The Bodhi Tree - The Tree of Wisdom

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Cut down the forest.
Not the tree.
For out of the forest comes danger.
Cut down the forest.
Fell desire.
And set yourself free.
Dhammapada

Veneration of the Bodhi Tree, decorating this beautiful tree with garlands and leaving offerings of gold, money and treasure in it's base as a symbol of Buddha's enlightenment -- sounds like Christmas trees...however, this is mentioned in the Jataka tales!
 
Offerings of light, incense, flowers, and fruit juices are made after which the bhikkhus would lead a circum-ambulation of the Bodhi Tree three times. During the circum-ambulation, verses of homage to the Triple Gem and the Bodhi Tree are chanted. Verses of veneration to the Bodhi Tree most often chanted are as follows:

Yassa mule nisinnova;

Sabbari vijayam aka;

PattoSabbannu-tam sattha;

Vande tam Bodhi padapam.

{Seated at whose base the Supreme Teacher overcame all foes, attaining Omniscience,
that very Bodhi Tree do I venerate.}

Ime ete maha Bodhi;

Loka nathena pujita;

Ahampi te namassami;

Bodhi Raja namatthu te.

{This Great Tree of Perfect Enlightenment, the Lord of the world reverenced,
I too shall pay homage to thee. May there be homage to thee, O Great Bodhi Tree.}

 

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No. 479.

KĀLIṄGA-BODHI-JĀTAKA. 1

"King Kāliṅga," etc.—This story the Master told while dwelling at Jetavana about worship of the bo-tree performed by Elder Ānanda.

When the Tathāgata had set forth on pilgrimage, for the purpose of gathering in those who were ripe for conversion, the citizens of Sāvatthi proceeded to Jetavana, their hands full of garlands and fragrant wreaths, and finding no other place to show their reverence, laid them by the gateway of the perfumed chamber and went off. This caused great rejoicings. But Anāthapiṇḍika got to hear of it; and on the return of the Tathāgata visited Elder Ānanda and said to him,—"This monastery, Sir, is left unprovided while the Tathāgata goes on pilgrimage, and there is no place for the people to do reverence by offering fragrant wreaths and garlands. Will you be so kind, Sir, as to tell the Tathāgata of this matter, and learn from him whether or no it is possible to find a place for this purpose." The other, nothing loth, did so, asking, "How many shrines are there?"—"Three, Ānanda."—"Which are they?"—"Shrines for a relic of the body, a relic of use or wear, a relic of memorial 2"—"Can a shrine be made, Sir, during your life?"—"No, Ānanda, not a body-shrine; that kind is made when a Buddha enters Nirvāna. A shrine of memorial is improper because the connection depends on the imagination only. But the great bo-tree used by the Buddhas is fit for a shrine, be they alive or be they dead."—"Sir, while you are away on pilgrimage the great monastery of Jetavana

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is unprotected, and the people have no place where they can show their reverence. Shall I plant a seed of the great bo-tree before the gateway of Jetavana?"—"By all means so do, Ānanda, and that shall be as it were an abiding place for me."

The Elder told this to Anāthapiṇḍika, and Visākhā, and the king. Then at the gateway of Jetavana he cleared out a pit for the bo to stand in, and said to the chief Elder, Moggallāna, "I want to plant a bo-tree in front of Jetavana. Will you get me a fruit of the great bo-tree?" The Elder, well willing, passed through the air to the platform under the bo-tree. [229] He placed in his robe a fruit that was dropping 1 from its stalk but had not reached the ground, brought it back, and delivered it to Ānanda. The Elder informed the King of Kosala that he was to plant the bo-tree that day. So in the evening time came the King with a great concourse, bringing all things necessary; then came also Anāthapiṇḍika and Visākhā and a crowd of the faithful besides.

In the place where the bo-tree was to be planted the Elder had placed a golden jar, and in the bottom of it was a hole; all was filled with earth moistened with fragrant water. He said, "O king, plant this seed of the bo-tree," giving it to the king. But the king, thinking that his kingdom was not to be in his hands for ever, and that Anāthapiṇḍika ought to plant it, passed the seed to Anāthapiṇḍika, the great merchant. Then Anāthapiṇḍika stirred up the fragrant soil and dropt it in. The instant it dropt from his hand, before the very eyes of all, up sprang as broad as a plough-head a bo-sapling, fifty cubits tall; on the four sides and upwards shot forth five great branches of fifty cubits in length, like the trunk. So stood the tree, a very lord of the forest already; a mighty miracle! The king poured round the tree jars of gold and of silver, in number eight hundred, filled with scented water, beauteous with a great quantity of blue water-lilies. Ay, and caused to be set there a long line of vessels all full, and a seat he had made of the seven precious things, golden dust he had sprinkled about it, a wall was built round the precincts, he erected a gate chamber of the seven precious things. Great was the honour paid to it.

The Elder approaching the Tathāgata, said to him, "Sir, for the people's good, accomplish under the bo-tree which I have planted that height of Attainment to which you attained under the great bo-tree." "What is this you say, Ānanda?" replied he. "There is no other place can support me, if I sit there and attain to that which I attained in the enclosure of the great bo-tree." "Sir," said Ānanda, "I pray you for the good of the people, to use this tree for the rapture of Attainment, in so far as this spot of ground can support the weight." The Master used it during one night for the rapture of Attainment.

