iu of
the Thirt y-Three and was saluted by a deva-youth of divers hue
who approached him and stood wit h cl asped hands st retched out .
The Elder asked:
" Ri sen to a Mansion of divers hue, Iotrief and fatigue-dispelling,
I The charioteer.
I The lalt two v<: raes put in by Ihe remioni, ts, V'IA. 317.
S U NIKKHIT T A . .,
of divers beauty, surrounded by a throng of nymphs, you, like
the lord of creati on, Sunimmit a, I do rejoice.
2 You h)ve no peer, whence t hen a better in renown, merit and
psychi c potency ? All the deva host in the (Three-and-)
Thirt y are met to pay homage to you even as the devas (among
men
2
pay homage) to the moon.
3 And these, you r nymphs, on every side dance, sing, enjoy
themselves . You, attained to the psychic potency of clevas, are of
great majesty.
4 What merit did you perform when you were born a human
being ; Hecause of what is your brilliant majest y t hus and your
beauty illumines all the quarters ?"
5 That deva-youth, delighted . . . of what deed this was t he
fru it'.
6 " I , reverend si r , formerly was a disciple oi t he Conqueror
named Sumedha.
J
A worldling was I with no awakening, one
who for seven years had gone fort h.
7 When t he Conqueror Sumedha, the teacher, the steadfast one
who had crossed the Rood, waned out finally, I then paid
homage at hi s thOpa of j ewels which was covered 'with a
golden net, hringing peace to my mind.
S Not mine Vias gift for I had nothing to give. But I roused
others there: 'Pay homage to that reli c of him who is wonhy of
homage ; thus, it is sa id, you will go hence to heaven.'
9 Such was the ski lled deed done by me, for which I enjoy deva-
like bliSS. I rejoice in the midst of the host of t he (Three-aIlJ- )
T hirty for exhaustion of that merit has nO! (yet) come."j
I Alt houah t bis dei ty bd onMed to the Thi Tty_T hru, on I<: t ount of hi. devll-
li ke enjoymtnu h<: rejoictS like t he dC'IakinH Su nimitta, VvA. 310. Sunirni tta
ment :onr d at H.18.
1 . 0 VvA. J" ', ",hieh lOt n. 7 . quote. theoe with b rAhmons.
Th ree of deva. are in the comment, riel: devu by conven-
tion, ':oy pur ifi cation, by birth, e.g. VvA. 18, etc. Here d<:'1u of the fint or s<: cond
clltegorie\l might bUI el'<:n so t he .;11"'(; .... " .. ., oil"'. ain" le ,. oot d ear.
c:. Mil ... "10--: wher. 1M <: rl Ih .. l .. tI only Imonll thlli e (who were
bolie1'ers in /) t he (sndiml '$uriyl (devuh), ond among thOle belonging 10 other
groups, i8 t:om;:> ar.d to the rceLtal of the Pltimokkha in the midlt of monk.
(only), bei ng c:osed tl> Ull,o; pwp!c. MO. i . a7z, n. 7; Dl ao No. 80 . ,,, ,
.. Sn. SOli .
l I I th Buddh".
cr. 8 .. . 34.
S T O R I ES OF , ' H E: MA NS I ONS
9 (83). THE NINTH,
WEARING POLISHED EARRINGS MANSION'
(Mat tak u .,c.Jalivi mana 1)
The Blessed One was staying at Siivatt hi, i n Jeta Grove, A
very wealt hy but unbel ieving brahman lived there who ne,'er ga'ie
anybody anything and came to be known as Never Giver. And he
had enjoined on his son that he was not to go near
the Blessed One or his disciple!!. He obeyed. When he fell ill his
father would not even afford him medici ne, till , the son growing
worse, the physicians, when sent for, said it was an incurable case.
Now t he Blesied One, emergi ng from the attainment of great pity,
saw that he mi ght sa\'e the son and t he father , and standing near
their home he sent forth his rays. T he son, thrill ed and joyful,
saluted and lay back. Soon after the Blcsied One left he died and
was horn in a t welve-yoj ana :vIansion among t he Thirty-T hree.
