Monks, when the Bodhisattva bathed in the Nairañjanā River and enjoyed a meal, his physical strength came back to him. With a triumphant gait, he now began the walk toward the great Bodhi tree. This tree was the king of trees and was found at a place characterized by sixteen unique features.
EN
He walked with the gait of a great being. It was an undisturbed gait, a gait of the nāga Indrayaṣṭi, a steadfast gait, a gait as stable as Mount Meru, the king of mountains. He walked in a straight line without stumbling, not too fast and not too slow, without stomping heavily or dragging his feet. It was a graceful stride, a stainless stride, a beautiful stride, a stride free from anger, a stride free from delusion, and a stride free from attachment. It was the stride of a lion, the stride of the king of swans, the stride of the king of elephants, the stride of Nārāyaṇa, the stride that floats above the surface, the stride that leaves an impression of a thousand-spoked wheel on the ground, the stride of he whose fingers are connected through a web and who has copper-colored nails, the stride that makes the earth resound, and the stride that crushes the king of the mountains.
EN
He walked with the stride of someone whose feet level off the terrain, be it sloping up or sloping down, the stride that leads sentient beings to happy rebirths through contact with the light rays that emerge from the web between his fingers, the stride that walks upon stainless lotuses, the stride that proceeds from previous wholesome actions, the stride of the previous buddha-lions, and the stride that proceeds from a stable and indestructible diamond-like intention. He had a stride that destroys all lower realms and all miserable existences, a stride that brings happiness to all beings, a stride that points out the path to liberation, a stride that renders powerless the strength of demons, a stride that suppresses evil opponents with their doctrines, a stride that removes the cataract of darkness and disturbing emotions, and a stride that undoes the workings of cyclic existence.
EN
He walked with a gait that outshines Śakra, Brahmā, Maheśvara, and the world protectors. His stride was that of the single lord of the great trichiliocosm, the spontaneous stride that cannot be overpowered, the stride that actualizes the attainment of omniscient wisdom, the stride of mindfulness and insight, the stride that leads to a happy rebirth, the stride that pacifies old age and death, the stride of stainless peace, the stride that leads to the city of nirvāṇa, which is auspicious, stainless, and free from fear. With such a stride the Bodhisattva set out for the seat of awakening.
EN
Monks, on the stretch between the Nairañjanā River and the seat of awakening, the gods of wind clouds swept the road for the Bodhisattva, while the gods of rain clouds sprinkled his path with scented water, and scattered flowers along the way. At that point all the trees in this world of the great trichiliocosm bent their crowns toward the seat of awakening. All the children who had been born on that very day now slept with their heads toward the seat of awakening. Likewise all the mountains that exist in this world of the great trichiliocosm, such as Mount Meru, bowed toward the seat of awakening.
EN
All the way from the Nairañjanā River to the seat of awakening, the road had been beautified for a stretch of several miles by the gods of the desire realm. At both sides of the road, they had magically erected a railing made from the seven types of precious stones. The road was shaded, at the height of seven palm trees, with a jeweled latticework and adorned with divine parasols, flags, and banners. At a distance of an arrow’s flight, they had emanated a row of palm trees made of the seven types of precious stones and taller than the railing. Between all the palm trees, jewel garlands were strung. In between each pair of palm trees, a lotus pond was built, filled with scented water, lined with golden sand, and covered in blue, yellow, red, and white lotuses. Jewel ledges and beryl staircases surrounded the ponds. The ponds resounded with the calls of ducks, storks, swans, geese, cranes, and peacocks. Eighty thousand divine maidens sprinkled the path with flowers of divine scent. In front of each of the palm trees was a jewel podium on which eighty thousand divine maidens stood, proffering containers with powders of sandal and aloeswood, and holding up lighted incense burners with sandalwood. On each of these jewel podiums were also five thousand divine maidens singing celestial songs.
EN
Monks, in this way the Bodhisattva proceeded on his way, emitting trillions of light rays, while the realms shook, music played from millions of instruments, a great rain with an abundance of flowers fell, millions of silken banners fluttered in the wind, millions of drums resounded as they were beaten, and horses, elephants, and bulls circumambulated the Bodhisattva. Hundreds of thousands of parrots, mynas, cuckoos, partridge, swans, sandpipers, peacocks, and cakrāvaka birds were drawn into the Bodhisattva’s presence. Adorned with hundreds of thousands of auspicious signs, such was the road on which the Bodhisattva traveled on his way to the seat of awakening.
EN
On that night, the very night when the Bodhisattva set his aim on attaining full and complete awakening, the all-powerful Brahmā, the ruler of the great trichiliocosm, called out to his large retinue in the Brahma realm.
EN
“Friends,” he said, “you should be aware of this. The Bodhisattva, the Great Being, has donned the great armor. Without forsaking his great vow, protected by his solid armor, he is undeterred and has perfected all the conduct of a bodhisattva. He has reached the further shore of all the perfections and become a master of all the grounds of a bodhisattva. He is perfectly pure in his aspirations of a bodhisattva and joins in the five spiritual faculties of all sentient beings. He has entered the secret locations of all the thus-gone ones and is beyond all paths of demonic activity. He is not dependent on others regarding the basis for acquiring merit. He is blessed by all thus-gone ones. He demonstrates the path to complete freedom for all sentient beings. He is a great captain who conquers the circle of Māra’s army. He is the single hero of the trichiliocosm.
EN
“He has accomplished all the medicines of Dharma and is the great king of physicians, wearing a silken headband of salvation. He is the great Dharma king who shines the bright light of knowledge. He is a great meteor-like king who, like a magnificent lotus flower, is unstained by the eight worldly concerns. He never forgets the dhāraṇīs of any teaching. He is like a great ocean, free from attachment and aversion. He is immovable and unshakable like the great central mountain. He is utterly stainless, pure, and in possession of a very wholesome mind, and thus he is like a great jewel. He has become a master of all phenomena and is, in all his actions, beyond intentions.
EN
“The Bodhisattva, who is like the great Brahmā, proceeds to the seat of awakening with the desire to awaken to unexcelled, perfect, and complete buddhahood in order to tame the armies of Māra. He proceeds in order to perfectly accomplish the ten powers, the fourfold fearlessness, and the eighteen unique qualities of a buddha. His aim is to turn the great wheel of Dharma and utter the lion’s great roar. With the gift of Dharma, he will satisfy all sentient beings. He will purify the eye of Dharma of all sentient beings and annihilate all his opponents together with their doctrines. He goes to the seat of awakening to demonstrate the fulfillment of his previous vows and to gain a ruler’s complete mastery over all phenomena. Friends, for these reasons you should pay homage to the Bodhisattva and joyfully assist him in every way possible!”
EN
Then at that point the all-powerful Brahmā spoke these verses:
EN
“He, by whose merits and glorious splendor the great path can be known— Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, as well as the absorptions and the types of higher knowledge— Has practiced wholesome conduct for a thousand eons and now sets out for the Bodhi tree. You should make offerings to that sage as he practices to fulfill his aspirations.
EN
“Take refuge in him, and you will not meet or experience the fears of the lower realms or the lack of the freedoms; Instead you will find the happiness of desire-realm gods in the vast abode of Brahmā. He went through hardship for six years, and now he departs for the Bodhi tree. Well done! Let us all venerate this man with joy and devotion!