The Elder informed the king, and all the rest, and called it by the name of the Bo Festival. And this tree, having been planted by Ānanda, was known by the name of Ānanda's Bo-Tree.

At that time they began to talk of it in the Hall of Truth. "Brother, while yet the Tathāgata lived, the venerable Ānanda caused a bo-tree to be planted, (230) and great reverence to be paid to it. Oh, how great is the Elder's power!" The Master entering asked what they were talking of. They told him. He said, "This is not the first time, Brethren, that Ānanda led captive mankind in the four great continents, with all the surrounding throngs, and caused a vast quantity of scented wreaths to be brought, and made a bo-festival in the precinct of the great bo-tree." So saying, he told a story of the past.


Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Kāliṅga, and in the city of Dantapura, reigned a king named Kāliṅga. He had two sons, named

p. 144

[paragraph continues] Mahā-Kāliṅga and Culla-Kāliṅga, Kāliṅga the Greater and the Less. Now fortune-tellers had foretold that the eldest son would reign after his father's death; but that the youngest would live as an ascetic, and live by alms, yet his son would be an universal monarch.

Time passed by, and on his father's death the eldest son became king, the youngest viceroy. The youngest, ever thinking that a son born of him was to be an universal monarch, grew arrogant on that account. This the king could not brook, so sent a messenger to arrest Kāliṅga the Less. The man came and said, "Prince, the king wishes to have you arrested, so save your life." The prince showed the courtier charged with this mission his own signet ring, a fine rug, and his sword: these three. Then he said, "By these tokens 1 you shall know my son, and make him king." With these words, he sped away into the forest. There he built him a hut in a pleasant place, and lived as an ascetic upon the bank of a river.

Now in the kingdom of Madda, and in the city of Sāgala, a daughter was born to the King of Madda. Of the girl, as of the prince, fortunetellers foretold that she should live as an ascetic, but her son was to be an universal monarch. The Kings of India, hearing this rumour, came together with one accord, and surrounded the city. The king thought to himself, "Now, if I give my daughter to one, all the other kings will be enraged. I will try to save her." So with wife and daughter he fled disguised away into the forest; and after building him a hut some distance up the river, above the hut of Prince Kāliṅga, [231] he lived there as an ascetic, eating what he could pick up.

The parents, wishing to save their daughter, left her behind in the hut, and went out to gather wild fruits. While they were gone she gathered flowers of all kinds, and made them into a flower-wreath. Now on the bank of the Ganges there is a mango tree with beautiful flowers, which forms a kind of natural ladder. Upon this she climbed, and playing managed to drop the wreath of flowers into the water 2.

One day, as Prince Kāliṅga was coming out of the river after a bath, this flower-wreath caught in his hair.

He looked at it, and said, "Some woman made this, and no full-grown woman but a tender young girl. I must make search for her." So deeply in love he journeyed up the Ganges, until he heard her singing in a sweet voice, as she sat in the mango tree. He approached the foot of the tree,

p. 145

and seeing her, said, "What are you, fair lady?" "I am human, Sir," she replied. "Come down, then," quoth he. "Sir, I cannot; I am of the warrior caste 1." "So am I also, lady: come down!" "No, no, Sir, that I cannot do. Saying will not make a warrior; if you are so, tell me the secrets of that mystery." Then they repeated to each other these guild secrets. And the princess came down, and they had connexion one with the other.

When her parents returned she told them about this son of the King of Kālinga, and how he came into the forest, in all detail. They consented to give her to him. While they lived together in happy union, the princess conceived, and after ten months brought forth a son with the signs of good luck and virtue; and they named him Kāliṅga. He grew up, and learnt all arts and accomplishments from his father and grandfather.

At length his father knew from conjunctions of the stars that his brother was dead. So he called his son, and said, "My son, you must not spend your life in the forest. Your father's brother, Kāliṅga the Greater, is dead; you must go to Dantapura, and receive your hereditary kingdom." [232] Then he gave him the things he had brought away with him, signet, rug, and sword, saying, "My son, in the city of Dantapura, in such a street, lives a courtier who is my very good servant. Descend into his house and enter his bedchamber, and show him these three things and tell him you are my son. He will place you upon the throne."

The lad bade farewell to his parents and grandparents; and by power of his own virtue he passed through the air, and descending into the house of that courtier entered his bedchamber. "Who are you?" asked the other. "The son of Kāliṅga the Less," said he, disclosing the three tokens. The courtier told it to the palace, and all those of the court decorated the city and spread the umbrella of royalty over his head. Then the chaplain, who was named Kāliṅga-bhāradvāja, taught him the ten ceremonies which an universal monarch has to perform, and he fulfilled those duties. Then on the fifteenth day, the fast-day, came to him from Cakkadaha the precious Wheel of Empire, from the Uposatha stock the precious Elephant, from the royal Valāha breed the precious Horse, from Vepulla the precious Jewel; and the precious wife, retinue, and prince made their appearance 2. Then he achieved sovereignty in the whole terrestrial sphere.