T he day aft er t he fu neral obsequies the fat her went weeping to the
cemetery call ing his SQn by name, T he son, a deva-youth, seeing
him, appeared to the fat her as ManakUl:a 4al in weeping wit h arms
clasped (in sorrow) saying: " Ah, moon! Ah, sun I" Then the
brahman said :
"Adorned, wearing earrings, J bearing garlands, with
an appl icAtion of ydlow
4
!! andalwood on your skin, clasping
your you are lamenting. What (sorrow) is afflict ing you
in midflt of the wood ?"
Then the devayouth said to hi ... ;
z "Made of gold and lustrous arose my chariot-frame. I cannot
find a pair of wheels for it. Through that sorrow, I will
abandon li fe."
T hen the s(li d to him:
3 " Made of gold, made of jewel.s, made of rubies or else of
, Cf. JI No. " 49 and DhA. i . 25ff. where Ihis ItOry also occu rs, 80metimes wit h
del.i l. S,e BL. i . '59, n. I which aaya VvA. version deriv" from DhA.
Ind not from t h. }I . .-eraion. Story abo a, Vv. II. 3 but nO ver&e. IIppeDr, re-
fe rence being mede ,n$lud 10 Vv. The .. me t he u!clcn neu of mourning
for t he dud, i , the subject of 1ft . No. " l '"
Vv. reads l\Ia\ta- ; at VvA. and in ol ner versions of the story, ManIla
which 8hou ld be Ih. C(l rroct form.
, mltiaku{lQati, a pun on his naille.
VvA. J Z" explain. h.,i_ nlt a-, red or d yed.
S lJN I KKH I T T A
'"
sil ver, you tell me, dear brahman yout h, I will procure you a
pair of wheels,"
hrahman yout h, to humble t he brahman for having failed to
gel medi cine for hi s son, said, " They must be large like t he moon
li nd the sun", znd he requested him thus :
4 T hat lw,duuan youth spoke out to hi m, " The moon and the
SUIL are uoth to be seen here.! My chariot , made of gold ,
wuuld shi ne with such a p(lir of wheels."
Then the brahman said:
5 " Fool indeed arc you, brahman yout h, you wil o seek for whllt
Cot Ull ot be obtained. I deem that you will die lor you cannot
acqui re t he reoon and sun."
The brahman youth said to him, " Whi ch is the (greater) fool,
he who weeps for what can be seen or he who weeps for what
canr. ot be seen ?"
6 " ' I'heir coming and going i5 to be seen, t he natural properti es
and beaut yl of bot h in their COUfSel!. But he that is dead aod
has done his time is not to be seen. Which (of us) lamenting
here is not the greater fool ?"
Thinking he spoke sensibly, t he brahman said to t he youth :
7 "It is t rue what you say, brahman youth. (Of us) lament ing
t hus, I veril y am the greater fool. Like a child crying for the
moon I was seeking for him who is dead aod has donI'! hil'!.
t ime."
And the brahman, coming to be wit hout sorrow through t hat
verse, spoke these verses giving praise t o t he brahman youth:
8 J" Verily I was all ablaze being like nre over which ghee had
been poured, (but) now am as if sprinklen with wat er, all my
sorrow waned.
9 Veril y you drew from me t he d:u t, f hl'! grief t nat was lodged in
, H. iv. 61, DhA. i. 29 and a v.I. Biven at V\"A. 325 read bhalDro, brotherl, for
disure at and Be. Y. 'II ith whom I dilt us,ed Ihii vcr.c,
kno'", no other reference to lht: moon anu being broth. Ta- nor do 1. C"" it
a urly ur(>r for fnrl h 1
2 vaooadMtu, as at Pv. I. 3.t .
Vct. 8,9,10 are tht same II Pv. I. 8.5,6,7.
",
STO RIES O F T il E MANS I ONS
my hp. art, (and) dlspeJled for me, overcome by grief. a
father 's gri ef for a son.
10 So I, the dart drawn out, am become cool, am waned. I do
not gri eve. I do not weep. having heard you, brahman youth."
