Jinacaritaṁ
The Life of the Victorious Buddha
[Vassānakathā]
[The Story of the Rain’s Residences]
evaṁ tilokahitadena mahādayena
lokuttamena paribhuttapadesapantiṁ
niccaṁ surāsuramahoragarakkhasādi
sampūjitaṁ aham-idāni nidassayissaṁ [436]
Evaṁ niccaṁ Sura-Asura-Mahā-Uraga-Rakkhasa-ādi sampūjitaṁ, Ti-Loka-Hitadena Mahā-Dayena Loka-Uttamena paribhutta-padesa-pantiṁ ahaṁ idāni nidassayissaṁ.
So now I will show the range of places used (for the Rains Retreat) by the One who Gives Benefit to the Three Worlds, the One of Great Pity, the Supreme One in the World, whom the Suras, Asuras, Great Snakes (Nāgas), Rakkhasas, and so forth always worshipped.
saddhammaraṁsinikarehi jinaṁsumāli
veneyyapaṅkajavanāni vikāsayanto
vāsaṁ akāsi pavaro paṭhamamhi vasse
bārāṇasimhi nagare migakānanamhi [437]
Pavaro Jina-aṁsu-māli Saddhamma-raṁsi-nikarehi veneyya-paṅkaja-vanāni vikāsayanto, paṭhamamhi Vasse, Bārāṇasimhi nagare Miga-Kānanamhi vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Excellent, Victorious (Buddha) Sun, dwelt for the first Rains Retreat near the city of Banaras, in the Deer Grove, illuminating those who were responsive, who were like a lotus-wood, The lotus is known to be responsive to the sun’s course through the sky. with a multitude of rays of the True Dhamma. Including the first two discourses: Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaṁ and Anattalakkaṇasuttaṁ.
nānappakāraratanāpaṇapantivīthi
ramme pure pavararājagahābhidhāne
vāsaṁ akāsi dutiye tatiye catutthe
vasse pi kantataraveḷuvane pi nātho [438]
Nātho nāna-ppakāra-ratana-āpaṇa-panti-vīthi ramme pavara-Rājagaha-abhidhāne pure kanta-tara-Veḷuvane pi, dutiye tatiye catutthe Vasse pi, vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Protector dwelt for the second, third, and also the fourth Rains Retreat in the very agreeable Bamboo Wood, near the delightful and most excellent city Rājagaha by name, which has streets full of shops having various treasures.
bhūpālamoḷimaṇiraṁsivirājamānaṁ
vesālināmaviditaṁ nagaraṁ surammaṁ
nissāya sakyamunikesari pañcamamhi
vassamhi vāsam-akarittha mahāvanasmiṁ [439]
Sakya-Muni-Kesarī, pañcamamhi Vassamhi, Bhū-pāla-moḷi-maṇi-raṁsi-virājamānaṁ su-rammaṁ nagaraṁ Vesāli-nāma-viditaṁ nissāya Mahā-Vanasmiṁ vāsaṁ akarittha.
The Sage-Lion of the Sakyas, in the fifth Rains Retreat, has dwelt in the Great Wood, which was near to the very delightful city known by the name of Vesālī, which was resplendent with the rays of the crown-jewels of (many) Princes. It was here that Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī obtained permission to found the Bhikkhuṇī order during the Buddha’s fifth rains Retreat.
phullātinīlavimaluppalacārunetto
siṅgīsamānatanujotihi jotamāno
buddho anantaguṇasannidhi chaṭṭhavasse
vāsaṁ akā vipulamaṅkulapabbatasmiṁ [440]
Phulla-ati-nīla-vimala-uppala-cāru-netto, siṅgī-samāna-tanu-jotihi jotamāno ananta-guṇa-sannidhi Buddho, chaṭṭha-Vasse, vipula-Maṅkula-pabbatasmiṁ vāsaṁ akā.
The Buddha, the repository of endless virtues, having charming eyes like blossoming, very blue, spotless water-lilies, radiating with his radiant gold-like body, in the sixth Rains Retreat, dwelt on the great Mount Maṅkula.
gambhīraduddasataraṁ madhuraṁ marūnaṁ
desetva dhammam-atulo sirisannivāso
devindasītalavisālasilāsanasmiṁ
vassamhi vāsam-akarī muni sattamamhi [441]
Gambhīra-duddasa-taraṁ madhuraṁ Dhammaṁ Marūnaṁ desetvā, atulo siri-sannivāso Muni Deva-Inda-sītala-visāla-silā-āsanasmiṁ, sattamamhi Vassamhi, vāsaṁ akarī.