EN
“He is the king of the trichiliocosm, the best of masters, the royal master of Dharma; In the cities of Indra, Brahmā, Sūrya, and Candra, there is no equal to him. When he was born, one trillion worlds quaked in six different ways; Today he sets out for the supreme magnificent tree to conquer the armies of Māra.
EN
“The crown of his head I cannot see, nor can the others here in the Brahmā realm; His body, bearing the best of the excellent marks, is adorned with the thirty-two; His speech is beautiful, sweet, and pleasant to hear, a voice melodious like that of Brahmā; His mind is calm and free from anger. Come, let’s pay him homage!
EN
“Intelligent ones who aim to transcend the perpetual bliss in the realms of Indra and Brahmā, Or those who wish to cut the net of the fettering vines of disturbing emotions, Or those wishing to attain immortality without hearing about it from others, which is an auspicious solitary awakening— If anyone desires awakening, they should pay homage, in the three realms, to this guide.
EN
“He has renounced the earth with its oceans, along with countless precious objects. He has abandoned palaces with their oval windows and terraces, as well as conveyances, And the land adorned with exquisite flowers, with beautiful parks, springs, and ponds. He gave up his limbs, his head, and his eyes, and now he walks to the seat of awakening!”
EN
Monks, the great Brahmā, who presides over the trichiliocosm, then made, in a single moment, all the worlds in the great trichiliocosm the same. The world had now become smooth, like the palm of a hand. There was no longer any gravel or rocks, and instead the world was filled with jewels, pearls, cat’s-eye gems, conch shells, crystals, corals, gold, and silver. He covered this entire world of the great trichiliocosm in soft green grass, curled to the right in the pattern of a swastika, soft as the finest cloth, and pleasant to the touch.
EN
At that moment, all the great oceans had also become as peaceful as dry land, and all the beings who live in the waters had become free from any harm. When all the worldly guardians in the ten directions, such as Indra and Brahmā, saw how beautiful the world had become, they decided to venerate the Bodhisattva by adorning a hundred thousand buddha realms in the same way.
EN
All other bodhisattvas who are beyond the world of humans and gods also wished to venerate the Bodhisattva, and therefore they adorned the limitless buddha realms in the ten directions with an array of offerings. All these buddha realms, even though they were adorned in different ways, now appeared as one single buddha realm. All the space between the worlds had disappeared, as had the encircling black mountains and the smaller and greater perimeter walls. All these buddha realms could be seen permeated with the light streaming from the Bodhisattva.
EN
At the seat of awakening, there were sixteen gods who guarded the place. Their names were Utkhalin, Sūtkhalin, Prajāpati, Śūrabhala, Keyūrabala, Supratiṣṭhita, Mahindhara, Avabhāsakara, Vimala, Dharmeśvara, Dharmaketu, Siddhapātra, Apratihatanetra, Mahāvyūha, Śilaviśuddhanetra, and Padmaprabha. It was these sixteen gods, all of whom had attained irreversible patience, who guarded the seat of awakening.
EN
As a way to venerate the Bodhisattva, they had adorned the seat of awakening. At a distance of eighty leagues, they had encircled the place with railings, built in seven rows. Palm trees were also placed in seven circles, and a sevenfold lattice with bells of precious stones enfolded it. All of this was surrounded with seven threads made of precious materials.
EN
The seat of awakening was covered with cloth made of gold from the Jambū River, a cloth studded with seven precious gems and woven with a golden thread. It was bestrewn with lotuses of gold from the Jambū River, scented with aromatic essences, and covered by a jewel canopy. All the beautiful and excellent trees that grow and are venerated in all the different worlds in the ten directions, including the worlds of gods and humans, now manifested at the seat of awakening. Likewise all the different species of flowers that grow in water as well as on land manifested there at the seat of awakening. Moreover, the bodhisattvas in all the various worlds in the ten directions now became visible at the seat of awakening, adorning the place with their immeasurable accumulations of merit and wisdom.
EN
In this way, the gods who guarded the seat of awakening magically manifested such displays at that place. They were so magnificent that when the gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and demigods witnessed them, they began to conceive of their own abodes as nothing more than charnel grounds. As they saw the displays, they felt great respect and exclaimed with joy, “How great! What an inconceivable manifestation of meritorious ripening this is!”
EN
At the Bodhi tree itself there were four deities: Veṇu, Valgu, Sumanas, and Ojopati. These four deities of the Bodhi tree also wished to venerate the Bodhisattva, and therefore they modeled the Bodhi tree to give it perfect roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits, as well as a perfect height and circumference. It was beautiful, nice to behold, wide, and, with its height of eighty palm trees and a corresponding circumference, very imposing. This was indeed a magnificent and beautiful tree. It was encircled by jewel platforms that were built in seven rows. Jewel palm trees were also placed around it in seven circles, and a sevenfold lattice with bells of precious stones enfolded it. All of this was surrounded with seven threads made of precious materials that formed the outer ring.
EN
Like the coral tree or the kovidāra tree, this was a tree that one could never tire of beholding. This place, where the Bodhisattva was to take his seat with the intention of attaining full and complete awakening, had become the essence of indestructible diamond, harder than any diamond in the great trichiliocosm.
EN
Monks, as the Bodhisattva was walking toward the seat of awakening, rays of light streamed forth from his body. The light pacified all the lower realms and caused all unfortunate states to cease. All the painful feelings of beings in the lower realms came to a halt. All beings with impaired faculties now recovered their senses. Anyone who suffered from disease was healed. Anyone feeling discomfort attained happiness. All who were struck with fear found release. Anyone living in bondage was freed from his or her ties. Anyone suffering from poverty discovered wealth. All the people tormented by disturbing emotions found release from their anguish. Those who were starving had their stomachs filled. All the ones who were parched were relieved of their thirst. Pregnant women gave birth easily. Those who were old and weak gained perfect strength.
EN
At that moment all sentient beings were relieved of the harms inflicted by attachment, anger, ignorance, wrath, greed, cruelty, ill will, envy, and jealousy. At that moment no one experienced dying, moving to the next life, and taking birth. At that moment everyone engendered love, altruism, and a feeling that all beings are each other’s mothers and fathers.
EN
This can also be expressed in verse:
EN
All the way to the hell of Ultimate Torment, The hell beings presented a horrible sight. These beings had their suffering pacified And experienced feelings of happiness.
EN
The beings born as animals, Which harm each other in countless ways, Were touched by the light of the Lord, And, for their good, gave rise to a loving mind.
EN
Spirits, as many as there are in the world, Pained by hunger and thirst, Discovered food and drink Through the power of the Bodhisattva.
EN
All unfortunate states came to a halt, And the lower realms dried out. All beings gained happiness And were fulfilled with divine pleasure.
EN
Those without eyes and ears, And all others with impaired faculties, Regained their full senses And obtained beautiful limbs.
EN
Attachment and anger And other disturbing emotions that harm beings— In that moment all these disturbing emotions were pacified, And beings were filled with happiness.
EN
The ones who had lost their minds regained their composure; Those living in poverty found wealth. Those stricken with sickness were healed; Those who were bound were freed.
EN
There was no miserliness nor animosity, No ill will or strife. All beings interacted in harmony, Their minds full of loving kindness.
EN
Just as a father and mother Cherish their only child, At that moment all beings felt Parental love for each other.
EN
The web of the Bodhisattva’s light rays Streamed out all around in the ten directions And illuminated an inconceivable number of realms, As numerous as grains of sand in the Ganges.
EN
The Black Mountains And the surrounding perimeter walls disappeared. All the vast worlds Now appeared as one.
