1.
The Chapter on Thrones
1.
The Story of the First Chair Mansion
1.
Adorned, wearing garlands, beautifully clothed, you shine like lightning upon a cloud peak.
2.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
3.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
4.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
5.
I paid respect, I made a salutation with joined palms, and according to my ability I gave a gift.
6.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
7.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The First Chair Mansion is first.
2.
The Story of the Second Chair Mansion
8.
Adorned, wearing garlands, beautifully clothed, you shine like lightning upon a cloud peak.
9.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
10.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
11.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
12.
I paid respect, I made a salutation with joined palms, and according to my ability I gave a gift.
13.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
14.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Second Chair Mansion is second.
3.
The Story of the Third Chair Mansion
15.
Adorned, wearing garlands, beautifully clothed, you shine like lightning upon a cloud peak.
16.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
17.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
18.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
19.
When I was a human being among human beings, in a former birth in the human world.
20.
To him I gave a chair, devoted, with my own hands.
21.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
22.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Third Chair Mansion is third.
4.
The Story of the Fourth Chair Mansion
23.
Adorned, wearing garlands, beautifully clothed, you shine like lightning upon a cloud peak.
24.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
25.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
26.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
27.
When I was a human being among human beings, in a former birth in the human world.
28.
To him I gave a chair, devoted, with my own hands.
29.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
30.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Fourth Chair Mansion is fourth.
5.
The Story of the Elephant Mansion
31.
Beautiful, powerful, endowed with speed, it moves through the sky.
32.
With limbs strewn over with lotus pollen, wearing a garland of golden lotuses.
33.
Standing firm, pleasantly without jolting, measured in pace goes the elephant.
34.
Their resounding is heard, like a five-part musical ensemble.
35.
You outshine the great assembly of nymphs in beauty.
36.
Or else of salutation with joined palms? Tell me this when asked."
37.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
38.
I gave a seat strewn with flowers, spread with cloth.
39.
Sprinkled over with petals, devoted, with my own hands.
40.
Honour and respect, and I am esteemed by the gods.
41.
Would rejoice thus, just as I do, O Nanda.
42.
A seat should be given, to those bearing their final bodies."
The Elephant Mansion is fifth.
6.
The Story of the First Boat Mansion
43.
You plunge into the pond, you pluck a lotus with your hand.
44.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
45.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
46.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
47.
Having seen monks thirsty and weary, having risen, I gave water to drink.
48.
For him there are rivers with cool water, abundant with garlands, with many white lotuses.
49.
Mango trees and sal trees and tilaka trees and rose-apple trees, uddālaka trees and trumpet-flower trees in bloom.
50.
This is the result of that action here, those who have made merit obtain such.
51.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
52.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The First Boat Mansion is sixth.
7.
The Story of the Second Boat Mansion
53.
You plunge into the pond, you pluck a lotus with your hand.
54.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
55.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
56.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
57.
Having seen a monk thirsty and weary, having risen, I gave water to drink.
58.
For him there are rivers with cool water, abundant with garlands, with many white lotuses.
59.
Mango trees and sal trees and tilaka trees and rose-apple trees, uddālaka trees and trumpet-flower trees in bloom.
60.
This is the result of that action here, those who have made merit obtain such.
61.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
62.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Second Boat Mansion is seventh.
8.
The Story of the Third Boat Mansion
63.
You plunge into the pond, you pluck a lotus with your hand.
64.
Shining brightly they illuminate, all around the four directions.
65.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
66.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
67.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
68.
Having seen monks thirsty and weary, having risen, I gave water to drink.
69.
For him there are rivers with cool water, abundant with garlands, with many white lotuses.
70.
Mango trees and sal trees and tilaka trees and rose-apple trees, uddālaka trees and trumpet-flower trees in bloom.
71.
This is the result of that action here, those who have made merit obtain such.
72.
Shining brightly they illuminate, all around the four directions.
73.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
74.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions;
This is the fruit of that action of mine, for my benefit the Buddha drank the water."
The Third Boat Mansion is eighth.
9.
The Story of the Lamp Mansion
75.
Illuminating all directions, like the healing star.
76.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
77.
By what from all your limbs, do all directions shine forth.
78.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
79.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
80.
In the darkness of a very dark night, at the time for lighting, I gave a lamp.
81.
There arises a mansion of radiant light, with abundant garlands and many white lotuses.
82.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
83.
By that from all my limbs, all directions shine forth.
84.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Lamp Mansion is ninth.
10.
The Story of the Sesame Offering Mansion
85.
Illuminating all directions, like the healing star.
86.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
87.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
88.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
89.
90.
Having approached, I gave a gift, unwillingly, an offering of sesame seeds;
To the Buddha worthy of offerings, devoted, with my own hands.
91.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
92.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Sesame Offering Mansion is tenth.
11.
The Story of the First Devoted Wife Mansion
93.
This mansion strewn with flowers, charming, variegated, frequented by men and women.
94.
