21. The Chronicle of Buddha Vessabhū
After Buddha Sikhī’s attainment of Parinibbāna, in that very aeon of two Buddhas, the lifespan of human beings decreased gradually from 70,000 years [Mistakenly written as 7,000 years in the translation.] to ten years; then it increased to immeasurables, and when it reached 60,000 years on its next decline, on complete fulfilment of the perfections, Bodhisatta Vessabhū, accepting the request made by Devas and Brahmas to become a Buddha, descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Yasavatī, consort of King Suppatīta, in the city of Anoma. When ten months had elapsed, the Bodhisatta was born in Anupama Park.
When the Bodhisatta Prince was born, he uttered triumphant words that were pleasing to people and, on that account, on his naming day, learned readers of omens and his relatives named him Prince Vessabhū.
By “triumphant words” was meant the three great words beginning with: Aggoham-asmi lokassa, “I am the greatest in the world,” etc., uttered courageously like the roar of a bull.
Early Life
When he came of age, Bodhisatta Vessabhū lived in three palaces: Ruci, Suruci and Rativaḍḍhana. Being entertained and served by 30,000 female attendants headed by Princess Sucittā, he thus enjoyed a royal household life for 6,000 years.
When he had seen the four omens while enjoying royal household life, and when Princess Sucittā had given birth to a son, named Suppabuddha, Bodhisatta Vessabhū renounced the world riding a golden palanquin to the royal gardens. He then wore the robes offered by a Brahma, and 37,000 men joined him to become recluses themselves.
Awakening
With these 37,000 recluses, Bodhisatta Vessabhū practised the austerities for six months. On the full-moon day of May (Vesākha), the day he would become a Buddha, he partook of the milk rice offered by Sirivaḍḍhanā, resident of the market-town of Sucitta, and spent the daytime in the local Sāla grove. In the evening, he went alone to the Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by Narinda, King of the Nāgas. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Sāla Mahā Bodhi tree, there appeared the unconquered seat, measuring 40 cubits. Sitting on the seat, the Bodhisatta concentrated his energy at four levels and become a Buddha, in the same manner as previous Buddhas.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After becoming a Buddha, Buddha Vessabhū stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days. Accepting a Brahma’s request for his teaching, he contemplated who he should teach first and saw his younger half-brothers, Prince Soṇa and Prince Uttara, who were his future chief disciples, and who were endowed with the merits of their past deeds which led to the paths and fruitions, he immediately appeared in Aruṇa Park near Anupama city by his psychic power. He then sent the gardener for the two princes and, in the midst of the two princes and their retinues, he taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse, which previous Buddhas had taught too, to Devas and Brahmas who had also gone to listen to the Dhamma respectfully. On that occasion, 800 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
2. At a later time, when Buddha Vessabhū made a tour of big towns in the country and taught Dhamma, 700 million [Mistakenly written as 70,000 in the translation.] Devas and humans of his audiences attained the paths and fruitions.
3. Still at a later time, Buddha Vessabhū, in the same city of Anupama, eradicated wrong views that were entangled like meshes of net and highly injurious. In this way, he
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. There were three meetings of Buddha Vessabhū’s disciples. The first took place on the full-moon day of February (Māgha). At that time, in the midst of 80,000 [Mistakenly written as 80,000 crores in the translation.] Arahats, who had previously become monks at the meeting of Ven. Soṇa and Ven. Uttara, his future chief disciples, Buddha Vessabhū recited the Advisory Rules (Ovāda-Pātimokkha).
2. At a later time, there took place a meeting of 37,000 recluses of the town of Soreyya. They were those who followed Bodhisatta Vessabhū’s example when he renounced the world but, when the Bodhisatta left them and went alone to another place, they also moved on to somewhere else. On hearing that the Buddha had taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse, they went to Soreyya and paid homage to the Buddha, who taught them Dhamma and made them summoned monastics. In the audience consisting of four features the Buddha recited the Advisory Rules.