EN
They could be seen as clearly as the palm of a hand, Composed of all kinds of jewels. In order to venerate the Bodhisattva, All realms were well adorned.
EN
The attendants at the seat of awakening Were a group of sixteen gods. Up to a distance of eighty leagues, They adorned the seat of awakening.
EN
All great displays In all the limitless millions of realms Now manifested at this place By the power of the Bodhisattva.
EN
The gods, nāgas, yakṣas, Kinnaras, and mahoragas Now came to think of their celestial palaces As nothing more than charnel grounds.
EN
When gods and humans witnessed this display, They were filled with amazement. “How great is this manifestation of merit, Which results in such an auspicious juncture!”
EN
Without any effort, Whether physical, verbal, or mental, All the Bodhisattva’s goals, wishes, and intentions Were fully accomplished.
EN
Even the wishes of others were fulfilled Through his actions in the past. The ripening of those actions Now produced such perfect results.
EN
The four deities at the seat of awakening Adorned the seat of awakening To make it even more supreme Than the heavenly coral trees.
EN
The displays at the seat of awakening Were created by these four deities. To describe their qualities in words Would be utterly impossible.
EN
Monks, the light that streamed from the body of the Bodhisattva illuminated the abode of Kālika, the king of nāgas. The light was pure and stainless and gave rise to joy as it satisfied the bodies and minds that it touched. It cleared away all disturbing emotions and brought joy, happiness, trust, and supreme enjoyment to all sentient beings. When Kālika, the king of the nāgas, saw how the light illumined his own abode, he spoke these verses in front of his retinue:
EN
“I see a light like that of Krakucchanda, or the brightness of Kanakamuni; It is like seeing the stainless and faultless light of Kāśyapa, the Dharma king. Surely a being with supreme features, helpful activity, and wisdom light is here; That is why this abode of mine is bright and adorned with this golden light.
EN
“Up to now, our isolated home has been filled with darkness as a result of our previous negative actions; Even the far-reaching rays of the sun and moon do not penetrate this place. The pure light from fire, jewels, lightning, and the stars also do not penetrate this place; Neither do the light rays of Indra, Brahmā, or the demigods shine through.
EN
“Yet today this house is bright with a beauty that resembles the sun; Our minds are filled with joy, and our bodies feel at ease and soothed. Even the rain of warm sand falling on my body feels cool. It is clear that the One Who Practiced Good Conduct for Many Millions of Eons is walking toward the Bodhi tree.
EN
“Quick, go get beautiful nāga flowers, fine and sweet-smelling cloths, pearl necklaces, Ornaments and bracelets, powders, and our finest incense. Offer him the melodious sounds of song and music, and beat the finest drums. Go now! Make offerings to the benefactor who is worthy of everyone’s respect.”
EN
Kālika then stood up and, with the nāga daughters, looked in the four directions. He saw the Bodhisattva, shining with splendor like the central mountain. He was surrounded by millions of gods, demigods, Brahmā, Indra, and the yakṣas; Joyfully they venerated him and showed him the way.
EN
The king of the nāgas became overjoyed and respectfully made offerings to the Supreme One in the world; With devotion he prostrated at the Sage’s feet and stood in front of him. The nāga daughters also joyfully and respectfully venerated the Sage; They scattered flowers, incense, and perfumes, and played music.
EN
Overjoyed with the Lord’s perfect qualities, the king of the nāgas joined his palms. “Guide! The best in the world! Wonderful to see your face, like the full moon! As I saw the omens foretelling the previous sages, I see the very same signs in you. Today you will conquer Māra’s army and attain your desired state.
EN
“This is why in the past you practiced discipline, generosity, and restraint, and gave up all possessions; This is why you cultivated discipline, ethical conduct, love, compassion, and the power of forbearance. This is why you were diligent, steadfast, delighting in concentration, and letting your insight blaze; Today all your aspirations will be fulfilled and you shall become victorious.
EN
“Since other trees with their leaves, flowers, and fruits bow to the Bodhi tree, Since a thousand vases filled with water circumambulate you, Since hosts of cāṣa birds, overjoyed, make affectionate sounds, Since flocks of swans and cranes playfully take to the sky And joyfully circle clockwise above the Sage, today you will become a worthy one.
EN
“Since hundreds of buddha realms are filled with beautiful golden light, Since the lower realms in their entirety come to a halt and the suffering of beings ceases, Since showers fall in the abodes of the sun and the moon, and a soft breeze blows, Today you will become a leader who delivers beings from birth and old age in the three realms.
EN
“Since the gods give up their delight in pleasure and come to venerate you, Since Brahmā and the gods of the Brahmapurohita class abandon the bliss of concentration, And likewise all the others in the three realms arrive here, Today you will become the king of physicians who delivers beings from birth and old age in the three realms.
EN
“Since the path that you walk on today has been swept by the gods, A path that the lords Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, and Kāśyapa also traversed, Since in your footsteps stainless and perfect lotuses spring forth, breaking out of the earth, Onto which you tread with powerful steps, today you will become a worthy one.
EN
“Trillions of demons, as many as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, Are unable to move you from under the branches of the Bodhi tree, or to shake you. You have made billions of offerings, as many as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, Always acting for the benefit of the world—this is why you shine here today.
EN
“The planets, the moon, the stars, and the sun may fall from the sky to the ground, The mightiest mountains may move from their places, and oceans may dry up, Some learned person might magically display each of the four elements, Yet it is impossible that you would go to the king of trees and rise before attaining awakening.
EN
“Guide, in seeing you I have fortuitously obtained great prosperity; I have made offerings to you, spoken of your qualities, and strived for awakening. May I and all my nāga wives and children become free from this existence. Your gait is like the walk of an elephant in rut—may we walk like you!”
EN
Monks, at this point Suvarṇaprabhāsā, the chief queen of Kālika the nāga king, came to see the Bodhisattva. She was surrounded and escorted by many nāga girls, who were holding various types of cloth, parasols made of assorted jewels, different pearl necklaces, a variety of precious jewels, an array of garlands, a myriad of unguents and powders made by gods and humans, and containers with diverse perfumes. The nāga girls attended to the Bodhisattva while they sang melodious songs accompanied by music. In this way, as the Bodhisattva proceeded on his way, they besprinkled him with showers of flowers made of various jewels and praised him with these verses:
EN
“You are unerring, fearless, confident, and brave; You are not depressed, but intrepid, joyous, and hard to dominate. You are not attached, not angry, not deluded, and without desire; You are dispassionate and liberated. Homage to you, O Great Sage!
EN
“You are a physician who removes pain, and a guide for those who need guidance; You are the supreme physician who liberates beings from suffering. Considering those without refuge or protection, You have manifested as a home and a refuge in this threefold world.
EN
“Since the congregation of gods is pleased and joyful, They cause a great rain of flowers to fall from the sky. Since they toss down plenty of the finest cloth, You will become victorious today. So be joyful!
EN
“Approach the lord of trees and sit there without fear! Conquer Māra’s army and become free from the web of disturbing emotions! Just as the victorious lords of the past attained awakening, So you will also attain supreme, sacred, and peaceful awakening!
EN
“For many millions of eons you have aimed for this; For the sake of liberating beings you have gone through hardship. Now the time has come for your wishes to be fulfilled; So go to the lord of trees and connect with supreme awakening.”
EN
Monks, the Bodhisattva then thought to himself, “Where did the previous thus-gone ones sit when they attained unsurpassed, genuine and perfect awakening? They sat on a bed of grass!”