Preaching Normally the absolutive indicates that the action is complete before the action of the main verb; but here, through poetical license, it indicates simultaneity. the most profound, hard-to-see, sweet Dhamma to the Maruts, in the seventh Rains Retreat, the incomparable, glorious Sage, dwelt on the cool, large, stone throne of the Lord of Gods (Sakka). In Tāvatiṁsa Heaven, which is where, according to tradition, the Buddha first taught the Abhidhamma.
phullāravindacaraṇo caraṇādhivāso
so suṁsumāragirināmadharādharamhi
vāsaṁ akā paramamāraji aṭṭhamasmiṁ
vassamhi kantatarabhesakalāvanamhi [442]
So phulla-aravinda-caraṇo caraṇa-adhivāso Parama-Māra-ji, Suṁsumāra-giri-nāma-dharādharamhi kanta-tara-Bhesakalā-vanamhi, aṭṭhamasmiṁ Vassamhi, vāsaṁ akā.
He, the Excellent Victor over Māra, the one with blossoming lotus-like feet, the abode of (good) conduct, in his eighth Rains Retreat, dwelt in the pleasing Bhesakalā Wood on the mountain named Crocodile Hill.
nānāmatātibahutitthiyasappadappaṁ
hantvā tilokatilako navamamhi vasse
vāsaṁ akāsi rucire atidassanīye
kosambisimbalivane jinapakkhirājā [443]
Ti-Loka-Tilako Jina-pakkhi-rājā nānā-mata-ati-bahu-titthiya-sappa-dappaṁ hantvā, navamamhi Vasse, rucire atidassanīye Kosambi-Simbali-vane vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Ornament of the Three Worlds, the Victorious Bird-King,
tesaṁ mahantakalahaṁ samituṁ yatīnaṁ
nissāya vāraṇavaraṁ dasamamhi vasse
pupphābhikiṇṇavipulāmalakānanasmiṁ
vāsaṁ akā munivaro varapārileyye [444]
Tesaṁ yatīnaṁ mahanta-kalahaṁ samituṁ, dasamamhi Vasse, Muni-Varo vāraṇa-varaṁ nissāya puppha-abhikiṇṇa-vipulā-amala-kānanasmiṁ vara-Pārileyye vāsaṁ akā.
To quieten the great dispute amongst the monks, This was a dispute that had arisen in Kosambī, initially about a point of discipline. The Buddha tried to stop the fighting but when he was unable to do that, he retired to the Pārileyya forest, and there an elephant looked after his every need (see Vin. Mahāvagga, Kosambakakkhandaka, Pārileyyakagamanakathā; and Udāna Nāgasuttaṁ 4.5). in the tenth Rains Retreat, the Noble Sage dwelt with the noble elephant Both the Vākhyās and Rouse take the meaning of
dhammāmatena janataṁ ajarāmarattaṁ
netto vilocanamanoharasuddhadanto
nālābhidhānadijagāmavare munindo
vāsaṁ akā amitabuddhi dasekavasse [445]
Dhamma-amatena janataṁ ajara-amarattaṁ netto vilocana-mano-hara-suddha-danto amita-buddhi Muni-Indo, dasa-eka-Vasse, Nāla-abhidhāna-di-ja-gāma-vare vāsaṁ akā.
The Lord of Sages, who had immeasureable intelligence, mind-captivating eyes, pure teeth, who leads people to the ageless, deathless state (of Nibbāna) by means of the deathless Dhamma, in the eleventh Rains Retreat, dwelt near the noble brāhmaṇa village named Nāla. This appears to be a village near Rājagaha, also called Nālaka and Ekanāḷa. The monastery was called Dakkhiṇāgiri, and according to the Great Chronicle of Buddhas (Mahābuddhavaṁsa), this is when the Buddha converted Kasībhāradvāja (see Sn. 1.4).