One day, surrounded by a company which covered six-and-thirty leagues, and mounted upon an elephant all white, tall as a peak of Mount

p. 146

[paragraph continues] Kelāsa, in great pomp and splendour he went to visit his parents. But beyond the circuit 1 around the great bo-tree, the throne of victory of all the Buddhas, which has become the very navel of the earth, beyond this the elephant was unable to pass: again and again the king urged him on, but pass he could not.


Explaining this, the Master recited the first stanza:

"King Kāliṅga, lord supreme,
    Ruled the earth by law and right,
To the bo-tree once he came
    On an elephant of might."


Hereupon the king's chaplain, who was travelling with the king, thought to himself, "In the air is no hindrance; why cannot the king make his elephant go on? [233] I will go, and see." Then descending from the air, he beheld the throne of victory of all Buddhas, the navel of the earth, that circuit around the great bo-tree. At that time, it is said, for the space of a royal karísa 2 was never a blade of grass, not so big as a hare's whisker; it seemed as it were a smooth-spread sand bright like a silver plate; but on all sides were grass, creepers, mighty trees like the lords of the forest, as though standing in reverent wise all about with their faces turned towards the throne of the bo-tree. When the brahmin beheld this spot of earth, "This," thought he, "is the place where all the Buddhas have crushed all the desires of the flesh; and beyond this none can pass, no not if he were Sakka himself." Then approaching the king, he told him the quality of the bo-tree circuit, and bade him descend.


By way of explaining this the Master recited these stanzas following:

"This Kāliṅga-bhāradvāja told his king, the ascetic's son,
As he rolled the wheel of empire, guiding him, obeisance done:

"This the place the poets sing of; here, O mighty king, alight!
Here attained to perfect wisdom perfect Buddhas, shining bright.

"In the world, tradition has it, this one spot is hallowed ground,
Where in attitude of reverence herbs and creepers stand around 
3.

"Come, descend and do obeisance; since as far as the ocean bound
In the fertile earth all-fostering this one spot is hallowed ground.

p. 147

"All the elephants thou ownest thorobred by dam and sire,
Hither drive them, they will surely come thus far, but come no nigher.

"He is thorobred you ride on; drive the creature as you will,
He can go not one step further: here the elephant stands still."

"Spake the soothsayer, heard Kāliṅga; then the King to him, quoth he,
Driving deep the goad into him—"Be this truth, we soon shall see."

"Pierced, the creature trumpets loudly, shrill as any heron cries,
Moved, then fell upon his haunches neath the weight, and could not rise."


[234] Pierced and pierced again by the king, this elephant could not endure the pain, and so died; but the king knew not he was dead, and sat there still on his back. Then Kāliṅgabhāradvāja said, "O great king! your elephant is dead; pass on to another."


To explain this matter, the Master recited the tenth stanza:

"When Kāliṅga-bhāradvāja saw the elephant was dead,
He in fear and trepidation then to king Kāliṅga said:
"Seek another, mighty monarch: this thy elephant is dead."


[235] By the virtue and magical power of the king, another beast of the Uposatha breed appeared and offered his back. The king sat on his back. At that moment the dead elephant fell upon the earth.


To explain this matter, the Master repeated another stanza:

"This heard, Kāliṅga in dismay
Mounted another, and straightway
Upon the earth the corpse sank down,
And the soothsayer's word for very truth was shown."


Thereupon the king came down from the air, and beholding the precinct of the bo-tree, and the miracle that was done, he praised Bhāradvāja, saying—

"To Kāliṅga-bhāradvāja king Kāliṅga thus did say:
"All thou know’st and understandest, and thou seest all alway."

Now the brahmin would not accept this praise; but standing in his own humble place, he extolled the Buddhas, and praised them.


p. 148

To explain this, the Master repeated these stanzas:

"But the brahmin straight denied it, and thus spake unto the king:
"I know sooth of marks and tokens: but the Buddhas, every thing.

"Though all-knowing and all-seeing, yet in marks they have no skill:
They know all, but know by insight: I a man of books am still."


The king, hearing the virtues of the Buddhas, was delighted in heart; and he caused all the dwellers in the world to bring fragrant wreaths in plenty, and for seven days he made them do worship at the circuit of the Great Bo-tree.


[236] By way of explanation, the Master recited a couple of stanzas:

"Thus worshipt he the great bo-tree 1 with much melodious sound
Of music, and with fragrant wreaths: a wall he set around,

"and after that the king went on his way—

"Brought flowers in sixty thousand carts an offering to be;
Thus king Kāliṅga worshipped the Circuit of the Tree."


Having in this manner done worship to the Great Bo-tree, he visited his parents, and took them back with him again to Dantapura; where he gave alms and did good deeds, until he was born again in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.


The Master, having finished this discourse, said: "It is not now the first time, Brethren, that Ānanda did worship the bo-tree, but aforetime also;" and then he identified the Birth:—"At that time Ānanda was Kāliṅga, and I myself was Kāliṅga-bhāradvāja."