EN
At that point hundreds of thousands of gods from the pure realms descended into the atmosphere. They knew the Bodhisattva’s thoughts and said: “Yes, that is how it is. Holy Man, that is correct. The previous thus-gone ones used a seat of grass as they attained unsurpassed, genuine and perfect awakening.”
EN
Monks, at the right side of the road the Bodhisattva now noticed a grass seller, whose name was Svastika, who was busy cutting grass. The grass was green, soft, fresh, and beautiful. It coiled to the right and resembled the neck of a peacock. It was as soft to the touch as divine cloth, with the sweetest scent and the most beautiful color.
EN
At this sight the Bodhisattva left the road, and he went to the grass seller Svastika and spoke to him with sweet words. His words were authoritative, informative, and clear. His speech was uninterrupted, captivating, and pleasant to hear. It was affectionate, worthy to be remembered, encouraging, satisfying, and delightful.
EN
His words were not harsh. They were free from stammering, and they had no animosity. They were not erratic but smooth, gentle, sweet, and pleasant to the ear. It was a speech that delighted both the body and the mind and cleared away all attachment, anger, delusion, strife, and quarrels. His voice was like the call of the cuckoo bird, the kunāla bird, and the partridge. It sounded like a drum or a melodious chant. It caused no harm but was true, clear, and genuine. His voice had a resonance like the voice of Brahmā, or the gushing of waves on the ocean, or the sound of rocks hitting against each other. It was a voice praised by the lord of the gods and the lord of the demigods. It was hard to measure its profundity and depth. It rendered powerful demons powerless and eliminated opposing doctrines.
EN
He spoke with the strength of the lion’s roar, the neighing of a horse, the trumpeting of an elephant, and with a voice resounding like that of a nāga. His voice was like the clapping of a thundercloud, pervading all buddha realms in the ten directions. It roused all sentient beings in need of guidance. It was unconfused, harmless, and without hesitation. It was appropriate, logical, spoken at the right time, in a timely manner, and contained hundreds of thousands of teachings. It was smooth, unimpeded, and with uninterrupted eloquence. He spoke with a single voice, yet was heard in all languages. His voice caused all meanings to be known, produced all types of happiness, demonstrated the path to liberation, proclaimed the accumulations necessary for the path, did not ignore his audience, pleased all retinues, and conformed with the teachings of all buddhas.
EN
It was with such words, spoken in verse, that the Bodhisattva addressed the grass seller Svastika:
EN
“Svastika, quick, hand me the grass! Today this grass will be very meaningful to me. Once I have conquered Māra and his armies, I will experience the peace of unexcelled awakening.
EN
“That peace, for the sake of which, for many thousands of eons, I have practiced generosity, constraint, renunciation, And ethical and disciplined conduct, as well as austerities— That peace will come to fruition today.
EN
“The power of forbearance and the power of diligence, The power of concentration and the power of insight, The power of merit, the power of realization, and the power of liberation— Today I will accomplish those.
EN
“The power of insight and the power of means, The power of miracles and unattached love, The power of correct discernment and complete truth— Today I will accomplish those.
EN
“If today you grant me this grass, You shall reap the power of limitless merit. For you this is none other than a sign heralding That you will become an unsurpassed teacher!”
EN
Svastika, hearing these beautiful and sweet words spoken by the Guide, Became joyful, elated, and thrilled with delight. Taking a sheaf of soft, fresh, and tender grass, He stood before the Bodhisattva and spoke these words, his heart overflowing with joy:
EN
“If this grass can help you attain the supreme state of immortality— The awakening, supremely peaceful, so hard to find, the path that previous buddhas traversed— Then please wait a moment, O Great Ocean of Qualities of Immeasurable Glory. I myself shall awaken first to the supreme state of immortality.”
EN
The Bodhisattva replied:
EN
“Svastika, without practicing disciplined conduct and austerities for many eons, You will not attain awakening by sitting on a seat of fine grass. Yet when an intelligent person is elevated through the tools of insight and merit, Then the sages make a prediction and say, ‘You will later become a stainless victorious one.’
EN
“Svastika, if it were possible to hand awakening to another being By making awakening into a lump of alms food, I would surely grant this to everyone! When I attain awakening, you should know that I will distribute immortality. You must come, listen, and apply yourself to the teaching, and then you will become stainless.”
EN
The Guide took a bundle of soft and perfect grass; As he departed with the stride of a lion and a swan, the earth shook. The multitudes of gods and nāgas joined their palms, rejoiced, and thought, “Today he will conquer the hordes of demons and gain immortality!”
EN
Monks, as the Bodhisattva was walking toward the Bodhi tree, the gods and bodhisattvas realized that this was the moment when the Bodhisattva, having sat there, would attain awakening and become a truly perfect awakened one. Accordingly, they decided to decorate another eighty thousand bodhi trees.
EN
Some of the bodhi trees were made of flowers and were one hundred thousand leagues high. Other bodhi trees were made of odoriferous substances and were two hundred thousand leagues high. Some bodhi trees were made of sandalwood and were three hundred thousand leagues high. Still other bodhi trees were made of cloth and were five hundred thousand leagues high. Some bodhi trees were made of jewels and were one million leagues high. Other bodhi trees were made of all sorts of jewels and were one trillion leagues high.
EN
At the root of each of these bodhi trees, they erected a suitable lion throne draped in various kinds of divine cloth. By some of the bodhi trees they also prepared a lotus throne, or a throne made of fragrant substances, or a throne made of various precious materials.
EN
The Bodhisattva now rested evenly in the absorption known as playful array. As soon as the Bodhisattva began to rest in this absorption of playful array, immediately an identical bodhisattva appeared, with his body beautifully adorned with all the excellent marks and representations, sitting upon each of the lion thrones at the root of each of the bodhi trees.
EN
At that point the bodhisattvas and the gods each perceived that the Bodhisattva was resting in equilibrium upon their particular lion throne and not on those set forth by the others. The power of the Bodhisattva’s absorption of playful array produced similar perceptions in the beings in hell, those born as animals, those living in the realm of the lord of death, all gods and humans, and all other beings, regardless of their form of existence. All beings now witnessed the Bodhisattva sitting on the lion throne at the root of the Bodhi tree.
EN
Nevertheless, in order to also satisfy the intellect of those who lacked dedication, the Bodhisattva picked up the bundle of grass, went to the Bodhi tree, and circumambulated it seven times. The Lord then arranged the grass so that the ends of the grass pointed inward and the roots pointed outward. In this way he arranged for himself a very fine seat of grass.
EN
He then sat down like a lion, like a hero, in a powerful way, in a steady way, in a diligent way, in a forceful way, like an elephant, like a lord, in a natural manner, like a wise person, like an unsurpassed person, like a special one, like an exalted one, like a famous one, like one full of praise, like a generous person, like a disciplined person, like a forbearing person, like a diligent person, like a concentrated person, like an insightful being, in a wise manner, in a meritorious manner, like someone who has conquered the attacks of demons, and like someone who has perfected the accumulations.
EN
In this way he sat down on the grass seat and crossed his legs facing toward the east. He then straightened his back, collected himself one-pointedly, and formed this firm resolve: [T.285]
EN
“On this seat my body may wither and rot, And my skin, my bones, and my flesh may dissolve. Yet until I attain awakening, so hard to find even through many eons, I will not move my body from this seat.”
