12: Building up Pataligama

Tena kho pana samayena Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
Now at that time the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra ⁰²

Pàñaligàme nagaraü màpenti Vajjãnaü pañibàhàya.
were building up a city at Pàñaligàma to ward off the Vajjians. ⁰³

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulà Devatàyo, sahassasahasseva,
Then at that time a great many Divinities, thousands upon thousands,

Pàñaligàme vatthåni parigaõhanti.
were taking possession of grounds at Pàñaligàma.

Yasmiü padese mahesakkhà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the great Divinities took possession of grounds,

mahesakkhànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the powerful rulers and great royal ministers' minds

Yasmiü padese majjhimà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the middling Divinities took possession of grounds,

majjhimànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the middling rulers and middling royal ministers' minds

Yasmiü padese nãcà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the lower Divinities took possession of grounds,

nãcànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the lower rulers and lower royal ministers' minds

Addasà kho Bhagavà Dibbena cakkhunà,
The Gracious One saw with his Divine-eye,

visuddhena atikkantamànusakena,
which is purified, and surpasses that of (normal) men,

tà Devatàyo sahassasahasseva Pàñaligàme vatthåni parigaõhantiyo.
that those Divinities, thousands upon thousands, were taking possession of grounds at Pàñaligàma.

Atha kho Bhagavà rattiyà paccåsasamaye paccuññhàya,
Then towards the time of dawn, having risen from his seat, the Gracious One

ßKo nu kho ânanda Pàñaligàme nagaraü màpetã?û ti
ßNow who, ânanda, is building a city at Pàñaligàma?û

ßSunãdha-Vassakàrà Bhante Magadhamahàmattà
ßThe Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra, reverend Sir,

Pàñaligàme nagaraü màpenti Vajjãnaü pañibàhàyà.û ti
are building up a city at Pàñaligàma to ward off the Vajjians.û

ßSeyyathà pi ânanda Devehi Tàvatiüsehi saddhiü mantetvà,
ßIt is just as though, ânanda, (they are building) after consulting with the Tàvatiüsa Divinities,

evam-eva kho ânanda Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
so, ânanda, are the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

Pàñaligàme nagaraü màpenti Vajjãnaü pañibàhàya.
building up a city at Pàñaligàma to ward off the Vajjians.

Idhàhaü ânanda addasaü Dibbena cakkhunà,
Here, ânanda, I saw with my Divine-eye,

visuddhena atikkantamànusakena,
which is purified, and surpasses that of (normal) men,

sambahulà Devatàyo sahassasahasseva Pàñaligàme vatthåni parigaõhantiyo.
that a great many Divinities, thousands upon thousands, were taking possession of grounds at Pàñaligàma.

Yasmiü padese mahesakkhà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the great Divinities took possession of grounds,

mahesakkhànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the powerful rulers and great royal ministers' minds

Yasmiü padese majjhimà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the middling Divinities took possession of grounds,

majjhimànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the middling rulers and middling royal ministers' minds

Yasmiü padese nãcà Devatà vatthåni parigaõhanti,
In that place where the lower Divinities took possession of grounds,

nãcànaü tattha raÿÿaü ràjamahàmattànaü cittàni
there the lower rulers and lower royal ministers' minds

Yàvatà ânanda Ariyaü àyatanaü, yàvatà vaõippatho,
For as long, ânanda, as there is an Ariyan sphere (of influence), for as long as there is trade,

idaü agganagaraü bhavissati Pàñaliputtaü puñabhedanaü.
this basket-opening Pàñaliputta will be the chief city.

Pàñaliputtassa kho ânanda tayo antaràyà bhavissanti:
For Pàñaliputta, ânanda, there will be three dangers:

aggito và udakato và mithubhedà và.û ti
from fire and from water and from the breaking of an alliance.û ⁰⁴

Atha kho Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkamiüsu, upasaïkamitvà Bhagavatà saddhiü sammodiüsu,
approached the Gracious One, and after approaching, they exchanged greetings with the Gracious One,

sammodanãyaü kathaü sàràõãyaü vãtisàretvà, ekam-antaü aññhaüsu.
and after exchanging courteous talk and greetings, they stood on one side.

Ekam-antaü ñhità kho Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
While standing on one side the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

ajjatanàya bhattaü saddhiü Bhikkhusaïghenà.û ti
(offering him) a meal today, together with the Community of monks.û

Adhivàsesi Bhagavà tuõhãbhàvena.
The Gracious One consented by maintaining silence.

