The Twenty-Four Buddhas – 185
2. At another time, King Sirivaḍḍha of Bārāṇasī, having abandoned his great
wealth, became an ascetic. Nine million people did the same as the king. Buddha
Phussa went to the place of these ascetics and taught them the Dhamma. Then
nine million beings attained the paths and fruitions.
3. Still at another time, Buddha Phussa taught to his son, Prince Anupama. Then
eight million Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. There were three meetings of Buddha Phussa’s disciples. The first took place
at Kaṇṇakujja. There, Prince Surakkhita and the Brahmin chaplain’s son,
Dhammasena, both his future chief disciples and residents of the city, with six
million men welcomed the Buddha who was on a visit to the city. They also
respectfully invited him and performed a great alms giving ceremony for seven
days. After listening to the Buddha’s discourse, they developed faith in him and
became monks together with their six million companions and together they
became Arahats. In the midst of these Arahats, the Buddha recited the Advisory
Rules (
Ovāda-Pātimokkha
).
2. At another time, at the assembly of his relatives headed by his father, King
Jayasena of the city of Kāsi, the Buddha narrated the Chronicles of the Buddhas
(
Buddha-vaṁsa
). Having listened to the chronicle five million people became
summoned monastics and became Arahats. At the meeting of these five million
Arahats, Buddha Phussa recited the Advisory Rules.
3. Still at another time, when Devas and humans discussed what constituted the
blessings (
maṅgala
) leading to prosperity in the world, but could not agree on an
answer acceptable to all, and when they put the same question to Buddha, he
taught the Discourse on the Blessings (
Maṅgala-sutta
, Snp 2.4). After listening to
this discourse, four million people became monastics and became Arahats. In the
midst of these Arahats, the Buddha recited the Advisory Rules.
The Bodhisatta as King Vijitāvī
At the time of Buddha Phussa our Bodhisatta was King Vijitāvī, in the city of
Arindama. Having listened to the Buddha’s discourse, he developed faith in him,
and performed a great alms giving by giving his city, and he became a monastic
and learned the Three Baskets. Being well-versed in the Collections, he
disseminated the Dhamma to all people, and also fulfilled the perfection of
morality.