THE NIDĀNAKATHĀ OR THE THREE EPOCHS. · 8

And the people hearing the Buddha’s words, joyful and delighted, taking with them garlands, perfumes and unguents, left the city of Ramma, and went to the Bodhisatta. And having offered their flowers and other presents, and bowed to him and respectfully saluted him, they returned to the city of Ramma. And the Bodhisatta, having made a strenuous exertion and resolve, rose from the seat on which he sat. Therefore it is said,

185. Having heard the Buddha’s word, their minds were straightway calmed, All of them approaching me again paid me their homage.28

186. Having taken upon me the Perfections of a Buddha, having made firm my resolve, Having bowed to Dīpankara, I rose from my seat.

And as the Bodhisatta rose from his seat, the angels in all the ten thousand worlds having assembled and offered him garlands and perfumes, uttered these and other words of praise and blessing, “Venerable hermit Sumedha, this day thou hast made a mighty resolve at the feet of Dīpankara Buddha, mayest thou fulfil it without let or hindrance: fear not nor be dismayed, may not the slightest sickness visit thy frame, quickly exercise the Perfections and attain supreme Buddhaship. As the flowering and fruit-bearing trees bring forth flowers and fruit in their season, so do thou also, not letting the right season pass by, quickly reach the supreme knowledge of a Buddha.” And thus having spoken, they returned each one to his celestial home. Then the Bodhisatta, having received the homage of the angels, made a strenuous exertion and resolve, saying, “Having fulfilled the ten Perfections, at the end of four asankheyyas and a hundred thousand cycles I shall become a Buddha.” And rising into the air he returned to Himavanta. Therefore it is said,

187. As he rose from his seat both angels and men Sprinkle him with celestial and earthly flowers.

188. Both angels and men pronounce their blessing, A great prayer thou hast made, mayest thou obtain it according to thy wish.

189. May all dangers be averted, may every sickness vanish, Mayest thou have no hindrance,— quickly reach the supreme knowledge of a Buddha.

190. As when the season is come the flowering trees do blossom, Even so do thou, O mighty One, blossom with the wisdom of a Buddha.

191. As all the Buddhas have fulfilled the ten Perfections, Even so do thou, O mighty One, fulfil the ten Perfections.

192. As all the Buddhas are enlightened on the throne of knowledge, Even so do thou, O mighty One, receive enlightenment in the wisdom of a Buddha.29

193. As all the Buddhas have established the supremacy of the Law, Even so do thou, O mighty One, establish the supremacy of the Law.

194. As the moon on the mid-day of the month shines in her purity, Even so do thou, with thy mind at the full, shine in ten thousand worlds.

195. As the sun released by Rāhu glows fervently in his heat, Even so, having redeemed mankind, do thou shine in all thy majesty.

196. As all the rivers find their way to the great ocean, Even so may the worlds of men and angels take refuge in thee.

197. The Bodhisatta extolled with these praises, taking on himself the ten Conditions, Commencing to fulfil these Conditions, entered the forest.

End of the Story of Sumedha.

And the people of the city of Ramma, having returned to the city, kept open house to the priesthood with the Buddha at their head. The Teacher having preached the Law to them, and established them in the three Refuges and the other branches of the Faith, departing from the city of Ramma, living thereafter his allotted span of life, having fulfilled all the duties of a Buddha, in due course attained Nirvāna in that element of annihilation in which no trace of existence remains. On this subject all that need be said can be learnt from the narrative in the Buddhavamsa, for it is said in that work,

198. Then they, having entertained the Chief of the world with his clergy, Took refuge in the Teacher Dīpankara.

199. Some the Buddha established in the Refuges, Some in the five Precepts, others in the ten.

200. To some he gives the privilege of priesthood, the four glorious Fruitions, On some he bestows those peerless qualities the analytical Knowledges.

201. To some the Lord of men grants the eight sublime Acquisitions, On some he bestows the three Wisdoms and the six supernatural Faculties.

202. In this order146 the Great Sage exhorts the multitude. Therewith the commandment of the world’s Protector was spread wide abroad.30

203. He of the mighty jaw, of the broad shoulder, Dīpankara by name, Procured the salvation of many men, warded off from them future punishment.

204. Beholding persons ripe for salvation, reaching them in an instant, Even at a distance of four hundred thousand leagues, the Great Sage awakened them (to the knowledge of the truth).

205. At the first conversion the Buddha converted a thousand millions. At the second the Protector converted a hundred thousand.

206. When the Buddha preached the truth in the angel world, There took place a third conversion of nine hundred millions.

207. The Teacher Dīpankara had three assemblies, The first was a meeting of a million millions.

208. Again when the Conqueror went into seclusion at Nārada Kūta, A thousand million spotless Arhats met together.

209. When the Mighty One dwelt on the lofty rock Sudassana, Then the Sage surrounded himself with nine hundred thousand millions.

210. At that time I was an ascetic wearing matted hair, a man of austere penances, Moving through the air, accomplished in the five supernatural Faculties.