Atha kho Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

Bhagavato adhivàsanaü viditvà, yena sako àvasatho tenupasaïkamiüsu,
having understood the Gracious One's consent, approached their own dwelling,

upasaïkamitvà, sake àvasathe,
and after approaching, in their own dwellings,

paõãtaü khàdanãyaü bhojanãyaü pañiyàdàpetvà,
having had excellent foodstuffs made ready, ⁰⁵

Bhagavato kàlaü àrocàpesuü: ßKàlo bho Gotama niññhitaü bhattan.û-ti
had the time announced to the Gracious One, (saying): ßIt is time, dear Gotama, the meal is ready.û

Atha kho Bhagavà, pubbaõhasamayaü nivàsetvà,
Then the Gracious One, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacãvaram-àdàya, saddhiü Bhikkhusaïghena,
after picking up his bowl and robe, together with the Community of monks,

yena Sunãdha-Vassakàrànaü Magadhamahàmattànaü àvasatho tenupasaïkami,
approached the dwelling of the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra,

upasaïkamitvà, paÿÿatte àsane nisãdi.
and after approaching, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Atha kho Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

Buddhappamukhaü Bhikkhusaïghaü paõãtena
* with their own hands served and satisfied the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head

khàdanãyena bhojanãyena sahatthà santappesuü sampavàresuü.
with excellent foodstuffs.

Atha kho Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà,
Then the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra,

Bhagavantaü bhuttàviü onãtapattapàõiü,
when the Gracious One had eaten and washed his hand and bowl,

aÿÿataraü nãcaü àsanaü gahetvà, ekam-antaü nisãdiüsu.
having taken a low seat, sat down on one side.

Ekam-antaü nisinne kho Sunãdha-Vassakàre Magadhamahàmatte Bhagavà
* While sitting on one side the Gracious One rejoiced the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

ßYasmiü padese kappeti vàsaü, paõóitajàtiyo
* ßIn that place where he makes his dwelling, having entertained

Sãlavantettha bhojetvà, saÿÿate brahmacàrino,
The wise and virtuous here, the restrained, who live the spiritual life,

Yà tattha Devatà àsuü ⁰⁶ tàsaü dakkhiõam-àdise.
He should dedicate a gift (of merit) to those Divinities who were in that place.

Tà påjità påjayanti mànità mànayanti naü.
Honoured, they pay honour, revered, they revere him.

Tato naü anukampanti, màtà puttaü va orasaü,
Thereafter they have compassion on him, as a mother on her own son,

Devatànukampito poso sadà bhadràni passatã.û ti
A man whom the Divinities has compassion on always sees what is auspicious.û

Atha kho Bhagavà Sunãdha-Vassakàre Magadhamahàmatte
* Then the Gracious One after rejoicing the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

imàhi gàthàhi anumoditvà, uññhàyàsanà, pakkàmi.
with these verses, after rising from his seat, went away.

Tena kho pana samayena Sunãdha-Vassakàrà Magadhamahàmattà
Now at that time the Magadhan chief ministers Sunãdha and Vassakàra

Bhagavantaü piññhito piññhito anubandhà honti:
were following close behind the Gracious One, (thinking):

ßYenajja samaõo Gotamo dvàrena nikkhamissati taü Gotamadvàraü nàma bhavissati,
ßThat gate by which the ascetic Gotama leaves will get the name the Gotama Gate,

yena titthena Gaïgaü nadiü tarissati taü Gotamatitthaü nàma bhavissatã.û ti
and that ford by which he crosses the river Ganges will get the name the Gotama Ford.û

Atha kho Bhagavà yena dvàrena nikkhami taü Gotamadvàraü nàma ahosi.
Then that gate by which the Gracious One left got the name the Gotama Gate.

Atha kho Bhagavà yena Gaïgà nadã tenupasaïkami.
Then the Gracious One approached the river Ganges.

Tena kho pana samayena Gaïgà nadã pårà hoti samatittikà kàkapeyyà.
Now at that time the river Ganges was full to the brim, and could be drunk from by crows (perched on the bank).

Appekacce manussà nàvaü pariyesanti, appekacce uëumpaü pariyesanti,
Some of the people were seeking boats, some were seeking floats,

appekacce kullaü bandhanti, apàràpàraü gantukàmà.
and some were binding rafts, desiring to go from this shore to the shore beyond.

Atha kho Bhagavà seyyathà pi nàma balavà puriso
Then the Gracious One, just as a strong man

sammiÿjitaü và bàhaü pasàreyya, pasàritaü và bàhaü sammiÿjeyya, ⁰⁷
might stretch out a bent arm, or bend in an outstretched arm,

evam-eva Gaïgàya nadiyà orimatãre antarahito,
so did he vanish from the near bank of the river Ganges,

pàrimatãre paccuññhàsi saddhiü Bhikkhusaïghena.
and reappeared on the far bank, ⁰⁸ together with the Community of monks.

Addasà kho Bhagavà te manusse, appekacce nàvaü pariyesante,
The Gracious One saw those people, some seeking boats,

appekacce kullaü bandhante, apàràpàraü gantukàme.
and some binding rafts, desiring to go from this shore to the shore beyond.

Atha kho Bhagavà, etam-atthaü viditvà,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tàyaü velàyaü imaü udànaü udànesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

ßYe taranti aõõavaü saraü,
ßThose who cross over a sea or a river, ⁰⁹

Setuü katvàna, visajja pallalàni.
(Do so) after making a bridge, and leaving the marshes behind.

Kullaü hi jano pabandhati,
(While) people are still binding together a raft,

Tiõõà medhàvino janà.û ti
Intelligent people have crossed over.û