Monks, when the Bodhisattva bathed in the Nairañjanā River and enjoyed a meal, his physical strength came back to him. With a triumphant gait, he now began the walk toward the great Bodhi tree. This tree was the king of trees and was found at a place characterized by sixteen unique features.
EN
He walked with the gait of a great being. It was an undisturbed gait, a gait of the nāga Indrayaṣṭi, a steadfast gait, a gait as stable as Mount Meru, the king of mountains. He walked in a straight line without stumbling, not too fast and not too slow, without stomping heavily or dragging his feet. It was a graceful stride, a stainless stride, a beautiful stride, a stride free from anger, a stride free from delusion, and a stride free from attachment. It was the stride of a lion, the stride of the king of swans, the stride of the king of elephants, the stride of Nārāyaṇa, the stride that floats above the surface, the stride that leaves an impression of a thousand-spoked wheel on the ground, the stride of he whose fingers are connected through a web and who has copper-colored nails, the stride that makes the earth resound, and the stride that crushes the king of the mountains.
EN
He walked with the stride of someone whose feet level off the terrain, be it sloping up or sloping down, the stride that leads sentient beings to happy rebirths through contact with the light rays that emerge from the web between his fingers, the stride that walks upon stainless lotuses, the stride that proceeds from previous wholesome actions, the stride of the previous buddha-lions, and the stride that proceeds from a stable and indestructible diamond-like intention. He had a stride that destroys all lower realms and all miserable existences, a stride that brings happiness to all beings, a stride that points out the path to liberation, a stride that renders powerless the strength of demons, a stride that suppresses evil opponents with their doctrines, a stride that removes the cataract of darkness and disturbing emotions, and a stride that undoes the workings of cyclic existence.
EN
He walked with a gait that outshines Śakra, Brahmā, Maheśvara, and the world protectors. His stride was that of the single lord of the great trichiliocosm, the spontaneous stride that cannot be overpowered, the stride that actualizes the attainment of omniscient wisdom, the stride of mindfulness and insight, the stride that leads to a happy rebirth, the stride that pacifies old age and death, the stride of stainless peace, the stride that leads to the city of nirvāṇa, which is auspicious, stainless, and free from fear. With such a stride the Bodhisattva set out for the seat of awakening.
EN
Monks, on the stretch between the Nairañjanā River and the seat of awakening, the gods of wind clouds swept the road for the Bodhisattva, while the gods of rain clouds sprinkled his path with scented water, and scattered flowers along the way. At that point all the trees in this world of the great trichiliocosm bent their crowns toward the seat of awakening. All the children who had been born on that very day now slept with their heads toward the seat of awakening. Likewise all the mountains that exist in this world of the great trichiliocosm, such as Mount Meru, bowed toward the seat of awakening.
EN
All the way from the Nairañjanā River to the seat of awakening, the road had been beautified for a stretch of several miles by the gods of the desire realm. At both sides of the road, they had magically erected a railing made from the seven types of precious stones. The road was shaded, at the height of seven palm trees, with a jeweled latticework and adorned with divine parasols, flags, and banners. At a distance of an arrow’s flight, they had emanated a row of palm trees made of the seven types of precious stones and taller than the railing. Between all the palm trees, jewel garlands were strung. In between each pair of palm trees, a lotus pond was built, filled with scented water, lined with golden sand, and covered in blue, yellow, red, and white lotuses. Jewel ledges and beryl staircases surrounded the ponds. The ponds resounded with the calls of ducks, storks, swans, geese, cranes, and peacocks. Eighty thousand divine maidens sprinkled the path with flowers of divine scent. In front of each of the palm trees was a jewel podium on which eighty thousand divine maidens stood, proffering containers with powders of sandal and aloeswood, and holding up lighted incense burners with sandalwood. On each of these jewel podiums were also five thousand divine maidens singing celestial songs.
EN
Monks, in this way the Bodhisattva proceeded on his way, emitting trillions of light rays, while the realms shook, music played from millions of instruments, a great rain with an abundance of flowers fell, millions of silken banners fluttered in the wind, millions of drums resounded as they were beaten, and horses, elephants, and bulls circumambulated the Bodhisattva. Hundreds of thousands of parrots, mynas, cuckoos, partridge, swans, sandpipers, peacocks, and cakrāvaka birds were drawn into the Bodhisattva’s presence. Adorned with hundreds of thousands of auspicious signs, such was the road on which the Bodhisattva traveled on his way to the seat of awakening.
EN
On that night, the very night when the Bodhisattva set his aim on attaining full and complete awakening, the all-powerful Brahmā, the ruler of the great trichiliocosm, called out to his large retinue in the Brahma realm.
EN
“Friends,” he said, “you should be aware of this. The Bodhisattva, the Great Being, has donned the great armor. Without forsaking his great vow, protected by his solid armor, he is undeterred and has perfected all the conduct of a bodhisattva. He has reached the further shore of all the perfections and become a master of all the grounds of a bodhisattva. He is perfectly pure in his aspirations of a bodhisattva and joins in the five spiritual faculties of all sentient beings. He has entered the secret locations of all the thus-gone ones and is beyond all paths of demonic activity. He is not dependent on others regarding the basis for acquiring merit. He is blessed by all thus-gone ones. He demonstrates the path to complete freedom for all sentient beings. He is a great captain who conquers the circle of Māra’s army. He is the single hero of the trichiliocosm.
EN
“He has accomplished all the medicines of Dharma and is the great king of physicians, wearing a silken headband of salvation. He is the great Dharma king who shines the bright light of knowledge. He is a great meteor-like king who, like a magnificent lotus flower, is unstained by the eight worldly concerns. He never forgets the dhāraṇīs of any teaching. He is like a great ocean, free from attachment and aversion. He is immovable and unshakable like the great central mountain. He is utterly stainless, pure, and in possession of a very wholesome mind, and thus he is like a great jewel. He has become a master of all phenomena and is, in all his actions, beyond intentions.
EN
“The Bodhisattva, who is like the great Brahmā, proceeds to the seat of awakening with the desire to awaken to unexcelled, perfect, and complete buddhahood in order to tame the armies of Māra. He proceeds in order to perfectly accomplish the ten powers, the fourfold fearlessness, and the eighteen unique qualities of a buddha. His aim is to turn the great wheel of Dharma and utter the lion’s great roar. With the gift of Dharma, he will satisfy all sentient beings. He will purify the eye of Dharma of all sentient beings and annihilate all his opponents together with their doctrines. He goes to the seat of awakening to demonstrate the fulfillment of his previous vows and to gain a ruler’s complete mastery over all phenomena. Friends, for these reasons you should pay homage to the Bodhisattva and joyfully assist him in every way possible!”
EN
Then at that point the all-powerful Brahmā spoke these verses:
EN
“He, by whose merits and glorious splendor the great path can be known— Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, as well as the absorptions and the types of higher knowledge— Has practiced wholesome conduct for a thousand eons and now sets out for the Bodhi tree. You should make offerings to that sage as he practices to fulfill his aspirations.
EN
“Take refuge in him, and you will not meet or experience the fears of the lower realms or the lack of the freedoms; Instead you will find the happiness of desire-realm gods in the vast abode of Brahmā. He went through hardship for six years, and now he departs for the Bodhi tree. Well done! Let us all venerate this man with joy and devotion!
EN
“He is the king of the trichiliocosm, the best of masters, the royal master of Dharma; In the cities of Indra, Brahmā, Sūrya, and Candra, there is no equal to him. When he was born, one trillion worlds quaked in six different ways; Today he sets out for the supreme magnificent tree to conquer the armies of Māra.
