The Twenty-Four Buddhas – 199
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
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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
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[Mistakenly written as 7,000 years in the translation.]