Jinacaritaṁ
The Life of the Victorious Buddha
[Jetavanakathā]
[The Story of Jeta’s Wood]
tadā sudattavhayaseṭṭhiseṭṭho
bahūhi bhaṇḍaṁ sakaṭehi gayha
sāvatthito rājagahe manuññe
sahāyaseṭṭhissa gharūpagantvā [405]
Tadā Sudatta-vhaya-seṭṭhi-seṭṭho bahūhi sakaṭehi bhaṇḍaṁ gayha, Sāvatthito manuññe Rājagahe sahāya-seṭṭhissa gharaṁ upagantvā,
Then the best of merchants, Sudatta by name, Also known as
teneva vutto subhagena buddho
jāto ti loke dipadānam-indo
sañjātapītīhi udaggacitto
rattiṁ pabhātaṁ iti maññamāno [406]
“Loke Dipadānam-Indo Buddho jāto” ti, tena-eva Subhagena vutto, sañjāta-pītīhi udagga-citto, rattiṁ pabhātaṁ iti maññamāno,
Having heard his auspicious (friend) say “A Buddha, a Lord of Men has arisen in the world”, his heart uplifted with the joy that had arisen, thinking that night had became day,
nikkhamma tamhā vigatandhakāre
devānubhāvena mahāpathamhi
gantvāna taṁ sītavanaṁ surammaṁ
sampuṇṇacandaṁ va virājamānaṁ [407]
taṁ dīparukkhaṁ viya pajjalantaṁ
vilocanānandakaraṁ mahesiṁ
disvāna tassuttamapādarāgaṁ
paṭiggahetvā sirasā sudhīmā [408]
tamhā nikkhamma, vigata-andhakāre mahā-pathamhi deva-ānubhāvena, su-rammaṁ taṁ Sīta-Vanaṁ gantvāna, sampuṇṇa-candaṁ va virājamānaṁ dīpa-rukkhaṁ viya pajjalantaṁ vilocana-ānanda-karaṁ taṁ Mahesiṁ disvāna, Tassa-uttama-pāda-rāgaṁ sirasā paṭiggahetvā, Su-Dhīmā,
having departed from that place, the darkness along the main road being dispelled by the power of the Devas, after going to that very delightful Cool Wood, and seeing the Great Seer resplendent like the full moon, blazing forth like a lamp post, bringing joy to the eyes, and accepting on his head His supreme and colourful feet, the Devout One (Sudatta),
gambhīraṁ nipuṇaṁ dhammaṁ suṇitvā vimalaṁ varaṁ
sotāpattiphalam-patvā sahassanayamaṇḍitaṁ [409]
gambhīraṁ nipuṇaṁ vimalaṁ varaṁ Dhammaṁ suṇitvā, sahassa-naya-maṇḍitaṁ, sotāpatti-phalaṁ patvā,
after listening to the profound, subtle, spotless, noble Dhamma, which is adorned with a thousand methods, and attaining the fruit of Stream-Entry,
nimantetvāna sambuddhaṁ sasaṅghaṁ lokanāyakaṁ
vaṇṇagandharasūpetaṁ datvā dānaṁ sukhāvahaṁ [410]
sa-Saṅghaṁ Loka-Nāyakaṁ Sambuddhaṁ nimantetvāna, vaṇṇa-gandha-rasa-upetaṁ sukha-āvahaṁ dānaṁ datvā,
inviting the Leader of the World, the Sambuddha, together with the Saṅgha, and giving them a pleasurable alms-meal furnished with (good) colour, smell, and taste,
satthu āgamanatthāya sāvatthinagaraṁ varaṁ
patiññaṁ so gahetvāna gacchanto antarāpathe [411]
Satthu patiññaṁ varaṁ Sāvatthī-nagaraṁ āgamana-atthāya gahetvāna, so antarā-pathe gacchanto
and obtaining the Teacher’s promise for his coming to the noble town of Sāvatthī, he, while going along the path,
yojane yojane cārucittakammasamujjale
vihāre pavare datvā kārāpetvā bahuṁ dhanaṁ [412]
yojane yojane cāru-citta-kamma-samujjale pavare vihāre kārāpetvā, bahuṁ dhanaṁ datvā,
league after league having had built charming, beautifully-made, glorious, excellent monasteries, and given a great deal of wealth (to support them),
sāvatthiṁ punar-āgantvā pāsādasatamaṇḍitaṁ
toraṇagghikapākāragopurādi virājitaṁ [413]