EN
“The crown of his head I cannot see, nor can the others here in the Brahmā realm; His body, bearing the best of the excellent marks, is adorned with the thirty-two; His speech is beautiful, sweet, and pleasant to hear, a voice melodious like that of Brahmā; His mind is calm and free from anger. Come, let’s pay him homage!
EN
“Intelligent ones who aim to transcend the perpetual bliss in the realms of Indra and Brahmā, Or those who wish to cut the net of the fettering vines of disturbing emotions, Or those wishing to attain immortality without hearing about it from others, which is an auspicious solitary awakening— If anyone desires awakening, they should pay homage, in the three realms, to this guide.
EN
“He has renounced the earth with its oceans, along with countless precious objects. He has abandoned palaces with their oval windows and terraces, as well as conveyances, And the land adorned with exquisite flowers, with beautiful parks, springs, and ponds. He gave up his limbs, his head, and his eyes, and now he walks to the seat of awakening!”
EN
Monks, the great Brahmā, who presides over the trichiliocosm, then made, in a single moment, all the worlds in the great trichiliocosm the same. The world had now become smooth, like the palm of a hand. There was no longer any gravel or rocks, and instead the world was filled with jewels, pearls, cat’s-eye gems, conch shells, crystals, corals, gold, and silver. He covered this entire world of the great trichiliocosm in soft green grass, curled to the right in the pattern of a swastika, soft as the finest cloth, and pleasant to the touch.
EN
At that moment, all the great oceans had also become as peaceful as dry land, and all the beings who live in the waters had become free from any harm. When all the worldly guardians in the ten directions, such as Indra and Brahmā, saw how beautiful the world had become, they decided to venerate the Bodhisattva by adorning a hundred thousand buddha realms in the same way.
EN
All other bodhisattvas who are beyond the world of humans and gods also wished to venerate the Bodhisattva, and therefore they adorned the limitless buddha realms in the ten directions with an array of offerings. All these buddha realms, even though they were adorned in different ways, now appeared as one single buddha realm. All the space between the worlds had disappeared, as had the encircling black mountains and the smaller and greater perimeter walls. All these buddha realms could be seen permeated with the light streaming from the Bodhisattva.
EN
At the seat of awakening, there were sixteen gods who guarded the place. Their names were Utkhalin, Sūtkhalin, Prajāpati, Śūrabhala, Keyūrabala, Supratiṣṭhita, Mahindhara, Avabhāsakara, Vimala, Dharmeśvara, Dharmaketu, Siddhapātra, Apratihatanetra, Mahāvyūha, Śilaviśuddhanetra, and Padmaprabha. It was these sixteen gods, all of whom had attained irreversible patience, who guarded the seat of awakening.
EN
As a way to venerate the Bodhisattva, they had adorned the seat of awakening. At a distance of eighty leagues, they had encircled the place with railings, built in seven rows. Palm trees were also placed in seven circles, and a sevenfold lattice with bells of precious stones enfolded it. All of this was surrounded with seven threads made of precious materials.
EN
The seat of awakening was covered with cloth made of gold from the Jambū River, a cloth studded with seven precious gems and woven with a golden thread. It was bestrewn with lotuses of gold from the Jambū River, scented with aromatic essences, and covered by a jewel canopy. All the beautiful and excellent trees that grow and are venerated in all the different worlds in the ten directions, including the worlds of gods and humans, now manifested at the seat of awakening. Likewise all the different species of flowers that grow in water as well as on land manifested there at the seat of awakening. Moreover, the bodhisattvas in all the various worlds in the ten directions now became visible at the seat of awakening, adorning the place with their immeasurable accumulations of merit and wisdom.
EN
In this way, the gods who guarded the seat of awakening magically manifested such displays at that place. They were so magnificent that when the gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and demigods witnessed them, they began to conceive of their own abodes as nothing more than charnel grounds. As they saw the displays, they felt great respect and exclaimed with joy, “How great! What an inconceivable manifestation of meritorious ripening this is!”
EN
At the Bodhi tree itself there were four deities: Veṇu, Valgu, Sumanas, and Ojopati. These four deities of the Bodhi tree also wished to venerate the Bodhisattva, and therefore they modeled the Bodhi tree to give it perfect roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits, as well as a perfect height and circumference. It was beautiful, nice to behold, wide, and, with its height of eighty palm trees and a corresponding circumference, very imposing. This was indeed a magnificent and beautiful tree. It was encircled by jewel platforms that were built in seven rows. Jewel palm trees were also placed around it in seven circles, and a sevenfold lattice with bells of precious stones enfolded it. All of this was surrounded with seven threads made of precious materials that formed the outer ring.
EN
Like the coral tree or the kovidāra tree, this was a tree that one could never tire of beholding. This place, where the Bodhisattva was to take his seat with the intention of attaining full and complete awakening, had become the essence of indestructible diamond, harder than any diamond in the great trichiliocosm.
EN
Monks, as the Bodhisattva was walking toward the seat of awakening, rays of light streamed forth from his body. The light pacified all the lower realms and caused all unfortunate states to cease. All the painful feelings of beings in the lower realms came to a halt. All beings with impaired faculties now recovered their senses. Anyone who suffered from disease was healed. Anyone feeling discomfort attained happiness. All who were struck with fear found release. Anyone living in bondage was freed from his or her ties. Anyone suffering from poverty discovered wealth. All the people tormented by disturbing emotions found release from their anguish. Those who were starving had their stomachs filled. All the ones who were parched were relieved of their thirst. Pregnant women gave birth easily. Those who were old and weak gained perfect strength.
EN
At that moment all sentient beings were relieved of the harms inflicted by attachment, anger, ignorance, wrath, greed, cruelty, ill will, envy, and jealousy. At that moment no one experienced dying, moving to the next life, and taking birth. At that moment everyone engendered love, altruism, and a feeling that all beings are each other’s mothers and fathers.
EN
This can also be expressed in verse:
EN
All the way to the hell of Ultimate Torment, The hell beings presented a horrible sight. These beings had their suffering pacified And experienced feelings of happiness.
EN
The beings born as animals, Which harm each other in countless ways, Were touched by the light of the Lord, And, for their good, gave rise to a loving mind.
EN
Spirits, as many as there are in the world, Pained by hunger and thirst, Discovered food and drink Through the power of the Bodhisattva.
EN
All unfortunate states came to a halt, And the lower realms dried out. All beings gained happiness And were fulfilled with divine pleasure.
EN
Those without eyes and ears, And all others with impaired faculties, Regained their full senses And obtained beautiful limbs.
EN
Attachment and anger And other disturbing emotions that harm beings— In that moment all these disturbing emotions were pacified, And beings were filled with happiness.
EN
The ones who had lost their minds regained their composure; Those living in poverty found wealth. Those stricken with sickness were healed; Those who were bound were freed.
EN
There was no miserliness nor animosity, No ill will or strife. All beings interacted in harmony, Their minds full of loving kindness.
EN
Just as a father and mother Cherish their only child, At that moment all beings felt Parental love for each other.
EN
The web of the Bodhisattva’s light rays Streamed out all around in the ten directions And illuminated an inconceivable number of realms, As numerous as grains of sand in the Ganges.
EN
The Black Mountains And the surrounding perimeter walls disappeared. All the vast worlds Now appeared as one.