Footnotes

142:1 See Hardy, Eastern Monachism, pp. 213-4.

142:2 See Hardy, Eastern Monachism, 216 f. The last class is said to be images of the Buddha.

143:1 Reading parigalantam.

144:1 The tokens are a familiar feature of folk-tales. We may compare the story of Theseus, with his father's sword and sandals: Pausanias, i. 27. 8.

144:2 Another familiar episode in folk tales, but of Protean form. It is commonly a hair of the lady's head that falls. See Clouston, Popular Tales and Fictions, i. 241 (India), 251, (Egypt); North Indian Notes and Queries, ii. 704; Lal Behari Day, Folk Tales of Bengal, No, 4.

145:1 Khattiyā.

145:2 For an account of the Cakkavatti, and the miracles at his appearing, consult Hardy's Manual, 126 ff. See also Rhys Davids on the Questions of Milinda, vol. i. p. 57 (he renders the last two treasurer and adviser), and Buddhist Suttas, p. 257.

146:1 The word is used both of the seat under the tree and of the raised terrace built around it.

146:2 Or should it be a karisa round the king?

146:3 The scholiast says of this maṇḍo: "As the age continues, at first it continues the same, then with the waning of the age wanes again and grows less."

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[479] 6. Kāliṅgabodhijātakavaṇṇanā

Rājā kāliṅgo cakkavattīti idaṃ satthā jetavane viharanto ānandattherena kataṃ mahābodhipūjaṃ ārabbha kathesi. Veneyyasaṅgahatthāya hi tathāgate janapadacārikaṃ pakkante sāvatthivāsino gandhamālādihatthā jetavanaṃ gantvā aññaṃ pūjanīyaṭṭhānaṃ alabhitvā gandhakuṭidvāre pātetvā gacchanti, te uḷārapāmojjā na honti. Taṃ kāraṇaṃ ñatvā anāthapiṇḍiko tathāgatassa jetavanaṃ āgatakāle ānandattherassa santikaṃ gantvā ‘‘bhante, ayaṃ vihāro tathāgate cārikaṃ pakkante nipaccayo hoti, manussānaṃ gandhamālādīhi pūjanīyaṭṭhānaṃ na hoti, sādhu, bhante, tathāgatassa imamatthaṃ ārocetvā ekassa pūjanīyaṭṭhānassa sakkuṇeyyabhāvaṃ jānāthā’’ti āha. So ‘‘sādhū’’ti sampaṭicchitvā tathāgataṃ pucchi ‘‘kati nu kho, bhante, cetiyānī’’ti? ‘‘Tīṇi ānandā’’ti. ‘‘Katamāni, bhante, tīṇī’’ti? ‘‘Sārīrikaṃ pāribhogikaṃ uddissaka’’nti. ‘‘Sakkā pana, bhante, tumhesu dharantesuyeva cetiyaṃ kātu’’nti. ‘‘Ānanda, sārīrikaṃ na sakkā kātuṃ. Tañhi buddhānaṃ parinibbānakāle hoti, uddissakaṃ avatthukaṃ mamāyanamattameva hoti, buddhehi paribhutto mahābodhirukkho buddhesu dharantesupi cetiyamevā’’ti. ‘‘Bhante, tumhesu pakkantesu jetavanavihāro appaṭisaraṇo hoti, mahājano pūjanīyaṭṭhānaṃ na labhati, mahābodhito bījaṃ āharitvā jetavanadvāre ropessāmi, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Sādhu, ānanda, ropehi, evaṃ sante jetavane mama nibaddhavāso viya bhavissatī’’ti.

Thero kosalanarindassa anāthapiṇḍikassa visākhādīnañca ārocetvā jetavanadvāre bodhiropanaṭṭhāne āvāṭaṃ khaṇāpetvā mahāmoggallānattheraṃ āha – ‘‘bhante, ahaṃ jetavanadvāre bodhiṃ ropessāmi, mahābodhito me bodhipakkaṃ āharathā’’ti. Thero ‘‘sādhū’’ti sampaṭicchitvā ākāsena bodhimaṇḍaṃ gantvā vaṇṭā parigalantaṃ pakkaṃ bhūmiṃ asampattameva cīvarena sampaṭicchitvā gahetvā ānandattherassa adāsi. Ānandatthero ‘‘ajja bodhiṃ ropessāmī’’ti kosalarājādīnaṃ ārocesi. Rājā sāyanhasamaye mahantena parivārena sabbūpakaraṇāni gāhāpetvā āgami, tathā anāthapiṇḍiko visākhā ca añño ca saddho jano. Thero mahābodhiropanaṭṭhāne mahantaṃ suvaṇṇakaṭāhaṃ ṭhapetvā heṭṭhā chiddaṃ kāretvā gandhakalalassa pūretvā ‘‘idaṃ bodhipakkaṃ ropehi, mahārājā’’ti rañño adāsi. So cintesi ‘‘rajjaṃ nāma na sabbakālaṃ amhākaṃ hatthe tiṭṭhati, idaṃ mayā anāthapiṇḍikena ropāpetuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti . So taṃ bodhipakkaṃ mahāseṭṭhissa hatthe ṭhapesi. Anāthapiṇḍiko gandhakalalaṃ viyūhitvā tattha pātesi. Tasmiṃ tassa hatthato muttamatteyeva sabbesaṃ passantānaññeva naṅgalasīsappamāṇo bodhikhandho paṇṇāsahatthubbedho uṭṭhahi, catūsu disāsu uddhañcāti pañca mahāsākhā paṇṇāsahatthāva nikkhamiṃsu. Iti so taṅkhaṇaññeva vanappatijeṭṭhako hutvā aṭṭhāsi. Rājā aṭṭhārasamatte suvaṇṇarajataghaṭe gandhodakena pūretvā nīluppalahatthakādipaṭimaṇḍite mahābodhiṃ parikkhipitvā puṇṇaghaṭe paṭipāṭiyā ṭhapesi, sattaratanamayaṃ vedikaṃ kāresi, suvaṇṇamissakaṃ vālukaṃ okiri, pākāraparikkhepaṃ kāresi, sattaratanamayaṃ dvārakoṭṭhakaṃ kāresi, sakkāro mahā ahosi.

