THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
224
as follows:)
While the Bodhisatta took his steps, the great Brahmas followed and shaded him with the
royal white umbrella measuring three
yojanas
. So did the great Brahmas from the
remaining worlds with their white umbrellas of the same size. Thus, the whole universe
was fully covered by white umbrellas resembling the garlands of white blooms.
The ten thousand SuyÈma devas from the ten thousand world-systems, stood, holding
individually their yak-tail fly-flaps; the ten thousand Santusita devas of the same world-
systems, stood, holding their ruby-studded round fans, all swinging their fly-flaps and
round fans right up to the mountain sides on the edge of the universe.
In the same way, the ten thousand Sakkas, residing in the ten thousand world-systems,
stood, blowing ten thousand conches.
All other devas stood in like manner, some carrying flowers of gold while others
carrying natural flowers or scintillating glass flowers (flowers glittering like glass); some
carrying flaps and banners, while others carrying gem-studded objects of offering. Female
deities with various gifts in their hands also stood, crowding the entire universe.
While the phenomenal display of homage, which was like the
rasÈyana
, gratifying sight
for the eye, was in progress, while thousands of conches were being blown melodiously by
devas and humans, while celestial and terrestrial musical instruments were being played
and female deities were joyfully dancing, the Bodhisatta halted after taking seven steps in
the northward direction.
At that moment, all the devas
,
humans and BrahmÈs maintained complete silence, waiting
expectantly with the thought: ‚What is the Bodhisatta going to say?‛
The Fearless Roar
When he halted after taking the seven steps in the direction of north the Bodhisatta made
a fearless roar to be heard simultaneously by all throughout the entire ten thousand world-
systems as follows:
(a) ‚Aggo' haÑ asmi 1okassa!‛
I am the most superior among the living beings of the three worlds!
(b) ‚JeÔÔho' haÑ asmi lokassa!‛
I am the greatest among the living beings of the three worlds!
(c) ‚SeÔÔho' haÑ asmi lokassa!‛
I am the most exalted among the living beings of the three worlds!‛
(d) ‚AyaÑ antimÈ jÈti!‛
This is my last birth!
(e) ‚Natthi dÈni punabbhavo!‛
There is no more rebirth for me!‛
When the Bodhisatta made this bold speech, there was no one capable of challenging or
rebutting him; the whole multitude of devas, humans and BrahmÈs had to tender their
felicitations.
The Bodhisatta’s Extraordinary Acts and Their Significance
Out of the extraordinary acts at the time of the Bodhisatta's birth, the following were
omens, each with its significance.
(1) The Bodhisatta's firm standing, with both feet evenly on the earth's surface, was the
omen signifying his future attainment of the four bases of psychic power (
iddhipÈda
).
(2) The Bodhisatta's facing northwards was the omen signifying his future supremacy over
all living beings.
(3) The Bodhisatta's taking seven steps was the omen signifying his future attainment of
the seven Constituents of Enlightenment, the Jewel of the Dhamma.
(4) The Bodhisatta's having the cool shade of the celestial white umbrella was the omen
signifying his future attainment of the fruition of arahantship.