puraṁ apahasantaṁ va devindassāpi sabbadā
sabbasampattisampannaṁ naccagītādi sobhitaṁ [414]
pāsāda-sata-maṇḍitaṁ, toraṇa-agghika-pākāra-gopura-ādi virājitaṁ, sabbadā Deva-Indassa-api puraṁ apahasantaṁ va, sabba-sampatti-sampannaṁ nacca-gīta-ādi sobhitaṁ Sāvatthiṁ punar-āgantvā,
and having returned to Sāvatthī, which is adorned with a hundred palaces, (and is) resplendent with decorated towers, city gates, and so on, which in every way surely mocks the city of the Lord of the Devas, being endowed with every good fortune, and adorned with dance and song, and so on,
kasmiṁ so vihareyyā ti bhagavā lokanāyako
samantānuvilokento vihārārahabhūmikaṁ [415]
“Kasmiṁ So Loka-Nāyako Bhagavā vihareyyā?” ti vihāra-araha-bhūmikaṁ samantā-anuvilokento,
(thinking): “Where will He, the Leader of the World, the Fortunate One, live?” and looking on all sides for a place that was suitable for a monastery,
jetarājakumārassa uyyānaṁ nandanopamaṁ
chāyūdakādisampannaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ udikkhiya [416]
hiraññakoṭisanthāravaseneva mahāyaso
kiṇitvā pavare tamhi narāmaramanohare [417]
Jeta-Rāja-kumārassa Nandana-upamaṁ chāyā-udaka-ādi-sampannaṁ uyyānaṁ udikkhiya. Mahā-Yaso bhūmi-bhāgaṁ hirañña-koṭi-santhāra-vasena-eva kiṇitvā, nara-amara-manohare pavare tamhi
he saw Prince Jeta’s garden, which was like (Sakka’s garden) Nandana, being furnished with shade and water and so forth. The Greatly Famous One having bought that piece of land by covering it with ten million gold (pieces), in that noble place, which carried off the minds of men and immortals,
niccaṁ kiṅkiṇijālanādaruciraṁ siṅgīva siṅgākulaṁ
rammaṁ nekamaṇīhi chattachadanaṁ āmuttamuttāvaliṁ
nānārāgavitānabhāsurataraṁ pupphādinālaṅkataṁ
citraṁ gandhakuṭiṁ varaṁ suvipulaṁ kāresi bhūsekharaṁ [418]
niccaṁ kiṅkiṇi-jāla-nāda-ruciraṁ siṅgī-iva siṅga-ākulaṁ rammaṁ neka-maṇīhi chatta-chadanaṁ āmutta-mutta-āvaliṁ, nānā-rāga-vitāna-bhāsura-taraṁ pupphaṁ ādinā-alaṅkataṁ varaṁ citraṁ bhū-sekharaṁ su-vipulaṁ Gandha-Kuṭiṁ kāresi;
had built the very large Fragrant Cottage (for the Buddha), which was always agreeable with the sound of nets of jingling bells, crowded with golden turrets, delightful with countless jewels, having a sunshade cover adorned with strings of pearls, most resplendent with many-coloured canopies, decorated with flowers, and so forth — a noble, beautiful crown for the earth;
jinatrajānam-pi visālam-ālayaṁ
vitānanānāsayanāsanujjalaṁ
sumaṇḍitaṁ maṇḍapacaṅkamādinā
vilumpamāṇaṁ manalocanaṁ sadā [419]
Jina-atra-jānaṁ pi su-maṇḍitaṁ vitāna-nānā-sayanāsana-ujjalaṁ maṇḍapa-caṅkama-ādinā sadā mana-locanaṁ vilumpamāṇaṁ visālam-ālayaṁ;
and for the Victor’s (spiritual) sons also (he built) large dwellings, well-decorated with many glorious beds, seats and canopies, pavillions, walkways and so on, which all the time were captivating the mind’s eye;
athāpi saṇhāmalasetavālukaṁ
savedikācāruvisālamālakaṁ
jalāsayaṁ sātatisītalodakaṁ
sugandhisogandhikapaṅkajākulaṁ [420]
atha-api saṇha-amala-seta-vālukaṁ, sa-vedikā-cāru-visāla-mālakaṁ, sāta-atisītala-udakaṁ, sugandhi-sogandhika-paṅkaja-ākulaṁ jala-āsayaṁ.
