Dighanikaya 1.4_13

1.4_13

Ettāvatā ca yaṃ āyasmatā ānandena kamalakuvalayujjalavimalasādhurasasalilāya pokkharaṇiyā sukhāvataraṇatthaṃ nimmalasilātalaracanavilāsasobhitaratanasopānaṃ, vippakiṇṇamuttātalasadisavālukākiṇṇapaṇḍarabhūmibhāgaṃ titthaṃ viya suvibhattabhittivicitravedikāparikkhittassa nakkhattapathaṃ phusitukāmatāya viya, vijambhitasamussayassa pāsādavarassa sukhārohaṇatthaṃ dantamayasaṇhamuduphalakakañcanalatāvinaddhamaṇigaṇappabhāsamudayujjalasobhaṃ sopānaṃ viya, suvaṇṇavalayanūpurādisaṅghaṭṭanasaddasammissitakathitahasitamadhurassaragehajanavicaritassa uḷārissarivibhavasobhitassa mahāgharassa sukhappavesanatthaṃ suvaṇṇarajatamaṇimuttapavāḷādijutivissaravijjotitasuppatiṭṭhitavisāladvārabāhaṃ mahādvāraṃ viya ca atthabyañjanasampannassa buddhaguṇānubhāvasaṃsūcakassa imassa suttassa sukhāvagahaṇatthaṃ kāladesadesakavatthuparisāpadesapaṭimaṇḍitaṃ nidānaṃ bhāsitaṃ, tassatthavaṇṇanā samattāti.

And so far, the explanation of the meaning of the introductory narrative has concluded—the introductory narrative which was spoken by the Venerable Ānanda, adorned with the designations of time, place, speaker, topic, and audience, in order to facilitate easy immersion in this discourse which is complete in meaning and phrasing and indicates the majestic power of the Buddha’s virtues; just like a gem-studded staircase shining with the beauty of spotless stone slabs, leading to a bathing ford strewn with white ground resembling scattered pearl dust, [built] for easy descent into a lotus pond having radiant, clear, sweet-tasting water with red and blue lotuses; and like a staircase adorned with radiant brilliance from clusters of jewels bound with golden creepers on smooth, soft ivory planks, [built] for easy ascent into a noble palace whose towering height rises up as if wishing to touch the path of the stars, enclosed by well-proportioned walls and painted railings; and like a great gateway with well-anchored, wide doorposts lit up by a brilliant array of luster from gold, silver, gems, pearls, coral, and so forth, [built] for easy entrance into a great mansion adorned with magnificent lordly splendor, bustling with household folk having sweet voices who chat and laugh mingled with the chiming of golden bangles and anklets.