Thero tathāgataṃ upasaṅkamitvā ‘‘bhante, tumhehi mahābodhimūle samāpannasamāpattiṃ mayā ropitabodhimūle nisīditvā mahājanassa hitatthāya samāpajjathā’’ti āha. ‘‘Ānanda, kiṃ kathesi, mayi mahābodhimūle samāpannasamāpattiṃ samāpajjitvā nisinne añño padeso dhāretuṃ na sakkotī’’ti. ‘‘Bhante, mahājanassa hitatthāya imassa bhūmippadesassa dhuvaniyāmena samāpattisukhena taṃ bodhimūlaṃ paribhuñjathā’’ti. Satthā ekarattiṃ samāpattisukhena paribhuñji. Thero kosalarājādīnaṃ kathetvā bodhimahaṃ nāma kāresi. Sopi kho bodhirukkho ānandattherena ropitattā ānandabodhiyevāti paññāyittha. Tadā bhikkhū dhammasabhāyaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ ‘‘āvuso āyasmā ānando dharanteyeva tathāgate bodhiṃ ropetvā mahāpūjaṃ kāresi , aho mahāguṇo thero’’ti . Satthā āgantvā ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte ‘‘na, bhikkhave, idāneva, pubbepi ānando saparivāresu catūsu mahādīpesu manusse gahetvā bahugandhamālādīni āharitvā mahābodhimaṇḍe bodhimahaṃ kāresiyevā’’ti vatvā atītaṃ āhari.

Atīte kaliṅgaraṭṭhe dantapuranagare kāliṅgo nāma rājā rajjaṃ kāresi. Tassa mahākāliṅgo, cūḷakāliṅgoti dve puttā ahesuṃ. Nemittakā ‘‘jeṭṭhaputto pitu accayena rajjaṃ kāressati, kaniṭṭho pana isipabbajjaṃ pabbajitvā bhikkhāya carissati, putto panassa cakkavattī bhavissatī’’ti byākariṃsu. Aparabhāge jeṭṭhaputto pitu accayena rājā ahosi, kaniṭṭho pana uparājā. So ‘‘putto kira me cakkavattī bhavissatī’’ti puttaṃ nissāya mānaṃ akāsi. Rājā asahanto ‘‘cūḷakāliṅgaṃ gaṇhā’’ti ekaṃ atthacarakaṃ āṇāpesi. So gantvā ‘‘kumāra, rājā taṃ gaṇhāpetukāmo, tava jīvitaṃ rakkhāhī’’ti āha. So attano lañjanamuddikañca sukhumakambalañca khaggañcāti imāni tīṇi atthacarakāmaccassa dassetvā ‘‘imāya saññāya mama puttassa rajjaṃ dadeyyāthā’’ti vatvā araññaṃ pavisitvā ramaṇīye bhūmibhāge assamaṃ katvā isipabbajjaṃ pabbajitvā nadītīre vāsaṃ kappesi.