EN
They could be seen as clearly as the palm of a hand, Composed of all kinds of jewels. In order to venerate the Bodhisattva, All realms were well adorned.
EN
The attendants at the seat of awakening Were a group of sixteen gods. Up to a distance of eighty leagues, They adorned the seat of awakening.
EN
All great displays In all the limitless millions of realms Now manifested at this place By the power of the Bodhisattva.
EN
The gods, nāgas, yakṣas, Kinnaras, and mahoragas Now came to think of their celestial palaces As nothing more than charnel grounds.
EN
When gods and humans witnessed this display, They were filled with amazement. “How great is this manifestation of merit, Which results in such an auspicious juncture!”
EN
Without any effort, Whether physical, verbal, or mental, All the Bodhisattva’s goals, wishes, and intentions Were fully accomplished.
EN
Even the wishes of others were fulfilled Through his actions in the past. The ripening of those actions Now produced such perfect results.
EN
The four deities at the seat of awakening Adorned the seat of awakening To make it even more supreme Than the heavenly coral trees.
EN
The displays at the seat of awakening Were created by these four deities. To describe their qualities in words Would be utterly impossible.
EN
Monks, the light that streamed from the body of the Bodhisattva illuminated the abode of Kālika, the king of nāgas. The light was pure and stainless and gave rise to joy as it satisfied the bodies and minds that it touched. It cleared away all disturbing emotions and brought joy, happiness, trust, and supreme enjoyment to all sentient beings. When Kālika, the king of the nāgas, saw how the light illumined his own abode, he spoke these verses in front of his retinue:
EN
“I see a light like that of Krakucchanda, or the brightness of Kanakamuni; It is like seeing the stainless and faultless light of Kāśyapa, the Dharma king. Surely a being with supreme features, helpful activity, and wisdom light is here; That is why this abode of mine is bright and adorned with this golden light.
EN
“Up to now, our isolated home has been filled with darkness as a result of our previous negative actions; Even the far-reaching rays of the sun and moon do not penetrate this place. The pure light from fire, jewels, lightning, and the stars also do not penetrate this place; Neither do the light rays of Indra, Brahmā, or the demigods shine through.
EN
“Yet today this house is bright with a beauty that resembles the sun; Our minds are filled with joy, and our bodies feel at ease and soothed. Even the rain of warm sand falling on my body feels cool. It is clear that the One Who Practiced Good Conduct for Many Millions of Eons is walking toward the Bodhi tree.
EN
“Quick, go get beautiful nāga flowers, fine and sweet-smelling cloths, pearl necklaces, Ornaments and bracelets, powders, and our finest incense. Offer him the melodious sounds of song and music, and beat the finest drums. Go now! Make offerings to the benefactor who is worthy of everyone’s respect.”
EN
Kālika then stood up and, with the nāga daughters, looked in the four directions. He saw the Bodhisattva, shining with splendor like the central mountain. He was surrounded by millions of gods, demigods, Brahmā, Indra, and the yakṣas; Joyfully they venerated him and showed him the way.
EN
The king of the nāgas became overjoyed and respectfully made offerings to the Supreme One in the world; With devotion he prostrated at the Sage’s feet and stood in front of him. The nāga daughters also joyfully and respectfully venerated the Sage; They scattered flowers, incense, and perfumes, and played music.
EN
Overjoyed with the Lord’s perfect qualities, the king of the nāgas joined his palms. “Guide! The best in the world! Wonderful to see your face, like the full moon! As I saw the omens foretelling the previous sages, I see the very same signs in you. Today you will conquer Māra’s army and attain your desired state.
EN
“This is why in the past you practiced discipline, generosity, and restraint, and gave up all possessions; This is why you cultivated discipline, ethical conduct, love, compassion, and the power of forbearance. This is why you were diligent, steadfast, delighting in concentration, and letting your insight blaze; Today all your aspirations will be fulfilled and you shall become victorious.
EN
“Since other trees with their leaves, flowers, and fruits bow to the Bodhi tree, Since a thousand vases filled with water circumambulate you, Since hosts of cāṣa birds, overjoyed, make affectionate sounds, Since flocks of swans and cranes playfully take to the sky And joyfully circle clockwise above the Sage, today you will become a worthy one.
EN
“Since hundreds of buddha realms are filled with beautiful golden light, Since the lower realms in their entirety come to a halt and the suffering of beings ceases, Since showers fall in the abodes of the sun and the moon, and a soft breeze blows, Today you will become a leader who delivers beings from birth and old age in the three realms.
EN
“Since the gods give up their delight in pleasure and come to venerate you, Since Brahmā and the gods of the Brahmapurohita class abandon the bliss of concentration, And likewise all the others in the three realms arrive here, Today you will become the king of physicians who delivers beings from birth and old age in the three realms.
EN
“Since the path that you walk on today has been swept by the gods, A path that the lords Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, and Kāśyapa also traversed, Since in your footsteps stainless and perfect lotuses spring forth, breaking out of the earth, Onto which you tread with powerful steps, today you will become a worthy one.
EN
“Trillions of demons, as many as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, Are unable to move you from under the branches of the Bodhi tree, or to shake you. You have made billions of offerings, as many as there are grains of sand in the Ganges, Always acting for the benefit of the world—this is why you shine here today.
EN
“The planets, the moon, the stars, and the sun may fall from the sky to the ground, The mightiest mountains may move from their places, and oceans may dry up, Some learned person might magically display each of the four elements, Yet it is impossible that you would go to the king of trees and rise before attaining awakening.
EN
“Guide, in seeing you I have fortuitously obtained great prosperity; I have made offerings to you, spoken of your qualities, and strived for awakening. May I and all my nāga wives and children become free from this existence. Your gait is like the walk of an elephant in rut—may we walk like you!”
EN
Monks, at this point Suvarṇaprabhāsā, the chief queen of Kālika the nāga king, came to see the Bodhisattva. She was surrounded and escorted by many nāga girls, who were holding various types of cloth, parasols made of assorted jewels, different pearl necklaces, a variety of precious jewels, an array of garlands, a myriad of unguents and powders made by gods and humans, and containers with diverse perfumes. The nāga girls attended to the Bodhisattva while they sang melodious songs accompanied by music. In this way, as the Bodhisattva proceeded on his way, they besprinkled him with showers of flowers made of various jewels and praised him with these verses:
EN
“You are unerring, fearless, confident, and brave; You are not depressed, but intrepid, joyous, and hard to dominate. You are not attached, not angry, not deluded, and without desire; You are dispassionate and liberated. Homage to you, O Great Sage!
EN
“You are a physician who removes pain, and a guide for those who need guidance; You are the supreme physician who liberates beings from suffering. Considering those without refuge or protection, You have manifested as a home and a refuge in this threefold world.
EN
“Since the congregation of gods is pleased and joyful, They cause a great rain of flowers to fall from the sky. Since they toss down plenty of the finest cloth, You will become victorious today. So be joyful!
EN
“Approach the lord of trees and sit there without fear! Conquer Māra’s army and become free from the web of disturbing emotions! Just as the victorious lords of the past attained awakening, So you will also attain supreme, sacred, and peaceful awakening!
EN
“For many millions of eons you have aimed for this; For the sake of liberating beings you have gone through hardship. Now the time has come for your wishes to be fulfilled; So go to the lord of trees and connect with supreme awakening.”
EN
Monks, the Bodhisattva then thought to himself, “Where did the previous thus-gone ones sit when they attained unsurpassed, genuine and perfect awakening? They sat on a bed of grass!”
