Maha~ Samaya Suthraya

Thus, I have heard.
Once, the Buddha lived in a forest in the city of Kapilawasthu, which belonged to Shakya Clan, with about five hundred monks who attained the ‘Arahath’.
One day during that time, many groups of gods from tens of thousands of realms of worlds in the galaxy came to see the Buddha, who was accompanied by an entourage of monks.
That day, four gods from the highest Brahma realms had such thoughts.

“The Blessed One living in a forest in the city of Kapilawasthu, which belonged Shakya Clan, with about five hundred monks who attained the ‘Arahath’. Many groups of gods from tens of thousands of realms of worlds in the galaxy are going to see the Buddha and the monks at this time. We, too, should go to see the Buddha. Going thus, we should express individually our understanding of the Buddha and our respect for him in separate Stanzas” and so on.

Just after having such thoughts, those gods appeared in front of the Buddha in a time as little as it takes a strong man to stretch a folded hand or bend an outstretched hand without difficulty.

After having appeared, bowing down, and worshipping the Blessed One, one of the gods boldly spoke to him in a stanza.
“We also came among the crowd of Gods who have gathered in large numbers to see the Blessed One, who is accompanied by an entourage of pious monks, attained ‘Nirwana’ without delay in this vast forest”.

Then, another god boldly spoke in a stanza in this manner in front of the Buddha.
“Those monks who have banished the ‘Craving for existence’ by guarding their senses and practising the mind not to be shocked by even a slight affliction brought on by the eight worldly doctrines are wise”.

Another god also boldly spoke this in a stanza in front of the Blessed One.

“Those crowd of monks who completely uprooted the ‘Craving’ which was rooted and sunk well in them as an ‘indraki~la’ by banishing the defilements of ‘Greed- Hatred- Delusion’ and breaking down the barriers of ignorance conduct chaste celibate life like well-trained baby elephants”.

Then, the other god also spoke to the Blessed One in a stanza in this manner.

“If someone takes refuge in the Buddha with understanding, that person will never go to hell, and one day he will get a divine body right after he has left the human body”.

Then the Buddha addressed the monks and said:
“Monks, many groups of gods from ten thousand worlds have gathered here right now to see the Thatha~gatha and the group of monks.
In this way, there have had been the same gatherings of the group of gods taking place to see the Noble monks, including the Buddhas who appeared in the past.
The Buddhas who will appear in the future will also have the same kind of gatherings of Gods to see those Buddhas and the Noble monks”.

“Monks, I will tell the names of those Gods, I will describe their glory, their beauty, I will mention their names,
Monks, listen carefully and contemplate carefully on what I am saying”.

‘Yes, the Blessed One’ replied the monks.

The Buddha said this.
“I do this extolment by well knowing.
Monks with pacified minds who have focused their minds on ‘Nirwana’ live in the rock caves in the locations where the gods who are associated with the ground inhabit. Those monks dwell, maintaining very pure, charming minds free from ‘Craving’ that are skilled to prevent themselves from terrifying even in the face of a hidden lion”.

Knowing that there are more than five hundred monks in this forest in Kapilawasthu City, the Blessed One addressed the group of disciples and said:
“Monks, gaze with insight-eye upon this lovely divine assembly”.

Then, those monks listened to the Buddha’s advice and strove to see those Gods in person.
Then those ‘Arahaths’ got the insight to see those gods.
Some of them saw hundreds of gods. Some saw 70,000 gods, while others saw hundreds of thousands of gods. Only a few witnessed the infinite number of Gods spread out in all directions.

“I have thoroughly understood by knowing well about all the things prescribed for ‘Nirwana’.
Therefore, I address the entire group of disciples,

Know that Gods have the most beautiful and stunning bodies.
Monks, with my words, I will extol their beauty.
Around seven thousand Yakshas from the land of Kapilawasthu city, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

Around seven thousand Yakshas living in the land of Kapilawasthu city, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

Around six thousand Yakshas living in the Himalayas, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

Around three thousand Yakshas living in the Sa~thagira rock, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

In this way, sixteen thousand Yakshas, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

Around five hundred Yakshas living in the Vessamiththa rock, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, arrived very happily at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

The king of Yaksha, ‘Kumbira’, joined this assembly of monks in this forest with an entourage of more than a hundred thousand Yakshas who live at Vepulla Rock.