Then t he brahman, aski ng him " Who are you r" said :
I I "Now, are you a devata, a heavenly musician, or Sakka,
bounteous giver? Or who are you? Or whose son? How are
we to know you ?" l
And he spoke of himself to him:
12 "1 am that son },ou cremated in the cemetery for whom you
lament and for whom you grieve who, having done 2 skilled
deed, has attained to the companionshi p of the (T hree-and- )
Thirty" .
Then the brahman said:
13 " Little or much of giving a gift in our house we have not
seell, or keeping Qbserv2ncc (days) and such like. By what
deed are you gone to a deva-world ?"
Then the brahman youth said :
1i " I was diseased, afRicted, ill in my own dwelli ng,
sick in body. I saw the stainless Rud rlhll, well -
fa rer, of perfect wisdom.
15 I, my heart gladdened, wi th 1'1 mind of f:lith, reverenced the
Tathagata with daspetl I , having done this skilled
deed, have 3ttai ned to tht: companiOll!;hip of the (Three-and-)
Thirty."
While he was speaking thus the brahman's whole physical frame
was filled with zest, and he said :
16 " Wonderful, indeed, marvell ous, that this is the fr uition of
a deed of clasping the hands in reverence. I too, my heart glad-
dened, wilh a mind of faith, this very day turn to the Buddha
for refuge."
Then the deva-youth, enjoining the going ior refuge and the
undertaking of the mOfa! precept!>, spoke two verses:
17 "'1 hi s very day, with a mind of fait h, do you turn to the
, Cf. 62.2.
SUN IKKHITTA
. .,
Buddha for refuge and to Dhamma and to the Order. Like-
wise do you undertake in their unbroken entirety the five
steps in the training.
18 Do you forthwith refrain from onslaught on creatures, do you
shun what in the world is not given, drink no strong liquor,
and do not speak a lie, and be content with your own wife."
When the de'/:l-yollth h::.d thlill the going for refuge and
the undert:lking of t.hr. mM::'! precepts, the brahman, agreei ng to
his bidding, S:l.i n:
19 " You desire my good, yakkha,l you desire my welfare,
deval3. I will do your bidding, you are my teacher.
2() I go to the Buddha for refuge and to Dhamma supreme and ttl
the Order of the deva among men I go for refuge.
21 Forthwith I refrain from onslaught on creatures, I shun what
in the world is not given, I drink no strong liquor, and du !lol
speak a lie, and I am cont ent with my own wife. "
10 (84). mE TENTH, SER1SSAKA'S MANSION
(Seri ssaka vimana)
1
After the Blessed One had attained final niblJalla the venerable
Kumara-Kassapa together with five hundred arrived at the
ci ty of Setavya. T here, dissuading the rul!;:r, rayasi,) from hi!
di stort ed views, he established him in right views. r rom then on,
as he liked merit, giving gifts lO recl u1:ie!l and brahmans, but gi ving
t hem carelessly, not being accustuilled to it (earlier), aiter he died
he was reborn in an tlllpty Mall5iull in a grove in the abodc
of the Four Great Kings. It is said, in t he past some traden of
going to Si udhu and Sovlrn, travelling by ni ght
for [tal of ,11\: day's heat, lost theit" way. With them was a believi ng
lay- folluwer who had the qualification:!i for <luaining arahantship
and had joined the traden to support hi :! parents. To help him
the deva-youth Sel"issaka showed himself wit h his Mamion li nd
asked the traders how they were come into a shaddess, wnterletlS
I "Sprite" might he ti possible trallslat ion here, but would Ilot alwaYI be

, C(' "k", VvA. Re S ... loah.
J Cf. D. ii. J16ff. Ment ioned in NO.7,. .
AeadD ,;rissD.
."
STOR IES OF THE MANSIONS
and sandy desert. They told him. T o explain their connexion, the
first two verses were put in by the rccensioflisB.
whele the meeting between the yakkha lind the traders
then took place and how the well spoken conversation was
conducted by one and another and ull of you do listen to it.
2 lIe who was named King Payasi, a companion of the earth-
devas, renowned, he, rejoicing in his own Mansion, a non-
human being, addressed the men, saying:
3 "In a crooked! forest where no men go, in a waterless desert
with little to eat, where it is very difficult to travel in the
midst of n sandy tract,2 and where men may lose their wits
through fear of uncertainty,J
4 :--rot here are fruits or roots. There are no provisions,4 how
then h there food here? There is nothing but dust and sand
of pitiless scorching heat,
5 A barren waste like a scorched iron pot, bereft of benefit
a world beyond,! once the camp of brigands, fln
district.