Maddaraṭṭhepi sāgalanagare maddarañño aggamahesī dhītaraṃ vijāyi. Taṃ nemittakā ‘‘ayaṃ bhikkhaṃ caritvā jīvikaṃ kappessati, putto panassā cakkavattī bhavissatī’’ti byākariṃsu. Sakalajambudīpe rājāno taṃ pavattiṃ sutvā ekappahāreneva āgantvā sāgalanagaraṃ rundhiṃsu. Maddarājā cintesi ‘‘sacāhaṃ imaṃ ekassa dassāmi, sesarājāno kujjhissanti, mama dhītaraṃ rakkhissāmī’’ti dhītarañca bhariyañca gahetvā aññātakavesena palāyitvā araññaṃ pavisitvā cūḷakāliṅgakumārassa assamapadato uparibhāge assamaṃ katvā pabbajitvā uñchācariyāya jīvikaṃ kappento tattha paṭivasati. Mātāpitaro ‘‘dhītaraṃ rakkhissāmā’’ti taṃ assamapade katvā phalāphalatthāya gacchanti. Sā tesaṃ gatakāle nānāpupphāni gahetvā pupphacumbaṭakaṃ katvā gaṅgātīre ṭhapitasopānapanti viya jāto eko supupphito ambarukkho atthi, taṃ abhiruhitvā kīḷitvā pupphacumbaṭakaṃ udake khipi. Taṃ ekadivasaṃ gaṅgāyaṃ nhāyantassa cūḷakāliṅgakumārassa sīse laggi. So taṃ oloketvā ‘‘idaṃ ekāya itthiyā kataṃ, no ca kho mahallikāya, taruṇakumārikāya katakammaṃ, vīmaṃsissāmi tāva na’’nti kilesavasena uparigaṅgaṃ gantvā tassā ambarukkhe nisīditvā madhurena sarena gāyantiyā saddaṃ sutvā rukkhamūlaṃ gantvā taṃ disvā ‘‘bhadde, kā nāma tva’’nti āha. ‘‘Manussitthīhamasmi sāmī’’ti . ‘‘Tena hi otarāhī’’ti. ‘‘Na sakkā sāmi, ahaṃ khattiyā’’ti. ‘‘Bhadde, ahampi khattiyoyeva, otarāhī’’ti. Sāmi, na vacanamatteneva khattiyo hoti, yadisi khattiyo, khattiyamāyaṃ kathehī’’ti. Te ubhopi aññamaññaṃ khattiyamāyaṃ kathayiṃsu. Rājadhītā otari.

Te aññamaññaṃ ajjhācāraṃ cariṃsu. Sā mātāpitūsu āgatesu tassa kāliṅgarājaputtabhāvañceva araññaṃ paviṭṭhakāraṇañca vitthārena tesaṃ kathesi. Te ‘‘sādhū’’ti sampaṭicchitvā taṃ tassa adaṃsu. Tesaṃ piyasaṃvāsena vasantānaṃ rājadhītā gabbhaṃ labhitvā dasamāsaccayena dhaññapuññalakkhaṇasampannaṃ puttaṃ vijāyi, ‘‘kāliṅgo’’tissa nāmaṃ akaṃsu. So vayappatto pitu ceva ayyakassa ca santike sabbasippānaṃ nipphattiṃ pāpuṇi. Athassa pitā nakkhattayogavasena bhātu matabhāvaṃ ñatvā ‘‘tāta, mā tvaṃ araññe vasa, petteyyo te mahākāliṅgo kālakato, tvaṃ dantapuranagaraṃ gantvā kulasantakaṃ sakalarajjaṃ gaṇhāhī’’ti vatvā attanā ānītaṃ muddikañca kambalañca khaggañca datvā ‘‘tāta, dantapuranagare asukavīthiyaṃ amhākaṃ atthacarako amacco atthi, tassa gehe sayanamajjhe otaritvā imāni tīṇi ratanāni tassa dassetvā mama puttabhāvaṃ ācikkha, so taṃ rajje patiṭṭhāpessatī’’ti uyyojesi. So mātāpitaro ca ayyakāyyike ca vanditvā puññamahiddhiyā ākāsena gantvā amaccassa sayanapiṭṭheyeva otaritvā ‘‘kosi tva’’nti puṭṭho ‘‘cūḷakāliṅgassa puttomhī’’ti ācikkhitvā tāni ratanāni dassesi. Amacco rājaparisāya ārocesi. Amaccā nagaraṃ alaṅkārāpetvā tassa setacchattaṃ ussāpayiṃsu.

Athassa kāliṅgabhāradvājo nāma purohito tassa dasa cakkavattivattāni ācikkhi. So taṃ vattaṃ pūresi. Athassa pannarasauposathadivase cakkadahato cakkaratanaṃ, uposathakulato hatthiratanaṃ, valāhakakulato assaratanaṃ, vepullapabbatato maṇiratanaṃ āgami, itthiratanagahapatiratanapariṇāyakaratanāni pātubhavanti. So sakalacakkavāḷagabbhe rajjaṃ gaṇhitvā ekadivasañca chattiṃsayojanāya parisāya parivuto sabbasetaṃ kelāsakūṭapaṭibhāgaṃ hatthiṃ āruyha mahantena sirivilāsena mātāpitūnaṃ santikaṃ pāyāsi. Athassa sabbabuddhānaṃ jayapallaṅkassa pathavīnābhibhūtassa mahābodhimaṇḍassa uparibhāge nāgo gantuṃ nāsakkhi. Rājā punappunaṃ codesi, so nāsakkhiyeva. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā paṭhamaṃ gāthamāha –

67.

‘‘Rājā kāliṅgo cakkavatti, dhammena pathavimanusāsaṃ;

Agamā bodhisamīpaṃ, nāgena mahānubhāvenā’’ti.