verañjacārudijagāmasamīpabhūte
ārāmake surabhipupphaphalābhirāme
sabbaññu sakyamuni bārasamamhi vasse
vāsaṁ akāsi pucimandadumindamūle [446]
Sabbaññu Sakya-Muni Pucimanda-Duma-inda-mūle Verañja-cāru-di-ja-gāma-samīpa-bhūte surabhi-puppha-phala-abhirāme ārāmake, bārasamamhi Vasse, vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Omniscient Sakyan Sage, in the twelth Rains Retreat, dwelt at the foot of a Lordly Nimba tree in a monastery having delightful, fragrant, flowers and fruits, which was near the charming brāhmaṇa village of Verañjā. The Buddha had to suffer hunger during this Rains Retreat as there was a famine in the country (this was apparently retribution for abusing Buddha Phussa and his disciples in a previous life, see Apadāna, I, 300).
phullāravindavadano ravicārusobho
lokassa atthacariyāya dayādhivāso
vāsaṁ akā ruciracāliyapabbatasmiṁ
vīro tilokagaru terasamamhi vasse [447]
Phulla-aravinda-vadano ravi-cāru-sobho dayā-adhivāso, Ti-Loka-Garu Vīro lokassa attha-cariyāya, terasamamhi Vasse, rucira-Cāliya-pabbatasmiṁ vāsaṁ akā.
The Teacher of the Three Worlds, the Champion, whose face was like a blossoming lotus flower, who shone like a beautiful sun, whose abode was pity, living for the benefit of the world, in the thirteenth Rains Retreat, dwelt on the agreeable Cāliya mountain. Also called Cālika. During this Rains Retreat Meghiya was his attendant, and the events related in Meghiyasuttaṁ (Udāna 4.1) took place at this time. The Buddha also spent the eighteenth and nineteenth Rains Retreats there.
bandhūkapupphasamapādakarābhirāmo
dhammissaro pavarajetavane suramme
dhīro mahiddhi muni cuddasamamhi vasse
vāsaṁ akā sakalasattahitesu yutto [448]
Bandhuka-puppha-sama-pāda-kara-abhirāmo Dhamma-Issaro sakala-satta-hitesu yutto — Dhīro Mahiddhi Muni — cuddasamamhi Vasse, suramme pavara-Jetavane vāsaṁ akā.
The Master of the Dhamma, whose delightful hands and feet were like Bandhuka flowers, devoted to the welfare of all beings — the Hero, the Sage of Great Power — in the fourteenth Rains Retreat, dwelt in the very delightful and excellent Jeta’s Wood.
veneyyabandhuvanarāgagaje vihantvā
vassamhi pañcadasame munisīharājā
vāsaṁ akā kapilavatthudharādharoru-
nigrodharāmaramaṇīyamaṇigguhāyaṁ [449]
Muni-Sīha-Rājā, veneyya-bandhu-vana-rāga-gaje vihantvā, pañcadasame Vassamhi, Kapilavatthu-dharādhara-uru-Nigrodha-Ārāma-ramaṇīya-Maṇi-Guhāyaṁ vāsaṁ akā.
The Lion King of Sages, having slain the forest of elephant-like passion in his responsive relatives, The allusion escapes me here. in the fifteenth Rains Retreat, dwelt in the delightful Jewel Cave in Nigrodha’s Monastery, on a broad mountain near Kapilavatthu.
yakkham-pi kakkhalataraṁ suvinītabhāvaṁ
netvā pure varatam-ālavakābhidhāne
vassamhi vāsam-akarī dasachaṭṭhamamhi
netto janaṁ bahutaram-pi ca santimaggaṁ [450]
Kakkhala-taraṁ yakkhaṁ pi su-vinīta-bhāvaṁ netvā, bahu-taraṁ pi janaṁ ca santi-maggaṁ netto, dasachaṭṭhamamhi Vassamhi, varatam-Ālavaka-abhidhāne pure vāsam-akarī.
After guiding the very harsh yakkha (Ālavaka) to a state of good discipline, while leading a great many people along the Path to Peace, in the sixteenth Rains Retreat, he dwelt near the very excellent city named Ālavaka. This refers to the incidents recorded in Ālavakasuttaṁ (Sn 1.10). But there the city is called
pākāragopuraniketanatoraṇādi
nettābhirāmavararājagahe mahesī
vāsaṁ akānadhivaro dasasattamamhi
vassamhi patthaṭayaso bhuvanattayasmiṁ [451]
Bhuvana-ttayasmiṁ patthaṭa-yaso anadhivaro Mahesī, dasasattamamhi Vassamhi, pākāra-gopura-niketana-toraṇa-ādi netta-abhirāma-vara-Rājagahe vāsaṁ akā.