6 And you, by what Clluse impelled, what desiring, to this plflce,
indeed, are you come in great togethl'r- fmm greed,
from fear have you lost the Wfly?"
Then the traders said:
7 "Caravan-men in Magadha and Anga, loaded plenteous
wares to go to Sind 1m and Sovira lands, needing wealth,
seeking gain.
8 Unable to endure the thi rst by day and with for
our bullocks, at this paee we all have come faring along the
way at a wrong time, by night.
' vHnka, u.ually 'crooked' as here, and e:<plBined al VvA. 334 M .am., ayat_
thana. n place where there is (as regalds life or death).
, var;.uupatha explained ot V\'A. 3301 al vjjluhntara, an error for
kant<1ro. Or could '1ol.lt)upatha have the uf Sk. va'.lik-patha, Il1l.dec',
pa:h? Va!) ,:," Blone in 'Ier. ",
l Ee vmika, as in line 1 'crool<ed'; "0 mme for crows", Jii. iii. 313 bllt not
making senSe here. Cf. olso Sn. ;.'170, 271, SnA. 303. Reading tt VvA. 334
dhanka, explaIned dhankehi kakeh, VvA [leo Ce vanka,;, bh.yi Ii
hllil;;; varikehi ,i dha,ikahhaya (YvA !l e. Ce omit)
v3nabbe silnunilsikmil kal v';: dhatikham (VvA Ill'. Cc vaill<mi,)
bhayii Ii vUltam. l dafi co valukanldrappavCianato (VvA lle, Ce
vcsanalo) pubbc ,,,,,,,,i, uPI,annabhayarn sanclhiiya vu'lam.
VvA. 135 Ilives two of the meanings of food and fuel.
, Ibid. equates it to nanka,
SUNfKKHI'{''l'A
."
9 Badly we strayed and missed the way. we were confused like
blind men lost in a forest. Amid a sandy tract extremely
difficult to traverse, our minds hewildered, we know not the
direction.
IO Now, seeing what ha;; not been seen before- a fine ManSion
and you, yakkha-now for life with hope arisen;
because we have seen (you) we are glad, happy, joyful."
Again the deva-youth asked:
II "And this sandy waste! extends beyond the sea,2 the road a
rugged path of stakes to be (warily) trodden with a creepcr-
rupe
3
; again there are rivers and inaccessi ble places among
the rocks-many are the districts you go through for the sake
of wealth.
12 Entering the territories of other kings, looking on men of
other lands, that which you have heard or again that whieh
you have also seen, of this wonder, dear friends, we will hear
from you."
The traders, thus asked by the deva-youth, said :
I] "Nothing more wunuerfuiliwil prince, have we heard or
eillu;:r have we aJ! earthly things, we never
tire uf yuur pcrfcCl btauty.
14 Lot us pools ale in const ant flow in the sky, abounding in
bloS50!TIS, with many whit e lotuses I and these trees ever
bearing fruit waft sccnts around.
IS A hundred pillar:> of beryl on high and thc long plinths of
ruck-crystal and coral, of cat's-eyes and rubies, thesc piHars
arc made of brilliant jewels.
6
16 A thousand pillarll unequalled in maj esty, this goodly Man-
sion crowning them. \Vithin arc various jewels,' the railings'
arc of gold; it is bcautif'.l lly covered with shining plates.
9
, vat;u;"'.
, Elu (EVvp) '770 A.C. ,.kes Ihi. line as: (you go)
beyond the ocun and in traC1S.
J vatt., or cane? Not clear from the Corny. EVvp tah. it as cane tied to
gather.
For tnppimo re.d dis"" n.
, As No. q.7 .
jotimsa , as at No. 9.7.
0" the wu118, l-'il1",., st"i,way., VvA. J40 .
I vedi. Mhv . Trans!. for note on this tcrm.