3. Still at a later time, Buddha Vessabhū visited the city of Narivāhana to give blessings to the city’s ruler, named Upasanta. Hearing of the Buddha’s visit, King Upasanta and his retinue immediately went out to welcome the Buddha, invited him respectfully and performed a grand alms giving ceremony. Having listened to his Dhamma, the king was so filled with piety that he renounced the world. Joining him were 60,000 of his men who also became monks themselves. Together with Upasanta they became Arahats. Being surrounded by these monks, the Buddha recited the Advisory Rules.
The Bodhisatta as King Sudassana
At the time of Buddha Vessabhū our Bodhisatta was King Sudassana who had an appearance, fair and pleasing to the eye, in the city of Sarabhavatī. When Buddha Vessabhū, Lord of the Three Worlds, visited the city, he listened to the Buddha’s Dhamma and became so pleased that, with his folded hands raised to his head, he made a great alms giving, including robes to the Saṅgha, headed by the Buddha. In the very city of Sarabhavatī, he built a hut called the Perfumed Chamber for the Buddha and also 1,000 encircling huts for the Saṅgha, and offered them.
Since the Bodhisatta was profoundly delighted with the Dhamma taught by Buddha Vessabhū, he desired fervently to become a monk. Accordingly, he gave away all his royal wealth to the cause of the Buddha’s Dispensation and took up, in the Buddha’s presence, the life of a virtuous monk, free from idleness, day and night. Having become a monk, he acquired moral qualities, observed the thirteen ascetic practices (dhutaṅgas) and lived in the Buddha’s Dispensation, being happy in fulfilment of the perfections.
Filled with faith and joy, the Bodhisatta as a monk paid respects to Buddha Vessabhū. Then there occurred a great longing in him for omniscience. Knowing that the Bodhisatta monk had undiminished energy, Buddha Vessabhū predicted: “In the Fortunate Aeon (Bhadda-kappa), the 31st aeon from the present one, this monk, Sudassana, will indeed become a Buddha, Gotama by name.” Having heard Buddha Vessabhū’s prophecy, the Bodhisatta monk Sudassana was overjoyed and he determined to fulfil the ten perfections even more energetically.
Particulars of Buddha Vessabhū
Buddha Vessabhū’s birthplace was Anoma city.
His father was King Suppatīta and his mother was Queen Yasavatī.
He reigned for 6,000 years.
His three palaces were Ruci, Suruci and Rativaḍḍhana.
His chief consort was Sucittā, who had 30,000 maids of honour.
His son was Prince Suppabuddha.
The vehicle he used in renunciation, after seeing the four omens, was a golden palanquin.
He practised the austerities for six months.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Soṇa and Ven. Uttara.
His attendant was Ven. Upasanta.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Rāmā and Ven. Samālā.
His Bodhi tree was a Great Sāla tree.
His noble male supporters were the wealthy persons, Sotthika and Ramma.
His two female supporters were Gotamī and Sirimā.
Buddha Vessabhū’s height was 60 cubits and glorious like a golden column.
The radiance emitted from various parts of his body was particularly bright, like the fire on top of a hill at night.
The lifespan during Buddha Vessabhū’s time was 60,000 years. He lived for four-fifths of this lifespan, rescuing beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, from the flood-waters of Saṁsāra and placed them on the shore of Nibbāna.
He explained Dhamma elaborately to people in accordance with their dispositions. Having bequeathed the Dhamma-boat to cross the waters of Saṁsāra for the benefit of posterity, Buddha Vessabhū with his Arahat disciples attained Parinibbāna.
Buddha Vessabhū and his Arahats, who were worthy of veneration shown to them by humans, Devas and Brahmas, and the monastic buildings where they had physically maintained themselves, all have vanished. Unsubstantial and futile are all conditioned things!
In this manner, Buddha Vessabhū, conqueror of the five kinds of deaths (māra) and teacher of Devas and humans, attained Parinibbāna in Khemā Park, near Usabhavatī city. His relics, according to his resolve, dispersed and reached everywhere in Jambudīpa to be placed in shrines, and became objects for honour by beings such as humans, Devas and Brahmas.