then also lakes having soft, spotless, white sand, with railings and large charming enclosures, having pleasing and very cool water, and crowded with sweet-smelling white water lilies and lotuses.
suphullasālāsanasokanāga-
punnāgapūgādi virājamānaṁ
manoramaṁ jetavanābhidhānaṁ
kārāpayī seṭṭhi vihāraseṭṭhaṁ [421]
Seṭṭhi su-phulla-sāla-asana-asoka-nāga-punnāga-pūga-ādi virājamānaṁ mano-ramaṁ Jeta-vana-abhidhānaṁ vihāra-seṭṭhaṁ kārāpayī.
The merchant had the best of monasteries made, the delightful Jeta’s Wood by name, which was resplendent with full-blossoming Sāl, Asana, Asoka, Iron Wood, Alexandrian Laurel, Arecanut (trees) and so on;
visālakelāsadharādharuttamā-
bhirāmapākāraphaṇindagopito
janassa sabbābhimanatthasādhako
vihāracintāmaṇi so virājite [422]
visāla-kelāsa-dharā-dhara-uttama-abhirāma-pākāra-phana-inda-gopito. So vihāra-cintā-maṇi janassa sabba-abhimana-attha-sādhako virājite.
which was guarded by a superb, delightful rampart shaped like a lordly snake’s hood, as large as Mount Kelāsa. That monastery shone like a wish-fulfilling jewel that accomplished all the people’s desires and needs.
tato āgamanatthāya munindaṁ nāthapiṇḍiko
dūtaṁ pāhesi so satthā sutvā dūtassa sāsanaṁ [423]
Tato Nāthapiṇḍiko Muni-indaṁ āgamana-atthāya dūtaṁ pāhesi. So Satthā dūtassa sāsanaṁ sutvā,
Then the feeder of the Protector (of the World)
mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena tadā tamhā purakkhato
nikkhamitvānupubbena patto sāvatthim-uttamaṁ [424]
tadā mahatā bhikkhu-Saṅghena purakkhato, tamhā nikkhamitvā, anupubbena uttamaṁ Sāvatthiṁ patto.
at that time surrounded by a great Saṅgha of monks, having departed from that place, in stages reached the supreme Sāvatthī.
samujjalāni nekāni dhajānādāya sundarā
kumārā purato satthu nikkhamiṁsu surā yathā [425]
Sundarā Kumārā samujjalāni nekāni, dhajāni-ādāya, Surā yathā, Satthu purato nikkhamiṁsu.
Countless gloriously handsome princes, having taken flags, like Suras, went out (from Sāvatthī and stood) in front of the Teacher.
nikkhamiṁsu tato tesaṁ pacchato taruṇaṅganā
cārupuṇṇaghaṭādāya devakaññā yathā tathā [426]
Tato tesaṁ pacchato taruṇa-aṅganā cāru-puṇṇa-ghaṭa-ādāya, Deva-kaññā yathā, tathā nikkhamiṁsu.
Then behind them young women, taking charming and full water-pots, like Deva-maidens, in the same way went out.
puṇṇapātiṁ gahetvāna seṭṭhino bhariyā tathā
saddhiṁ nekasatitthīhi nekālaṅkāralaṅkatā [427]
Tathā seṭṭhino bhariyā, puṇṇa-pātiṁ gahetvāna, neka-sata-itthīhi saddhiṁ neka-alaṅkāra-alaṅkatā,
Likewise the merchant’s wife, having taken full bowls, with countless hundreds of women ornamented with countless hundreds of ornaments,
mahāseṭṭhi mahāseṭṭhisatehi saha nāyakaṁ
abbhuggañchi mahāvīraṁ pūjito tehi nekadhā [428]
mahā-seṭṭhi mahā-seṭṭhi-satehi saha Nāyakaṁ abbhuggañchi, Mahā-Vīraṁ tehi nekadhā pūjito.
and the great merchant (Anāthapiṇḍika) together with hundreds of (other) great merchants came before the Leader, and the Great Champion was worshipped by them in countless ways.
chabbaṇṇaraṁsīhi manoramehi
puraṁ varaṁ piñjaravaṇṇabhāvaṁ
netto munindo sugato sugatto
upāvisī jetavanaṁ vihāraṁ [429]
Mano-ramehi chaḷ-vaṇṇa-raṁsīhi varaṁ puraṁ piñjara-vaṇṇa-bhāvaṁ netto, Muni-Indo Sugato su-gatto Jeta-Vanaṁ Vihāraṁ upāvisī.
