The Life of the Victorious Buddha
Kāludāyī [vv. 339-355]
Then King Suddhodana heard: “My child has attained supreme and Perfect Awakening, and, desiring the welfare of the world, has set the True Dhamma wheel rolling, and recently has been living in the delightful Bamboo Wood, and depending on Rājagaha for support.” Then desiring to see his own son, who had become a Buddha, nine times sent nine ministers accompanied by nine thousand warriors into the presence of the Great Seer. They went, but after hearing the Dhamma-King’s incomparable preaching, and obtaining the supreme benefit of Nibbāna, they forgot to give the message.
Seeing that not even one of them returned King Suddhodana summoned his great minister Kāludāyī, Also called Udāyī below. who always greatly delighted in the thought of the going-forth ordination, and said to him: “Carry away my great treasure of a son by whatever means, and delight my eyes by bringing him into my presence.”
Then he sent him also, together with a thousand warriors, and having gone with that group, after hearing the Teacher’s beautiful preaching, he attained the road to Worthiness. Then after ordaining he worshipped that Best of Men with his hands at his head in reverential salutation, and said to the Sambuddha:
“The season of Spring has produced colourful and delightful buds and foliage, a thousand delightful branches together with glorious, and deep-green coloured leaves, trees crowded with various extraordinarily fragrant and variegated blossoms, many very beautiful animals, and flocks of birds singing in the excellent groves.
There are now countless delightful lakes, full of very blue and agreeable waters, which are decorated with very fragrant blue, white, bronze, and red lotuses, having unstained and extremely pearly white sandbanks, with a multitude of sweet-sounding grey geese, and a variety of trees along the banks.
The banks themselves are resplendent with rows of flowers and blossoms, having plains covered with fresh and very green lawns, as though covered with pleasing lapis-lazuli, and skies full of light breezes. Reverend Sir! It is time to go to the Royal City called Kapilavatthu, which is prosperous with people having endless riches!” So in this way he praised the beauty of the road.
The Happy One, after hearing this great praise, said: “Udāyī, why did you praise the beauty of this journey?” Then Udāyī said this to that Safety-Maker: “Reverend Sir, your father the famous and excellent King Suddhodana wishes to see you; let the Sole Protector of the World’s Benefit, the Realised One, be of assistance to his relatives.”
When He who delights in the World’s Benefit had heard Udāyī’s sweet utterance, He said: “It is good, Udāyī, I will indeed assist my relatives.”