The great king ‘Dhruthara~shtah’, who is the dominator of the Eastern direction and the king of the Ga~ndharvas, is a glorious figure.
The great king ‘Druthara~shtah’, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, is powerful, and is known as the sovereign, glorious, possesses supranormal powers and glows with colourful lights, arrived very happily at this assembly of monks in this forest.

The great king ‘Viru~dah’, who is the dominator of the Southern direction and the king of the Kumba~nda, is a glorious figure.
The great king ‘Viru~dah’, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, is powerful, and is known as the sovereign, glorious, possesses supranormal powers and glows with colourful lights, arrived very happily at this assembly of monks in this forest.

The great king ‘Viru~pa~ksha’, who is the dominator of the Western direction and the king of the Na~gas, is a glorious figure.
The great king ‘Viru~pa~ksha’, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, is powerful, and is known as the sovereign, glorious, possesses supranormal powers and glows with colourful lights, arrived very happily at this assembly of monks in this forest.

The great king ‘Kuvera’, who is the dominator of the Nothern direction and the king of the Yakshas, is a glorious figure.
The great king ‘Kuvera’, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, is powerful, and is known as the sovereign, glorious, possesses supranormal powers and glows with colourful lights, arrived very happily at this assembly of monks in this forest.

The great kings, the dominator of the East, ‘Drutharashtah’, the dominator of the South, ‘Virudah’, the dominator of the West, ‘Viru~pa~ksha’, and the dominator of the South, ‘Kuvera’, appeared in the Kapilawasthu forest, glistening in all over the directions.

The criminalising, magical, mean-spirited, deceitful, scheming servants of the four great kings, ‘Ma~ya~’, ‘Kutendu’, ‘Vitendu’, ‘Vituchcha’, ‘Vituto’ with

‘Chandana’, ‘Ka~masettah’, ‘Kinnughandu’ and ‘Nighandu’,
‘Pana~da’, ‘Opamaknkna’, ‘Devasutha’, too,
Also ‘Mathali~’, the charioteer of the god, ‘Sakra’,
the Gandarva, ‘Chithrasena’, the dominator of Bamboo, king ‘Janesabha’,
The Gandarva, ‘Pangchasikha’ who has got the opportunity to be accompanied by ‘Su~riyawachchasa~’ first time, such that many kings, as well as the Gandharvas and the king’s servants, arrived very happily at the company of monks gathered in this forest.

The Nagas in the lake, ‘Na~gasa~’, the Nagas in the City of ‘Vish~la~’, came with the Naga known as ‘Thachchaka’.
The Nagas, ‘Kambalassathara’ and ‘Pa~ya~ga~’ came in fear along with their relatives.
The Nagas, ‘Ya~muna~’, ‘Dhatharattah’ who is glorious and the Naga, ‘Era~vana’, came to this assembly.

The Gurula~ named ‘Chithra’ (secretary bird), a divine bird with a clear vision to enable the capture of the snake king immediately, was flying through the sky in the middle of the forest.
Gurula~, who had taken refuge in the Buddha, made King Na~ga fearless and protected him.
After speaking with gentle words, Na~gaya and Gurula~ went to see the Buddha.
The brothers of God ‘Sakra’, miraculous and glorious Asuras, who are associated with the ocean because of the god ‘Sakra’s victory in the Sura-asura war,
Asuras, ‘Ka~lalakncha’, ‘Maha~bhisma’, ‘Da~naveghasa’, ‘Vepachiththi’, ‘Suchiththi’ and ‘Paha~ra~da’,
Also, the ‘Mara’ and about a hundred sons of the Asura named ‘Bali’, known as hateful, approached ‘Rahu’, armed by ‘Bali’s army, and saying that it would be a good idea to join the assembly and then they all came to the forest together.