Atha rañño purohito raññā saddhiṃ gacchanto ‘‘ākāse āvaraṇaṃ nāma natthi, kiṃ nu kho rājā hatthiṃ pesetuṃ na sakkoti , vīmaṃsissāmī’’ti ākāsato oruyha sabbabuddhānaṃyeva jayapallaṅkaṃ pathavīnābhimaṇḍalabhūtaṃ bhūmibhāgaṃ passi. Tadā kira tattha aṭṭharājakarīsamatte ṭhāne kesamassumattampi tiṇaṃ nāma natthi, rajatapaṭṭavaṇṇavālukā vippakiṇṇā honti, samantā tiṇalatāvanappatiyo bodhimaṇḍaṃ padakkhiṇaṃ katvā āvaṭṭetvā bodhimaṇḍābhimukhāva aṭṭhaṃsu. Brāhmaṇo taṃ bhūmibhāgaṃ oloketvā ‘‘idañhi sabbabuddhānaṃ sabbakilesaviddhaṃsanaṭṭhānaṃ, imassa uparibhāge sakkādīhipi na sakkā gantu’’nti cintetvā kāliṅgarañño santikaṃ gantvā bodhimaṇḍassa vaṇṇaṃ kathetvā rājānaṃ ‘‘otarā’’ti āha. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā imā gāthā āha –

68.

‘‘Kāliṅgo bhāradvājo ca, rājānaṃ kāliṅgaṃ samaṇakolaññaṃ;

Cakkaṃ vattayato pariggahetvā, pañjalī idamavoca.

69.

‘‘Paccoroha mahārāja, bhūmibhāgo yathā samaṇuggato;

Idha anadhivarā buddhā, abhisambuddhā virocanti.

70.

‘‘Padakkhiṇato āvaṭṭā, tiṇalatā asmiṃ bhūmibhāgasmiṃ;

Pathaviyā nābhiyaṃ maṇḍo, iti no sutaṃ mante mahārāja.

71.

‘‘Sāgarapariyantāya, mediniyā sabbabhūtadharaṇiyā;

Pathaviyā ayaṃ maṇḍo, orohitvā namo karohi.

72.

‘‘Ye te bhavanti nāgā ca, abhijātā ca kuñjarā;

Ettāvatā padesaṃ te, nāgā neva mupayanti.

73.

‘‘Abhijāto nāgo kāmaṃ, pesehi kuñjaraṃ dantiṃ;

Ettāvatā padeso, sakkā nāgena mupagantuṃ.

74.

‘‘Taṃ sutvā rājā kāliṅgo, veyyañjanikavaco nisāmetvā;

Sampesesi nāgaṃ ñassāma, mayaṃ yathimassidaṃ vacanaṃ.

75.

‘‘Sampesito ca raññā, nāgo koñcova abhinaditvāna;

Paṭisakkitvā nisīdi, garuṃva bhāraṃ asahamāno’’ti.

Tattha samaṇakolaññanti tāpasānaṃ puttaṃ. Cakkaṃ vattayatoti cakkaṃ vattayamānaṃ, cakkavattinti attho. Pariggahetvāti bhūmibhāgaṃ vīmaṃsitvā. Samaṇuggatoti sabbabuddhehi vaṇṇito. Anadhivarāti atulyā appameyyā. Virocantīti vihatasabbakilesandhakārā taruṇasūriyā viya idha nisinnā virocanti. Tiṇalatāti tiṇāni ca latāyo ca. Maṇḍoti catunahutādhikadviyojanasatasahassabahalāya pathaviyā maṇḍo sāro nābhibhūto acalaṭṭhānaṃ, kappe saṇṭhahante paṭhamaṃ saṇṭhahati, vinassante pacchā vinassati. Iti no sutanti evaṃ amhehi lakkhaṇamantavasena sutaṃ. Orohitvāti ākāsato otaritvā imassa sabbabuddhānaṃ kilesaviddhaṃsanaṭṭhānassa namo karohi, pūjāsakkāraṃ karohi.

Ye teti ye cakkavattirañño hatthiratanasaṅkhātā uposathakule nibbattanāgā. Ettāvatāti sabbepi te ettakaṃ padesaṃ neva upayanti, koṭṭiyamānāpi na upagacchantiyeva. Abhijātoti gocariyādīni aṭṭha hatthikulāni abhibhavitvā atikkamitvā uposathakule jāto. Kuñjaranti uttamaṃ. Ettāvatāti ettako padeso sakkā etena nāgena upagantuṃ, ito uttari na sakkā, abhikaṅkhanto vajiraṅkusena saññaṃ datvā pesehīti. Veyyañjanikavaco nisāmetvāti bhikkhave, so rājā tassa lakkhaṇapāṭhakassa veyyañjanikassa kāliṅgabhāradvājassa vaco nisāmetvā upadhāretvā ‘‘ñassāma mayaṃ yathā imassa vacanaṃ yadi vā saccaṃ yadi vā alika’’nti vīmaṃsanto nāgaṃ pesesīti attho. Koñcova abhinaditvānāti bhikkhave, so nāgo tena raññā vajiraṅkusena codetvā pesito koñcasakuṇo viya naditvā paṭisakkitvā soṇḍaṃ ukkhipitvā gīvaṃ unnāmetvā garuṃ bhāraṃ vahituṃ asakkonto viya ākāseyeva nisīdi.