9 tapaniy,'pa\la ; made of gold (tapaniyn:1 and mad. of va,ious gEmS, VvA. )40.
STOR I ES OF TH E MAN S I ONS
17 This. 1 resplendent as molten gol d of the Iambona river, wit h
terraces and stairways and landings
2
well polished, strong
and lovely and very well fi tted. is exceedingly pleasurable and
delight ful,
18 Within the jewell ed (Mansion) is abundant food and drink.
Surrounded by a throng of nymphs, resounding wi th kettle-
drums,3 drums, musical inst ruments, you are reverenced wi th
salutations and praise.
19 enlivened by a of women on the delightful
glOriOUS terrace of the Mansion, you of
maf,l:nificence furnished with everything good,4 enjoy your-
sel f li ke King Vessavar.13 in Na!ini.!
20 Now, are you a deva or are you 3 yakkha or the lord of devas in
human form I The traders, the alravan-men, are asking you.
T ell us what is your name. Are you a yakkha ?"
That deVil-youth now made himself known and said:
21 " I am a yakkha named Serissaka. Warder am I of sandy
t racks in the desert. r supervise this quarter and then that,
carr yi ng out the bidding of King Vessav3l:1a."
Now the Iraden , about hi s deeds, said :
22 "Fortuitously obtained by you or risen in fulfilment or
wrought by you or by t he dews gi ven? The traders, the
caravan-men, are asking YOll : How was this delight oblained
by you / "
The deva-youth, rejecting t hese four alternat ives, spoke a verse
i ndi cating that it was merit it self:
z3 "Not fortuit ously obtai ned by me nor risen in fulfilment, nO[
wrought by me nor indeed by devas gi,en. By my own bla me-
less dceds of merit was delight obtained by me."
The traders asked about the nature of the merit :
z4 " What was your vow or what you r Brahma-faring ? Of what
I Monsion of yours. IbId .
ph.t.(ko). ;n t he of board, prob. rcfc'8 In .opiin"phBl .. (kB), ot8'rcue
IBndini. Cr. l l . 1. 130.
) t >t ploined at VvA. 340 by muditiBa. See 81.10, nete .
IlibbagUl,lA, aU adyantagn, merits, enjoyment, .
! VvA. 340. re"ding N.[ii'li'lo,uy, a ki ]aQnaHhiina, a place for
Iunt. Cf. D. iii. 202 Kuvera- nalinl.
SU NI K KHITT A
'"
good practice is this the frui ti on ? The traders, the earavan-
men, are asking you : How was Mansion obtained by you?"
The deva-youth, agai n rejecti ng these (alternat ives), but showi ng
what had been his own accumulated meri t. u id :
25 "My name was Payasi. When I held sway over the KosaJans,
I was a nihilist,! was miserly, of evi l habi t, and I was an
an nihilati onist
Z
then.
26 And there was a recl use. Ku m1i rakassapa, one who had heard
much, an eloquent speaker, splendid. He made for lIIe lhen a
t alk on Dhamma, he drove out the twisted views frum me.
27 When I had heard that talk of hi s on Dhamllla, I dtcl alcd thc
status of lay-follower: restrained from omslaughl {Ill crcatures
was I, I shunned what in the world W;iS nul given, was no
drinker of liquor, and I spoke not lics, and WIIS content with
my own wi fe.
28 That was my vow and that my Brahma-faring. Of that good
practice is this the fr uition. By very deeds of merit, not
evil, meritorious, was thi s Mansion o!Jlainc:d by me."
Then the traders, seeing the deva-youth and his Mansion,
having belief in the fruit of deeds, spoke two verses making known
their own belief as regards the fruit of deeds:
29 " Indeed, men of wisdom spoke the tr ulh. Nnt otherwise is
the word of sages. Wherever a doer of goes there he
rej oices in his heart's desi re.
30 Wherever is grief and lamentali on. tit:tlh and bonds and
misery, there a doer of evi l goes, anti nE': \'er is he freed from a
bad bourn."
While these wefe speaking a ripe sirt5a pod fell fronl the lIee at
the gate of the Mansion and the deva-youth seemed The
traders, seeing him, spoke a verse:
31 "The (deva-) crowd is 3S one bewildered and for this moment
is dist urbed as thoughJ stuck in t he mud. Prince, whence has
come discontent to you and to thi s crowd ?"