On that day, the gods who are the dominators of Solid, Heat, Air and Water (Patahvi- A~po- Thejo- Wa~yo),
the glorious gods, ‘Waruna’, ‘Wa~runa~’, ‘So~mocha’,
with the glorious gods, ‘Meththa~’, ‘Karuna~’, ‘Ka~yika~’
Such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

The god, ‘Venhu~’, the other two gods, ‘Sahali’ and ‘Asama~’,
The moon’s dominator god is accompanied by an entourage of gods who inhabit the moon.
The sun’s dominator god is accompanied by an entourage of gods who inhabit the sun.
The Zodiac star’s dominator is accompanied by an entourage of gods who inhabit the clouds.
The god ‘Sakra’, who is the greatest of the gods,
such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

Then the god ‘Sahabhu’ came illuminated, glowing like a burning rock with fire.
Also, the gods, ‘Arittahka’ and ‘Roja~’ appeared as a blue lotus flower.
The gods ‘Waruna~’, ‘Dhamma~’, with ‘Achchutha’, ‘Anejaka~’, ‘Su~leiyaruchira’, ‘Wa~sava’, and ‘Anesina’
such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

‘Sama~na’, ‘Maha~sama~na’, ‘Ma~nusa~’, ‘Ma~nusuththama~’, ‘Khidda~padu~sika~’, ‘Manopadu~sika’, furthermore ‘Haraya’, That ‘Lohithawa~sina’, ‘Pa~raga~’, ‘Maha~pa~raga~’
Such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

The gods, ‘Sukka~’, ‘Karumha~’, ‘Aruna~’ with the god, ‘Veghanasa~’,
The gods, ‘Oda~thagaiha~’, ‘Pa~mokkha~’ and ‘Vichakkhana~’
The god, ‘Ha~ragaja~’ who is always happy, the god, ‘Missaka’ who is full of glorious,
the god ‘Pajjuna’, who thunders and makes the rain in a certain direction,
Such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

The gods, ‘Khemiya~’, ‘Thusitha~’, ‘Ya~ma~’, ‘Kattahka~’, who are full of glorious,
The gods, ‘Lambi~thaka~’, ‘La~masettah~’, ‘Jothina~ma’ and ‘A~sava~’
The god, ‘Nimma~narathi’, Furthermore the god, ‘Paranimmitha~’
Such ten gods, who are glorious, possess supranormal powers and glow with colourful lights, too, arrived very happily from ten directions at the monks’ assembly in this forest.

All the gods from sixty groups glow with colourful lights, arrived along with other gods similar to themselves.

The well-disciplined Great Bharma and his son ‘Iddhimatha’, also the Brahma, ‘Sanangkuma~ra’, also arrived at this assembly in the forest saying, “The Buddha has eliminated the Craving that leads to rebirth having crossed the tides of defilements.
We have come to see the Buddha who has transcended the world’s sufferings by dispelling the darkness of ignorance Like the moon shining dispelling the dark”.

The great Brahma, who dominates over a thousand Brahma realms, appears with a glorious figure shining with enormously illuminated that terrifies.
Here, it can be seen that ‘I~shvara’ and ‘Wasawarthi Mara‘ are coming separately.
A moderate entourage crowd was also present, which can be carried along with the sixty-three gods and Brahmas.

Furthermore, that less meritorious, evil ‘Wasawarthi Mara‘ appeared in front of all the gods and Brahmas, including pleasant ‘Sakra’, as in a manner of “let’s seize them, bind them, tie them with lust, lock all of them up completely from all directions to avoid anyone freeing from lust”, and so on.

In fact, the group of noble monks who were there had disciplined their minds in such a way as to prevent themselves from obeying the Mara’s army.

At that time, because evil Mara could not fulfil his wish, he beat his palm on the ground to cause fear and fled with his army without being seen, just as a massive wind blew while raining with thunders and lightning”.

It is described here that the minds of Buddha’s disciples in those days were not disturbed by ‘Greed-Hatred-Delusion’ even in the presence of the beautiful and glorious gods and Brahmas because they had eliminated the defilements and had immense faith in the Buddha.

By seeing and knowing well everything that happened, at the same time, the Buddha addressed all the disciples who were present.

“Monks, overcome the defilements, ‘Greed- Hatred- Delusion’, by understanding the Four Noble Truths and practising the Eight-Fold Path well.
By listening to the Buddha’s exhortation and being without sleeping or staying in only a sitting posture, by striving to banish defilements, one can attain that noble ‘Arahath’ status that is completely free from Craving and does not shock even a single hair follicle.
Thus, that wise man who has achieved the victory of the complete elimination of Craving by freeing from all fears completely by working diligently to eliminate defilements and fighting with the army of defilements called ‘Greed- Hatred- Delusion’ dwells happily.
He is a disciple who follows his Master”.

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