So tena punappunaṃ vijjhiyamāno vedanaṃ sahituṃ asakkonto kālamakāsi. Rājā panassa matabhāvaṃ ajānanto piṭṭhe nisinnova ahosi. Kāliṅgabhāradvājo ‘‘mahārāja, tava nāgo niruddho, aññaṃ hatthiṃ saṅkamā’’ti āha. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā dasamaṃ gāthamāha –

76.

‘‘Kāliṅgabhāradvājo , nāgaṃ khīṇāyukaṃ viditvāna;

Rājānaṃ kāliṅgaṃ, taramāno ajjhabhāsittha;

Aññaṃ saṅkama nāgaṃ, nāgo khīṇāyuko mahārājā’’ti.

Tattha nāgo khīṇāyukoti nāgo te jīvitakkhayaṃ patto, yaṃ kiñci karontena na sakkā piṭṭhe nisinnena bodhimaṇḍamatthakena gantuṃ. Aññaṃ nāgaṃ saṅkamāti rañño puññiddhibalena añño nāgo uposathakulato āgantvā piṭṭhiṃ upanāmesi.

Rājā tassa piṭṭhiyaṃ nisīdi. Tasmiṃ khaṇe matahatthī bhūmiyaṃ pati. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā itaraṃ gāthamāha –

77.

‘‘Taṃ sutvā kāliṅgo, taramāno saṅkamī nāgaṃ;

Saṅkanteva raññe nāgo, tattheva pati bhumyā;

Veyyañjanikavaco, yathā tathā ahu nāgo’’ti.

Atha rājā ākāsato oruyha bodhimaṇḍaṃ oloketvā pāṭihāriyaṃ disvā bhāradvājassa thutiṃ karonto āha –

78.

‘‘Kāliṅgo rājā kāliṅgaṃ, brāhmaṇaṃ etadavoca;

Tvameva asi sambuddho, sabbaññū sabbadassāvī’’ti.

Brāhmaṇo taṃ anadhivāsento attānaṃ nīcaṭṭhāne ṭhapetvā buddheyeva ukkhipitvā vaṇṇesi. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā imā gāthā abhāsi –

79.

‘‘Taṃ anadhivāsento kāliṅga, brāhmaṇo idamavoca;

Veyyañjanikā hi mayaṃ, buddhā sabbaññuno mahārāja.

80.

‘‘Sabbaññū sabbavidū ca, buddhā na lakkhaṇena jānanti;

Āgamabalasā hi mayaṃ, buddhā sabbaṃ pajānantī’’ti.

Tattha veyyañjanikāti mahārāja, mayaṃ byañjanaṃ disvā byākaraṇasamatthā sutabuddhā nāma, buddhā pana sabbaññū sabbavidū. Buddhā hi atītādibhedaṃ sabbaṃ jānanti ceva passanti ca, sabbaññutaññāṇena te sabbaṃ jānanti, na lakkhaṇena. Mayaṃ pana āgamabalasā attano sippabaleneva jānāma, tañca ekadesameva, buddhā pana sabbaṃ pajānantīti.

Rājā buddhaguṇe sutvā somanassappatto hutvā sakalacakkavāḷavāsikehi bahugandhamālaṃ āharāpetvā mahābodhimaṇḍe sattāhaṃ vasitvā mahābodhipūjaṃ kāresi. Tamatthaṃ pakāsento satthā imaṃ gāthādvayamāha –

81.

‘‘Mahayitvā sambodhiṃ, nānāturiyehi vajjamānehi;

Mālāvilepanaṃ abhiharitvā, atha rājā manupāyāsi.

82.

‘‘Saṭṭhi vāhasahassāni, pupphānaṃ sannipātayi;

Pūjesi rājā kāliṅgo, bodhimaṇḍamanuttara’’nti.

Tattha manupāyāsīti mātāpitūnaṃ santikaṃ agamāsi. So mahābodhimaṇḍe aṭṭhārasahatthaṃ suvaṇṇatthambhaṃ ussāpesi. Tassa sattaratanamayā vedikā kāresi, ratanamissakaṃ vālukaṃ okirāpetvā pākāraparikkhittaṃ kāresi, sattaratanamayaṃ dvārakoṭṭhakaṃ kāresi, devasikaṃ pupphānaṃ saṭṭhivāhasahassāni sannipātayi, evaṃ bodhimaṇḍaṃ pūjesi. Pāḷiyaṃ pana ‘‘saṭṭhi vāhasahassāni pupphāna’’nti ettakameva āgataṃ.

Evaṃ mahābodhipūjaṃ katvā mātāpitaro ayyakāyyike ca ādāya dantapurameva ānetvā dānādīni puññāni katvā tāvatiṃsabhavane nibbatti.

Satthā imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ āharitvā ‘‘na, bhikkhave, idāneva, pubbepi ānando bodhipūjaṃ kāresiyevā’’ti vatvā jātakaṃ samodhānesi – ‘‘tadā māṇavakakāliṅgo ānando ahosi, kāliṅgabhāradvājo pana ahameva ahosi’’nti.

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