Chapter 16
Kaludayi who then set out for RÈjagaha, accompanied by one thousand attendants, carrying
the King's message for the Buddha. (As stated before) arriving there, while the Buddha was
teaching a discourse, they stood listening to it from the far end of the audience. As a
consequence, Kaludayi and his one thousand attendants attained
arahatta-phala
and became
ehi-bhikkhus
too.
Kaludayi requesting The Buddha to visit The Royal City of Kapilavatthu
(After His Enlightenment, the Buddha spent His first rains-retreat at Isipatana, Migadaya.
At the end of the retreat and having performed the
pavÈraÓÈ
ceremony, He set out for the
UruvelÈ forest where He stayed for the whole of three months teaching and instructing the
three hermit brothers and their one thousand followers till they attained arahantship. Then
accompanied by the one thousand
arahats
who were former hermits, the Buddha made His
way to RÈjagaha where He arrived on the full moon day of Phussa and resided there for
the entire two months. The Buddha taught and instructed more than ten thousand young
men of good families from Anga and Magadha countries until they became
arahats
and
ordained as
bhikkhus
. Thus five months had passed since Buddha departed from BÈrÈÓasÊ;
the cold winter months were over and it was spring, the full moon day of Phagguna. And it
was a week after Kaludayi had arrived at the presence of the Buddha.)
On that full moon day, Thera Kaludayi thought to himself: ‚The cold season is over and
spring has arrived. Cultivators and farmers have finished gathering their harvests and they
have opened up pathways leading to all destinations. The great earth is verdant, covered
with luxurious growth of green grass. In the surrounding woods, forest trees have shed
their old leaves and look resplendent in their new leaves, bearing flowers and fruits.
Neither too cold nor too hot, it is a good time for travelling, it is time now for the Buddha
to visit the royal relatives and give them His Blessings.‛ Having thought thus, he
approached the Buddha and addressed Him with the following sixty verses, supplicating to
make a visit to the royal city of Kapilavatthu.
1.
AngÈrino dÈni dunÈ bhadante
phalesino chadÈnam vippahÈya
ta acchimantova pabhÈsayanti
samayo MahÈvÊra a~gÊrasÈnaÑ
Venerable Lord and Great benefactor, winter has gone and spring has set in,
all the trees have shed their decayed leaves and as if to acquire fresh fruits,
have sprouted tender leaves and flower buds of glowing ember-red.
Stimulated by the changing weather, these colourful trees are shining bright.
Venerable Lord of Mighty Diligence, MahÈvÊra, with lustrous body, the time
is opportune to (pay a) visit to Kapilavatthu, the country of your birth.
2.
DumÈ vicittÈ dami duma bhadante
rattaÒkureheva ca pallavehi
ratanujjalamaÓÉapasannibhÈsÈ
samayo MahÈvÊra a~gÊrasÈnaÑ
Venerable Lord and Great benefactor, all the trees, wearing their coral-red
sprouts and tender emerald-green leaves, are wondrously and delightfully
beautiful, resembling pavilions shining with jewel-like brilliancy.
Venerable Lord of Mighty Diligence, MahÈvÊra, with lustrous body, the time
is opportune to (pay a) visit Kapilavatthu, the country of your birth,
3.
SupupphitaggÈ kusumehi bh|sitÈ
manuÒÒabhuta sucisÈdhu gandhÈ
rukkhÈ virocanti ubhosu passesu