Because of his delightful six-coloured halo the noble city (of Sāvatthī) took on a golden hue, (and) the Lord of Sages, the Happy One, with well-formed limbs, entered the Jeta’s Wood Monastery.
cātuddisassa saṅghassa sambuddhapamukhassahaṁ
imaṁ dammi vihāran-ti satthucārukarambuje [430]
sugandhavāsitaṁ vāriṁ hemabhiṅkārato varaṁ
ākiritvā adā rammaṁ vihāraṁ cārudassanaṁ [431]
“Ahaṁ Sambuddha-pamukhassa cātur-disassa Saṅghassa imaṁ vihāraṁ dammi” ti, Satthu-cāru-kara-ambuje hema-bhiṅkārato varaṁ sugandha-vāsitaṁ vāriṁ ākiritvā, rammaṁ cāru-dassanaṁ vihāraṁ adā.
(Anāthapiṇḍika said): “I give this monastery to the Saṅgha of the four quarters with the Sambuddha at their head”, and having poured excellent perfumed water from a golden jug on the Teacher’s charming lotus-like hands, he donated the charming and beautiful monastery.
surammaṁ vihāraṁ paṭiggayha seṭṭhaṁ
anagghe vicittāsanasmiṁ nisinno
janindānam-indo tilokekanetto
tilokappasādāvahaṁ taṁ manuññaṁ [432]
Surammaṁ seṭṭhaṁ vihāraṁ paṭiggayha, anagghe vicitta-āsanasmiṁ nisinno; Jana-Indānaṁ Indo Ti-Loka-Eka-Netto ti-loka-ppasāda-āvahaṁ taṁ manuññaṁ
After accepting that very delightful, excellent monastery, (the Buddha) sat down on a priceless and beautiful seat; the Lord of the Lords of Men, the Sole Leader of the Three Worlds, who brings pleasing joy to the three worlds,
udārānisaṁsaṁ vihārappadāne
anāthappadānena nāthassa tassa
sudattābhidhānassa seṭṭhissa satthā
yasassī hitesī mahesī adesī [433]
Yasassī Hitesī Mahesī Satthā vihāra-ppadāne anātha-ppadānena udāra-ānisaṁsaṁ tassa nāthassa seṭṭhissa Sudatta-abhidhānassa adesī.
the Famous One, the Benefactor, the Great Seer, the Teacher preached to that lordly merchant Sudatta by name on the great advantages of giving a monastery (together) with gifts to those without protection.
udārānisaṁsaṁ vihārappadāne
kathetuṁ samattho vinā bhūripaññaṁ
tilokekanāthaṁ naro kosi yutto
mukhānaṁ sahassehi nekehi cāpi [434]
Vihāra-ppadāne udāra-ānisaṁsaṁ Bhūri-Paññaṁ Ti-Loka-Eka-Nāthaṁ vinā, mukhānaṁ nekehi sahassehi yutto ca-api ko naro samattho kathetuṁ āsi?
Except for the One of Extensive Wisdom, the Sole Protector of the Three Worlds, what man would be able to talk about the great advantages of giving a monastery, even if he harnessed countless thousands of mouths?
iti vipulayaso so tassa dhammaṁ kathetvā
api sakalajanānaṁ mānase tosayanto
paramamadhuranādaṁ dhammabheriṁ mahantaṁ
viharati paharanto tattha tatthūpagantvā [435]
Iti so Vipula-Yaso tassa Dhammaṁ kathetvā, sakala-janānaṁ api mānase tosayanto, tattha tattha-upagantvā parama-madhura-nādaṁ mahantaṁ Dhamma-bheriṁ paharanto viharati.
Thus He of Extensive Fame, having taught the Dhamma to (Anāthapiṇḍika), and also rejoicing the minds of all the people, having gone here and there, lived beating the great Dhamma drum, which has a supremely sweet sound.