釋迦譜 2.11

2.11

The Buddha was in the Joyful Park of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, under the Pārijāta tree, observing the three months' summer retreat. At that time, surrounded by the fourfold assembly, the Tathāgata emitted a thousand rays of light from the pores of His body, which universally illuminated the trichiliocosm. Within each ray of light there was a thousand-petaled lotus, and within each flower was a transformed Buddha, whose majestic radiance shone beyond all comparison. The devaputras did not know from what cause this occurred. The Buddha told Mañjuśrī: "Go to my mother's place and say that I am here; I hope my mother will condescend to come for a while to pay homage to the Three Jewels." Mañjuśrī went immediately and informed Māyā. When she heard it, milk flowed spontaneously from her breasts, and she spoke these words: "If it is truly Siddhārtha whom I bore, let this milk reach his mouth." Having spoken these words, the milk spurted from both breasts like white lotus flowers and directly entered the mouth of the Tathāgata. When Māyā saw this, she leaped with joy and delight, like flowers bursting into full bloom. The trichiliocosm shook universally, and wonderful flowers and fruits blossomed and ripened out of season. She then said to Mañjuśrī: "Ever since the Buddha and I became mother and son, my joy and peace have never been like today." She then went with Mañjuśrī to the Buddha's place. The World-Honoured One saw His mother coming from afar, appearing like the trembling of Mount Sumeru; He then addressed His mother with a Brahmā voice, saying: "Wherever the body traverses, suffering and joy accompany it; you should cultivate nirvāṇa and forever leave suffering and joy behind." Māyā threw her five limbs to the ground with single-minded devotion; her focused and correct mindfulness subdued and eliminated the fetters. The Buddha preached the Dharma for her. When Māyā heard it, she immediately remembered her past lives; her roots of goodness matured, she destroyed eighty koṭis of blazing fetters, and attained the fruit of srotāpanna. She then said to the Buddha: "I have realized liberation from the prison of birth and death." When the great assembly gathered there heard these words, they spoke in unison with different mouths: "May all sentient beings attain liberation!" At that time, the World-Honoured One extensively taught the assembly in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, bringing great benefit. When the three months came to an end and He was about to descend, He instructed Kumāra: "You may now descend to Jambudvīpa and tell them: 'The Tathāgata will soon enter parinirvāṇa.'" When the sentient beings at that time heard these words, they were exceedingly sorrowful and distressed, saying: "Lately we did not know where the Great Master was; now He is up in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, and furthermore He is about to enter parinirvāṇa. How bitter! The eye of the world is about to be extinguished. Our sinful bodies are far removed from heaven; we have no way to ascend to heaven to respectfully beseech Him. We only wish that you, benevolent one, will convey our plea: we only pray that He will take pity on the people of Jambudvīpa and return quickly." Kumāra then returned to the Buddha's place and reported everything to the Buddha. When the World-Honoured One heard these words, He emitted five-colored rays of light, shining brilliantly. Then Śakra, lord of the devas, knowing that the Buddha was about to descend, sent spirits to create a three-flight jeweled staircase: the center was of Jambūnada gold, the left of lapis lazuli, and the right of agate, with carved railings of utmost splendor. The Buddha said to Māyā: "The nature of birth and death is that there must be parting. I must now descend and return to Jambudvīpa; before long I shall also enter parinirvāṇa." Māyā shed tears and spoke in verse. Then the World-Honoured One took leave of His mother, stepped down the jeweled stairs, with Brahmā holding a canopy and the Four Heavenly Kings standing in attendance to the left and right. The fourfold assembly sang hymns of praise, and heavenly instrumental music filled the air; scattering flowers and burning incense, they escorted Him down. The kings of Jambudvīpa, such as Prasenajit, and the entire great assembly gathered at the jeweled staircase, bowing their heads to welcome Him. The Buddha returned to the Jetavana and took the lion throne, surrounded by the fourfold assembly, leaping with joy.