When he hud heard them the deva-youth
32 " These groves, deal sirs, waft around deVIl -like scents
I VvA. 14" natthikadil\hi , "nihi list". I ucchedavidin.
Read va for ca.
.,'
S T OIt IE S OF' Ti ll::
and fragrance ; these arc wafted into this Mansion, by day anci
night dispell ing t he gloom,l
33 Of t hese, aft er (every) hundred years have passed, one pod
opens.
l
A hundred human years have gone by since I arose
here in this (deva-) group.
34 Perceiving that I, in thi s Mansi on for five hundred
years, dear sirs, will decease on the exhaustion of (my) life-
span, on t he exhaust ion of (my) merit ,3 I am therefore
fi ed by grief."
Then t he traders, comforting him, soid:
35 " How should one like you grieve who for SO long such a
peerless Mansion has possessed ? Surely it is only t hose who,
slender in meri., have arisen to a lesser (sta te) who should
grieve ? "
The cleva-youth, ar;certing their words, spoke a
verse:
36 "Befitting to me is this exhortation and that you :$ pukc: these
that are words of regard to me. But now, dear sirs, w..rueu by
me, do you set forl h for that safet y you desi re."
37
The traders , showing tbeir gratitude, spoke the \'erse:
"When we have arrived in Sindhu and Sovim lands, needing
wealth, seeking gain, wit h plenteous gifts as is proper, we wi ll
great honour to Serissu pay."
But t he deva-youth, refusing a great offering, enjoining upon
them what to do, spoke a verse :
38 "Do not hnnllllT to Serissa and all will come ttl be for you
as. YOll !lai d; (hilt) YOII must shun evil deeds and resolutely
detf>Tmine on the prattice of Dhamma."
Pointing out to them as an example and praising the of
that lay-foll ower' to whom he was eager to e:<tend hi s protectiun
and safelY, he spoke the verses:
39 " There is a lay-follower in this company, learned, one who
, VvA. 344 lays thtre W3! aho his own .
phalanti, W. T. ill V", V"A; o,her CU"., j.>i",lati. Vy;\. 3.14 cxp!airl$ by
.,.uti. Ifory ,h,, 1. just one pad ripens falls.
l cr . . '12.9. See vu. Z7.
SUN I KKHITTA
."
observes the moral precepts and vows, a believer and generous
and lo"eable, sensible, content, and wise.
40 He would not speak a lie intentionally, he woul d not oon-
template another's harm, nor utter divisive calumnious
specch, but would be of gentle, kindly speech,
4 1 Reverent, deferential, trained, not evil. cleansed in the higher
morality.! And he- this man of noble life, maintains his
mother and father by means of Dhamma .
. 42 Methinks he seeks for ri ches for the sake of his parents, not
because of him3elf, and that, after his parents are no more.
towards renunciation he will fa re the Brahma-faring.
43 Straight, not crooked, not crafty, not deceitful, he would
settl e nothing by means of a pretext. One such as this, a doer
oi deeds well done, fir m in Dh2mma, how should he obtain
suffering?
44 For this reason I have shown myself. Therefore, traders, you
should behold Dhamma.
2
But for him
3
you might have be-
come ashes here, confused li ke bli nd men lost in a forest- it
is C<lSY for another to assai l him; happy indeed is a meeti ng
with a good man."
The traders, anxious to know the fu ll descri ption of the person
spoken of in general terms, said:
45 "Who 1l0W is it and what work does he do, what name does he
bear and what is his clan? We too, yakkha, are anxious to see
him for whom out of compassion you are come here; indet: tl
it is a gain for him whom you hold dear:'
Now the de'la-youth, showing him by name and clan, said :
16 " That b;lrher, hearing the name of Sambhava, a lay-follower,
who lives h'l hrHRh and blade,4 know you this man, your
altf'nn;l ntl ";011 shall not ridicule me for he is a good man."
<7
Then l h t: tradcu, recognir;ing him, said:
"We do know him of whom you 3peak, yakkha, but we did not
know him as such a one. We too will now pay homage to him,
yakkha, havi ng heard your lofty words."
