The Lotus Sūtra 3.49

3.49

「爾時大通智勝如來默然許之。

While those who persevere in the good will increase.

“Then the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū silently consented.

“Furthermore, O monks, the great Brahmas in the five hundreds of thousands of koṭis of lands in the south each saw their palaces illuminated as they had never been before. Joyful and ecstatic, they were struck with wonder. They immediately assembled to discuss this matter together, asking:

Why have our palaces been illuminated?

“At that time there was a great Brahma, called Sudharma. He spoke to the assembly of Brahmas in verse saying:

Our palaces are illuminated

With brilliant light.

There must be a reason for this,

And we should seek its source.

We have not seen such a phenomenon

During the past hundreds of thousands of kalpas.

Has a deva of great merit been born,

Or has a buddha appeared in the world?

“Thereupon five hundred myriads of koṭis of great Brahmas went toward the north with their palaces, to enquire about this phenomenon, carrying heavenly flowers in their robes. They saw the Tathāgata Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū on the terrace of enlightenment, sitting on the lion seat under the bodhi tree. He was respectfully surrounded by humans and such nonhumans as devas, nāga kings, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas. They also saw the sixteen princes requesting the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

“Then all the great Brahmas bowed until their foreheads touched the Buddha’s feet and then circled around him one hundred thousand times. They scattered heavenly flowers on the Buddha, and the flowers they scattered piled up as high as Mount Sumeru. They also paid homage to the Buddha’s bodhi tree. Having revered the Buddha with flowers, they offered their palaces to him, saying:

Please accept the palaces we now offer you, and benefit us through

your compassion!

“Then the great Brahmas spoke these verses wholeheartedly and in unison before the Buddha:

O Destroyer of Afflictions!

It is extremely difficult to meet a Bhagavat.

We are now meeting the Buddha for the first time

Since one hundred and thirty kalpas have passed away.

Please satisfy sentient beings,

Who are suffering from hunger and thirst,

By pouring down the rain of the Dharma!

O One Possessed of Immeasurable Wisdom,

Whom we have never met before!

Today we have encountered

The one who appears as rarely

As the uḍumbara flower blooms.

Our palaces are beautifully adorned

By this ray of light.

We entreat you to accept them

Out of your great compassion!