1: The Birth of the Bodhisatta – 245
23. The sun, being of moderate heat and clear radiance, brought clement
weather. This was the omen presaging the physical and mental
happiness of human beings.
24. The Devas, standing at the doorways of their mansions, slapped their
arms with their hands, whistled and flung their clothes in merriment.
This was the omen presaging his attainment of omniscient Buddhahood
and making the Exalted Utterance.
25. Torrential rain fell all over the four continents. This was the omen
presaging the heavy Dhamma rain of deathlessness which fell with the
great force of wisdom.
26. All human beings felt no hunger. This was the omen presaging their
attainment of the deathless Dhamma of the mindfulness related to the
body (
kāyagatasati
), or freedom from hunger for defilements after
enjoying the deathless food of mindfulness related to the body.
27. All human beings felt no thirst. This was the omen presaging their
attainment of the bliss of the fruition of Arahantship.
28. Closed doors burst open by themselves. This was the omen presaging
the opening up of the gates of Nibbāna which is the eightfold noble path.
29. Flower trees and fruit trees bore flowers and fruits respectively. This
was the omen presaging the people’s bearing the flowers of
emancipation (
vimutti
) and the fruits of the four noble ones (
ariya-
phala
).
30. All the 10,000 world-element were covered with the one and only
flower-banner. The 10,000 world-element were covered with the banner
of victory. This was the omen presaging the spreading of the flower-
banner, i.e., the noble path.
Moreover, the showering of exquisite flowers and exceedingly fragrant flowers;
the brightness of stars and constellations even in sunlight; the appearance of
springs of pure, clean water; the emergence of burrowing animals from their
habitats; the absence of greed, hate and delusion; the absence of clouds of dust
from the ground; the absence of obnoxious smells; the pervasion of celestial
perfumes; the clear visibility of the Brahmas of the form worlds to human
beings; the absence of birth and death amongst human beings, and other