, That for 0 lay_follower, VvA. ]47.
, Tht dcva-yol'th wi!! prot ctt tho. " who Dhpmma, VvA. ]48.
.1 The lat_fu!!uwe, .
phRla, VvA . ay. nothing. 'I'ht blade of a knife 1 S..-e pIlat.aka, PHt of a
barber', c<\ u;pment lit Vin. i. 9t, ii. 1:.07, pethapi . 1.0 melning como.
"
S'rOH I I::S ' I' HE r.1ANSION S
Now, in order to exhort them after making them enter his
Mansion, he spoke a verse;
+8 " Whatever mc!\ there be in thia caravan-youths, old men,
nnd t hose who nrt middle-ugcd , let them one and all asce nd
inlO t he Mansion, let them, the nigga rdly, :lee the fruit of
merit ."
And on the conclusion the reccnsionists spoke si x verses;
.9 All those who were there, saying " I am first " , (but) having
put the barber in front there, an ascended into the Mansion
which was like Vasava's Masakkasara,l
SO All those who were there, saying " } am first", announced tht
status of lay- discipleship; they were restrained from making
onslaught on creatures, they what in the world was
not given, they ' .... ere 110t drinkers of liquor and did not tell lies.
they were content each with his own wife.
51 All those who were there, saying" I am first)', announced the
status of lay-disciple-ship; the caravan sped forth with re-
peated rejoicing by means of the psychic potency of the
yakkha and with his approval.
52 These, going to Sindhu and Sovira lands. needing wealth.
seeking gain, ret urned unharmed to when the
busi ness was completed with abundant gain.
.n Going along said y each to his own home, rejoined by thei r
children and wives, joyous, happy, cleli,g-hted, they per-
formed a superb festival in Serissa' s honour, they built the
Serissaka rcsi dence.
1
S4 Such is t he nat ure of association wi th good men. Of great
advantaJ!:e is association with those with qualiti es in Dh:lInma.
For the sake of one lay-follower all the bein,gsl became happy.
11 (85). '1'HE ELEVENTH: MANSION
(Sun ikk hi tla vimana)
The Om; :stayiug at Savatthi, in Jcta Grove. At that
time, as spukclI uf above, lli t! vCll crablc :Maha-Mog:g:alHina, on a
1 Here meaninll abode, VvA. 351. Cf. JA. v. 167,400, vi. .
VvA. 35 1- 2 parivcl,Ia as an t lHborate lesidence, WIth many
acee.lory pIITI
J VilA. H2, all the beinRI in the caTallan.
SUNll<l<H 1TTA
'"
deva-tour, came to the realm of the Thi rt y-Three. A cleva-youth
who had been standing at the door of his own Mansion approached
the Elder wi th great reverence. In the past when a golden thupa,
a yojana in size, had been erected over the reli::s of the Buddha
Kassapa the fourfold assembly used to go from time 10 ti me with
offerings. A certain lay-disciple, having oH'ered Howers there, also
fe- arranged some others that were badly arranged and offered them
afresh. Taking them as an object for meditation and recollecting
the qualities of the Teacher, he pl aced thi s merit in his heart.
When later he died, by t he power of thi s very deed he was reborn
in a twelve-yojana golden Mansion in the realm of the T hi rty-
Three, and great was his retinue. Then the venerable Mahl'i-
MoggalHina asked him in these versc:;:
J
"Lofty is this Mansion with a dozen yojanas
ali round, there arc seven !!plendid pinnacled halls and
lovely pi llars of beryl spread with the gleaming metal.
There do you bide and drink and whi le deva- like lutes make
melody. Here are deva-like flavours, the five kinds of sense-
pleasures, and women deektd in gold do dance.
l
Because of what is your heauty sueh? Because of what do you
prosper here, and Ihl'TC whatever are those delights that
I :lsk you, dey:. of great majesty, what meri t did you perform
when you WNe born a human being ? Because of what is your
majesty thus and your beauty illumines all the
qu:.rters?"
T hat de,-a-vouth spoke ill verses or the deed he bad done.
