Chapter IX
flashing a great light completely burned themselves in the sky and attained
ParinibbÈna
.
SaÑvega
The peerless glory of Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa and His concentrated mind that was permeated
with Omniscience had all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned
things!
Cetiya
Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa, who had fully realized the Four Noble Truths, attained ParinibbÈna at
CandÈrÈma. In the same park, a
cetiya
, seven
yojanas
high, was built. It was made of
powdered red orpiment mixed with oil and butter and was dedicated to Him.
The unbreakable relics of the Buddha, true to the nature of long-lived Enlightened Ones,
remained solid like golden images without falling into pieces. These relics were enshrined
in the
cetiya
and people from all over JambudÊpa completed the construction by decorating
it with seven kinds of precious stones.
Here ends KoÓÉaÒÒa
BuddhavaÑsa.
________________________
3. MA^GALA BUDDHAVA¥SA
When incalculable aeons had elapsed after the aeon of Buddha KoÓÉaÒÒa, in one
kappa
there appeared four Buddhas, namely, (1) Ma~gala, (2) Sumana, (3) Revata and (4) Sobhita
in that order. The first of the four Buddhas therefore was Ma~gala.
Conception
Having fulfilled the Perfections for sixteen
asa~khyeyya
and one hundred thousand aeons
and on completion of His fulfilment of the Perfections, Bodhisatta Ma~gala was reborn in
TusitÈ which was a common abode of all future Buddhas. While enjoying a divine life, He
accepted the request made by devas and descended to the world of human beings to take
conception in the womb of UttarÈ, Queen of King Uttara, in the city of Uttara which
excelled all other cities.
The Mother's Body Luminescence
From the moment the Bodhisatta took conception, the light from the Queen's body spread
eight cubits all around and could not be overpowered even by sun-light and moon-light.
Not requiring other lights, the queen moved about by means of her own luminescence with
her maids of honour at her service.
Birth of the Bodhisatta
The conception was guarded by celestial beings, and when ten months had elapsed the
Bodhisatta was born in the excellent and delightful Uttaramadhura Park.
Royal Household Life
When Bodhisatta Ma~gala came of age, he ascended the throne. He lived in three golden
palaces, namely, the most famous Yasavanta Palace, the most delightful Rucimanta Palace
and the most splendid Sirimanta Palace, together with his Chief Consort Yasavati and
surrounded by thirty thousand dancers who were exquisitely adorned. Thus he enjoyed
kingly luxuries that were likened to divine comforts for nine thousand years.
Renunciation
When Queen Yasavati gave birth to a son, named Sivala, the Bodhisatta saw the four
omens of the aged, the sick, the dead and the recluse, and then he renounced the world by
going forth, riding the well decorated thoroughbred horse named Pandara and became a
monk.
His renunciation example was followed by three crores of people who also donned the