EN
At that point hundreds of thousands of gods from the pure realms descended into the atmosphere. They knew the Bodhisattva’s thoughts and said: “Yes, that is how it is. Holy Man, that is correct. The previous thus-gone ones used a seat of grass as they attained unsurpassed, genuine and perfect awakening.”
EN
Monks, at the right side of the road the Bodhisattva now noticed a grass seller, whose name was Svastika, who was busy cutting grass. The grass was green, soft, fresh, and beautiful. It coiled to the right and resembled the neck of a peacock. It was as soft to the touch as divine cloth, with the sweetest scent and the most beautiful color.
EN
At this sight the Bodhisattva left the road, and he went to the grass seller Svastika and spoke to him with sweet words. His words were authoritative, informative, and clear. His speech was uninterrupted, captivating, and pleasant to hear. It was affectionate, worthy to be remembered, encouraging, satisfying, and delightful.
EN
His words were not harsh. They were free from stammering, and they had no animosity. They were not erratic but smooth, gentle, sweet, and pleasant to the ear. It was a speech that delighted both the body and the mind and cleared away all attachment, anger, delusion, strife, and quarrels. His voice was like the call of the cuckoo bird, the kunāla bird, and the partridge. It sounded like a drum or a melodious chant. It caused no harm but was true, clear, and genuine. His voice had a resonance like the voice of Brahmā, or the gushing of waves on the ocean, or the sound of rocks hitting against each other. It was a voice praised by the lord of the gods and the lord of the demigods. It was hard to measure its profundity and depth. It rendered powerful demons powerless and eliminated opposing doctrines.
EN
He spoke with the strength of the lion’s roar, the neighing of a horse, the trumpeting of an elephant, and with a voice resounding like that of a nāga. His voice was like the clapping of a thundercloud, pervading all buddha realms in the ten directions. It roused all sentient beings in need of guidance. It was unconfused, harmless, and without hesitation. It was appropriate, logical, spoken at the right time, in a timely manner, and contained hundreds of thousands of teachings. It was smooth, unimpeded, and with uninterrupted eloquence. He spoke with a single voice, yet was heard in all languages. His voice caused all meanings to be known, produced all types of happiness, demonstrated the path to liberation, proclaimed the accumulations necessary for the path, did not ignore his audience, pleased all retinues, and conformed with the teachings of all buddhas.
EN
It was with such words, spoken in verse, that the Bodhisattva addressed the grass seller Svastika:
EN
“Svastika, quick, hand me the grass! Today this grass will be very meaningful to me. Once I have conquered Māra and his armies, I will experience the peace of unexcelled awakening.
EN
“That peace, for the sake of which, for many thousands of eons, I have practiced generosity, constraint, renunciation, And ethical and disciplined conduct, as well as austerities— That peace will come to fruition today.
EN
“The power of forbearance and the power of diligence, The power of concentration and the power of insight, The power of merit, the power of realization, and the power of liberation— Today I will accomplish those.
EN
“The power of insight and the power of means, The power of miracles and unattached love, The power of correct discernment and complete truth— Today I will accomplish those.
EN
“If today you grant me this grass, You shall reap the power of limitless merit. For you this is none other than a sign heralding That you will become an unsurpassed teacher!”
EN
Svastika, hearing these beautiful and sweet words spoken by the Guide, Became joyful, elated, and thrilled with delight. Taking a sheaf of soft, fresh, and tender grass, He stood before the Bodhisattva and spoke these words, his heart overflowing with joy:
EN
“If this grass can help you attain the supreme state of immortality— The awakening, supremely peaceful, so hard to find, the path that previous buddhas traversed— Then please wait a moment, O Great Ocean of Qualities of Immeasurable Glory. I myself shall awaken first to the supreme state of immortality.”
EN
The Bodhisattva replied:
EN
“Svastika, without practicing disciplined conduct and austerities for many eons, You will not attain awakening by sitting on a seat of fine grass. Yet when an intelligent person is elevated through the tools of insight and merit, Then the sages make a prediction and say, ‘You will later become a stainless victorious one.’
EN
“Svastika, if it were possible to hand awakening to another being By making awakening into a lump of alms food, I would surely grant this to everyone! When I attain awakening, you should know that I will distribute immortality. You must come, listen, and apply yourself to the teaching, and then you will become stainless.”
EN
The Guide took a bundle of soft and perfect grass; As he departed with the stride of a lion and a swan, the earth shook. The multitudes of gods and nāgas joined their palms, rejoiced, and thought, “Today he will conquer the hordes of demons and gain immortality!”
EN
Monks, as the Bodhisattva was walking toward the Bodhi tree, the gods and bodhisattvas realized that this was the moment when the Bodhisattva, having sat there, would attain awakening and become a truly perfect awakened one. Accordingly, they decided to decorate another eighty thousand bodhi trees.
EN
Some of the bodhi trees were made of flowers and were one hundred thousand leagues high. Other bodhi trees were made of odoriferous substances and were two hundred thousand leagues high. Some bodhi trees were made of sandalwood and were three hundred thousand leagues high. Still other bodhi trees were made of cloth and were five hundred thousand leagues high. Some bodhi trees were made of jewels and were one million leagues high. Other bodhi trees were made of all sorts of jewels and were one trillion leagues high.
EN
At the root of each of these bodhi trees, they erected a suitable lion throne draped in various kinds of divine cloth. By some of the bodhi trees they also prepared a lotus throne, or a throne made of fragrant substances, or a throne made of various precious materials.
EN
The Bodhisattva now rested evenly in the absorption known as playful array. As soon as the Bodhisattva began to rest in this absorption of playful array, immediately an identical bodhisattva appeared, with his body beautifully adorned with all the excellent marks and representations, sitting upon each of the lion thrones at the root of each of the bodhi trees.
EN
At that point the bodhisattvas and the gods each perceived that the Bodhisattva was resting in equilibrium upon their particular lion throne and not on those set forth by the others. The power of the Bodhisattva’s absorption of playful array produced similar perceptions in the beings in hell, those born as animals, those living in the realm of the lord of death, all gods and humans, and all other beings, regardless of their form of existence. All beings now witnessed the Bodhisattva sitting on the lion throne at the root of the Bodhi tree.
EN
Nevertheless, in order to also satisfy the intellect of those who lacked dedication, the Bodhisattva picked up the bundle of grass, went to the Bodhi tree, and circumambulated it seven times. The Lord then arranged the grass so that the ends of the grass pointed inward and the roots pointed outward. In this way he arranged for himself a very fine seat of grass.
EN
He then sat down like a lion, like a hero, in a powerful way, in a steady way, in a diligent way, in a forceful way, like an elephant, like a lord, in a natural manner, like a wise person, like an unsurpassed person, like a special one, like an exalted one, like a famous one, like one full of praise, like a generous person, like a disciplined person, like a forbearing person, like a diligent person, like a concentrated person, like an insightful being, in a wise manner, in a meritorious manner, like someone who has conquered the attacks of demons, and like someone who has perfected the accumulations.
EN
In this way he sat down on the grass seat and crossed his legs facing toward the east. He then straightened his back, collected himself one-pointedly, and formed this firm resolve: [T.285]
EN
“On this seat my body may wither and rot, And my skin, my bones, and my flesh may dissolve. Yet until I attain awakening, so hard to find even through many eons, I will not move my body from this seat.”
Sutraya