Explaining it the n: c!;I1sionists sai d:
5 That deva-youth, delightcd at being questioned by Moggalliina
when asked the question explained of what deed this was t he
fruit.
6 " Ha"ing arranged well a badly arranged garland, having placed
it at the Wellfarer's thupa, I am (now) of great psychic potency
and of great majesty, furnished with sense-pleasures.
here and there arise whatever are t hose delights that are dear
to my heart.
J 1,2 as at 54.1.2, 79. 1,2.
,,6 !:i T QR I ES OF THE I\I ANS I ONS
8 Because of this is my bri lliant majesty thus .and my beaUl y
ill umines all the qua rters."
The
Two poor men, two :I. hireling man, cowherd,
Kanthaka,
Divers hue, ManakuQ.,ulin, Serisaka, Sunikkhiua-
Of Men is the Se'/tnt h
l
Di vision c:alled.
2
Til E FOURTH PORTIO:-.T FOR RECJTAL
pavuccati , in Ee.
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES
(References arc to the Smrie,: thate in b"ld type a:e to vtrse-numberl, thOllc
in ordinlllj' !ype ... e t o co .... rnenurial matuial]
Acchimati, dc\&tA, 32, J 1 I
Aciravati, river, S6
Ajli ta<altu, 37,"7
Alnmba, musical imt rumcllt, 18 9,
So 24
devata, .8 11, 50 "16
Alotnli, 4", +,,6
Ananda, Elder, 8, 35, 43
AnAthapi(lQika, I , 10,22
Andhakave(lh u, MnS of, 63 '4
4 3, 4;) S. 78, 78 10
Andil avann (Dark Woodl, 38, 39
Aliga, 84, 7
Angl-Magadha, 14
Anolatt_, t.k", J I
Anuruddha, Elder, 44
)I.dbi, :'lame cf a month, I! (p. 2i)
Assalm, king, 6J
A .. "h, kingdom, 63, 6J 1
ilandhutl , ki ng, 3!>
IItrll:lasi, 17, 17 5, 19,4 1, -4' 4, -42,
,,25,52,5'1 7
IIhadda, wi ;", u
Dhlddl S"blu ... J 4, 3
17 19
Rhags,ua, lee Gaggama
DhTr.lD, ...-",I inSIlUmcnl , .8 9 ,
-.
Dim;, islra, S, 166 n .. 6,
Brahm!, .. 8 I , 64 7
Campa, ci t y, 51
CitumahA .. set Great Kins'
Channa, charioteft, fil 20
Chalta, b rahman youth, 53, 53 10 al
l,;'ttllatl, gro\'e, I I:! I , 37, 37 I , 64
If) n., 6.5 I , I
De".dattn, 33 I n.
Dha'tlmapaaa CmnmmtaTy (Dhamma-
pcaa(Ja!l!'ll n4), J6
EniphllS$I, devali, 18 II , so :t!l
Esi kl, 4$, 45 S II 19 a6
Gali:lj:ama, muSICl1 inllrumenl, 18 9,
So 24
lotul'pond, S I
Gangc5, n
Gn}'!, "mage, 50, So 8
Coplta, deva.youth, 6 ...
Gatama, IIllddhB, 8, 18 5, 19 10, U
37, Z5. 26, 36 7, 37 9, 51 4
Great Kings, fo ur, '-4, 8-4
GUltila, 33
Him"''' . n! ,3''
Jambudlpl, I
lIvska, . 6 ( I' , J-41
Kanthl ka, hotse and 81,
8. 1$
81 15
Ki5i, 17 5,
Kuupa, Buddhl, n. n 18, :.IS, >u,
50,60 5, 6l, 6,1 27, 8S
Kellklrl, I" 17 5
KCYA!!ad\in (Fishuman' s Gue), 1<;,
'" Kimbila, til )" 22, 11 ..
KOla!B, 1,8, B4 15
KOliya, 10, 31 I . See also Sakka
.. ,,I'.' 7-4, 84, 8-4 ,6
K".inhA,3('
K uvcrl-nllinl, 84 19 n.
Lakhuma, 19
LatA, deVall, 31, 31 J 8 9

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Praise to that Lord, Arahant,

Fully Self-Awakened One

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