Chapter IX
At this teaching of the First Sermon, one hundred crores of devas and human headed by
ten crores of
bhikkhus
realized the four Truths.
(This was the first occasion of
DhammÈbhisamaya
on which the Buddha taught the Four
Truths to devas, humans and BrahmÈs.)
This was followed, at one time, by the delivery of the Mangala Sutta to a great gathering
of devas and BrahmÈs
,
who arrived from the ten-thousand world-system, assuming minute
subtle bodies (so that there could be enough room for them all) in the universe. At this
gathering, an unknown deva raised the question of blessings (
ma~gala
), asking as to what
helped to bring about a perfect life with prosperity. Addressing that deva, the Buddha
taught the Ma~gala Sutta.
At this teaching of the Ma~gala Sutta, ninety thousand crores of devas and humans
attained arahantship. Those who became
sotÈpanna
, etc., were innumerable.
(This was the second
DhammÈbhisamaya
occasion of the Buddha's Teaching of the Four
Truths to devas, humans and BrahmÈs.)
When Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa taught the Dhamma, staying in the sky after defeating the
heretics by a display of the twin miracle of water and fire, eight-thousand crores of devas,
humans and BrahmÈs attained
arahatta-phala
. Those who were established in the three
lower
phala
stages, were innumerable.
(This was the third
DhammÈbhisamaya
occasion of the Buddha's teaching of the Four
Truths to devas, humans and BrahmÈs.)
Three Occasions of The Disciples’ Meeting (SannipÈta).
There were also three occasions of
sannipÈta
, meeting of Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa's disciples:
The first occasion took place in Canda Park, Candavati being His supporting city, when
He observed the first
vassa,
after He had attained Buddhahood penetrating the four Truths.
In that city, two young men, Bhadda, son of Sucindhara, and Subhadda, son of
YasodharÈ, whose fathers belonged to the lineage of immensely rich BrÈhmana families,
listened to Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa sermon. As a result, they developed devotional faith, donned
the robes together with ten thousand youths in the presence of the Buddha and attained
arahantship. There, the Buddha, being surrounded by one hundred crores of
arahats
led by
Subhadda Thera, recited the
PÈÔimokkha
on the full-moon day of Jettha (May/June)
(This was the first
sannipÈta
.)
Some time later, Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa's son, Prince Vijitasena (after becoming a
bhikkhu
)
attained arahantship. The Buddha then recited the
PÈÔimokkha
in the midst of one thousand
crores of
arahats
with Vijitasena Thera at their head.
(This was the second
sannipÈta
)
Finally, at one time, while visiting the countryside, Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa ordained King
Udena and his host of followers. When they all attained arahantship, the Buddha, being
surrounded by ninety crores of
arahats,
headed by Udena Thera, recited the
PÈÔimokkha
.
(This was the third
sannipÈta
.)
Bodhisatta Gotama, as Universal Monarch VijitÈvÊ, received Prophecy from Buddha
KoÓÉaÒÒa
At that time our Bodhisatta was a Universal Monarch, VijitÈvÊ by name, ruling in the city
of Candavati. Having numerous distinguished hosts of attendants, he held, under his sway,
the whole stretch of land in the universe up to the end of the four oceans with
righteousness, not by force nor by arms.
Then Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa, setting out on a journey followed by one hundred thousand
crores of
arahats
, arrived at Candavati. Hearing of the Buddha's visit, Bodhisatta King