And these nymphs of yours all around, dance and sing and delight.
95.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
96.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
97.
Guarding my husband as a mother guards her son, even when angry I did not speak harshly.
98.
With a confident mind, I gave food and drink, attentively I gave an abundant gift.
99.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
100.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The First Devoted Wife Mansion is eleventh.
12.
The Story of the Second Devoted Wife Mansion
101.
There you dwell, goddess of great majesty, displaying supernormal powers high and low;
And these nymphs of yours all around, dance and sing and delight.
102.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
103.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
104.
I was abstaining from killing living beings, I avoided what is not given in the world.
105.
With a confident mind, I gave food and drink, attentively I gave an abundant gift.
106.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
107.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Second Devoted Wife Mansion is twelfth.
13.
The Story of the First Daughter-in-Law's Mansion
108.
Illuminating all directions, like the healing star.
109.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
110.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
111.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
112.
113.
To him I gave a cake, devoted, with my own hands;
Having given half of my portion, I rejoice in the Nandana grove.
114.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
115.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The First Daughter-in-law Mansion is thirteenth.
14.
The Story of the Second Daughter-in-Law's Mansion
116.
Illuminating all directions, like the healing star.
117.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
118.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
119.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
120.
121.
To him I gave a share, devoted, with my own hands;
Having given a lump of barley-gruel, I rejoice in the Nandana grove.
122.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
123.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
The Second Daughter-in-law Mansion is fourteenth.
15.
The Story of Uttarā's Mansion
124.
Illuminating all directions, like the healing star.
125.
And there arise for you pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
126.
By what are you of such radiant power, and your beauty illuminates all directions?"
127.
Asked a question, she explained of which action this is the fruit.
128.
Not prone to wrath, obedient to my husband's will, on the Observance day I was always diligent.
129.
And the extra holiday, well endowed with the eight factors.
130.
Through self-control and sharing, I dwell in this mansion.
131.
And from theft and from sexual misconduct, and far from drinking intoxicants.
132.
A female lay follower of the One with Vision, the famous Gotama.
133.
I experience my own merit, happy and free from affliction.
134.
And there arise for me pleasures, whatever are dear to the mind.
135.
By that I am of such radiant power, and my beauty illuminates all directions."
136. "And, venerable sir, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet - 'Venerable sir, the female lay follower named Uttarā pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet.' But this is not wonderful, venerable sir, that the Blessed One would declare me in a certain fruit of asceticism, the Blessed One declared me in the fruit of once-returning."
The Uttarā Mansion is fifteenth.
16.
The Story of Sirimā's Mansion
137.
Five hundred chariots are created for you, the horses urged by charioteers follow you.
138.
I ask you, of excellent form, of superior appearance, from which class did you approach the Blessed One?
139.
From that class, a nymph of sensual appearance, has come here to venerate the Blessed One.
140.
By what do you dwell with boundless glory, delicately nurtured in happiness;
And your supernormal power is unsurpassed, moving through the sky,
And your beauty shines in the ten directions.
141.
Having passed away from where, have you gone to a fortunate world, O deity?
Or whose instruction are you obedient to?
Tell me, if you are a disciple of the Buddha."
142.
I was supremely well trained in dancing and singing, they knew me as Sirimā in Rājagaha.
143.
The unconditioned, the eternal cessation of suffering, and this path - straight, direct, and safe.
144.
I was supremely well restrained in morality, established in the Teaching taught by the Buddha, the excellent among men.
145.
Right there I attained the concentration of serenity, that very thing was my supreme certainty of the path.
146.
Free from doubt, honoured by many people, I experience no small enjoyment and delight.
147.
A seer of the Dhamma, established in the first fruit, a stream-enterer, and there is no unfortunate realm for me.
148.
To venerate the safe assembly of ascetics, respectfully, of the glorious King of the Teaching.
149.
The cutter of craving, delighting in the wholesome, the guide, I pay homage to the one compassionate for the supreme welfare."
The Sirimā Mansion is sixteenth.
17.
The Story of the Hairdresser's Mansion
150.
Covered all around with golden trees, this is my abode, arisen from the result of action.
151.
You have arrived, glorious one, illuminating you stand, first deity.
152.
Just so you, shining brightly with fame, outshine this company of nymphs.
153.
Like Brahmā, the gods of the Thirty-three together with Indra, we all are not satisfied by seeing you."
154.
There is a city named Bārāṇasī in the east of Kāsi, there I was formerly a hairdresser.
155.
With unbroken training rules, having attained the fruit, fixed in the teaching of enlightenment, free from illness."
156.
With a mind devoted to the Buddha and the Teaching, gone to the Community with certainty, free from doubt;
With unbroken training rules, having attained the fruit, fixed in the teaching of enlightenment, free from illness."
The Hairdresser Mansion is seventeenth.
The Chapter on the Chair is concluded as first.
Its summary:
Husband - two, Daughter-in-law, Uttarā, Sirimā, Hairdresser;
By that the chapter is called.