The unsurpassed Great Seer, whose fame had spread throughout the three realms, in the seventeenth Rains Retreat, dwelt near the excellent Rājagaha, which delighted the eyes with its ramparts, gateways, houses, archways, and so forth. This was at the Bamboo Grove (
dhammosadhena madhurena sukhāvahena
lokassa ghoratararāgarajaṁ vihantvā
vassamhi vāsam-akarī dasa-aṭṭhamasmiṁ
aṅgīraso pavaracāliyapabbatasmiṁ [452]
Aṅgīraso madhurena sukha-āvahena Dhamma-osadhena lokassa ghora-tara-rāga-rajaṁ vihantvā, dasa-aṭṭhamasmiṁ Vassamhi, pavara-Cāliya-pabbatasmiṁ vāsam-akarī.
Aṅgīrasa,
veneyyabandhujanamoharipuṁ uḷāraṁ
hantvāna dhamma-asinā varadhammarājā
ekūnavīsatimake puna tattha vasse
vāsaṁ akā madhurabhārati lokanātho [453]
Madhura-bhāratī Loka-Nātho, Vara-Dhamma-Rājā, Dhamma-asinā veneyya-bandhu-jana-moha-ripuṁ uḷāraṁ hantvāna, ekūna-vīsatimake Vasse, puna tattha vāsaṁ akā.
The sweet-voiced Protector of the World, the Noble King of Dhamma, after slaying with the sword of the Dhamma the great enemy delusion in the responsive people and kinsmen, in the nineteenth Rains Retreat, again dwelt there (on Cāliya mountain).
suddhāsayo pavararājagahe vicitte
vāsaṁ akāsi samavīsatimamhi vasse
lokassa atthacaraṇe subhakapparukkhe
cintāmaṇippavarabhaddaghaṭo munindo [454]
Suddha-āsayo Muni-Indo, lokassa attha-caraṇe, subha-kappa-rukkhe cintā-maṇi-ppavara-bhadda-ghaṭo, sama-vīsatimamhi vasse, vicitte pavara-Rājagahe vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Lord of Sages, who was an abode of purity, living for the welfare of the world, like the auspicious wish-fulfilling tree, the wish-fulfilling gem, or the excellent lucky pot, in the twentieth Rains Retreat, dwelt near the beautiful and excellent Rājagaha.
evaṁ tilokamahito anibaddhavāsaṁ
katvā caram-paṭhamabodhiyuḷārapañño
chabbaṇṇaraṁsisamupetavicittadeho
lokekabandhu bhagavā avasesakāle [455]
Evaṁ Ti-Loka-Mahito Uḷāra-Pañño Loka-Eka-Bandhu Bhagavā, chaḷ-vaṇṇa-raṁsi-samupeta-vicitta-deho, paṭhama-bodhiyā anibaddha-vāsaṁ katvā, caraṁ avasesa-kāle.
Thus the One Honoured by the Three Worlds dwelt nowhere continually; and during the first period after the Awakening, The first twenty years after the Awakening are referred to as the
sāvatthiyaṁ pavarajetavane ca ramme
dibbālaye va samalaṅkatapubbarāme
vāsaṁ akāsi muni vīsatipañcavasse
lokābhivuddhinirato sukhasannivāso [456]
Loka-abhivuddhini-rato Sukha-sannivāso Muni, vīsati-pañca-Vasse, Sāvatthiyaṁ ramme pavara-Jetavane ca, dibba-ālaye va samalaṅkata-Pubbārāme ca, vāsaṁ akāsi.
The Sage, who delights in the progress of the world, who abides happily, for (the next) twenty-five Rains Retreats, dwelt near Sāvatthī, in the delightful and excellent Jeta’s Wood, and in the decorated Eastern Monastery, which was like an abode of the gods.
iti amitadayo yo pañcatālīsavasse
manujamanavanasmiṁ jātarāgaggirāsiṁ
paramamadhuradhammambūhi nibbāpayanto
avasi sa munimegho lokasantiṁ karotu [457]
Iti yo amita-dayo pañcatālīsa-vasse manuja-mana-vanasmiṁ jāta-rāga-aggi-rāsiṁ parama-madhura-Dhamma-ambūhi nibbāpayanto avasi. Sa Muni-Megho loka-santiṁ karotu.
Thus he who has measureless pity, dwelt for forty-five years extinguishing the massive fires of passion that had arisen in the forest-like minds of men with the supremely sweet Dhamma-water. May He, the Raincloud-Sage, bring peace to the world!