Verses on Dhamma 2.7.p28

2.7.p28

Sāpi tato cavitvā asurabhavane asurajeṭṭhakassa dhītā hutvā sakkassa verighare nibbatti. Dvīsu pana attabhāvesu sīlassa surakkhitattā abhirūpā ahosi suvaṇṇavaṇṇā asādhāraṇāya rūpasiriyā samannāgatā. Vepacittiasurindo āgatāgatānaṃ asurānaṃ ‘‘tumhe mama dhītu anucchavikā na hothā’’ti taṃ kassaci adatvā, ‘‘mama dhītā attanāva attano anucchavikaṃ sāmikaṃ gahessatī’’ti asurabalaṃ sannipātāpetvā, ‘‘tuyhaṃ anucchavikaṃ sāmikaṃ gaṇhā’’ti tassā, hatthe pupphadāmaṃ adāsi. Tasmiṃ khaṇe sakko tassā nibbattaṭṭhānaṃ olokento taṃ pavattiṃ ñatvā, ‘‘idāni mayā gantvā taṃ ānetuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti mahallakaasuravaṇṇaṃ nimminitvā gantvā parisapariyante aṭṭhāsi. Sāpi ito cito ca olokentī taṃ diṭṭhamattāva pubbasannivāsavasena uppannena pemena mahogheneva ajjhotthaṭahadayā hutvā, ‘‘eso me sāmiko’’ti tassa upari pupphadāmaṃ khipi. Asurā ‘‘amhākaṃ rājā ettakaṃ kālaṃ dhītu anucchavikaṃ alabhitvā idāni labhi, ayamevassa dhītu pitāmahato mahallako anucchaviko’’ti lajjamānā apakkamiṃsu. Sakkopi taṃ hatthe gahetvā ‘‘sakkohamasmī’’ti naditvā ākāse pakkhandi. Asurā ‘‘vañcitamhā jarasakkenā’’ti taṃ anubandhiṃsu. Mātali, saṅgāhako vejayantarathaṃ āharitvā antarāmagge aṭṭhāsi. Sakko taṃ tattha āropetvā devanagarābhimukho pāyāsi. Athassa sippalivanaṃ sampattakāle rathasaddaṃ sutvā bhītā garuḷapotakā viraviṃsu. Tesaṃ saddaṃ sutvā sakko mātaliṃ pucchi – ‘‘ke ete viravantī’’ti? ‘‘Garuḷapotakā, devā’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’’ti? ‘‘Rathasaddaṃ sutvā maraṇabhayenā’’ti. ‘‘Maṃ ekaṃ nissāya ettako dijo rathavegena vicuṇṇito mā nassi, nivattehi ratha’’nti. Sopi sindhavasahassassa daṇḍakasaññaṃ datvā rathaṃ nivattesi. Taṃ disvā asurā ‘‘jarasakko asurapurato paṭṭhāya palāyanto idāni rathaṃ nivattesi, addhā tena upatthambho laddho bhavissatī’’ti nivattetvā āgamanamaggeneva asurapuraṃ pavisitvā puna sīsaṃ na ukkhipiṃsu.

At the end of her existence as a potter's daughter she was reborn in the World of the Asuras as the daughter of Vepacitti, king of Asuras, a bitter enemy of Sakka. Since she had kept the Precepts in two successive existences, she was fair of form, her skin was of a golden hue, and she was endowed with beauty and comeliness the like of which had never been seen. Vepacitti, king of Asuras, said to all the Asura princes who sought her in marriage, "You are not fit to marry my daughter." Having thus refused to give her in marriage to any of the Asura princes, he said, "My daughter shall choose for herself such a husband as she sees fit." So saying, he assembled the host of Asuras, and placing a garland of flowers in the hand of his daughter, said to her, "Choose for yourself a husband who suits you."

At that moment Sakka looked to see where she had been reborn. Perceiving what was taking place, he assumed the form of an aged Asura and went and stood in the outer circle of the assembled company. The daughter of Vepacitti looked this way and that. Suddenly, because in a previous state of existence she had lived with Sakka, she was overwhelmed as by a mighty torrent by the power of the love for him which sprang up within her. And crying out, "He is my husband!" she threw the garland of flowers over his head. Said the Asuras, "For a long time our king has been unable to find a husband suitable for his daughter. Now, however, he has found one. This fellow is old enough to be his daughter's grandfather." And they departed, hanging their heads with shame.

Sakka took her by the hand, cried out, "I am Sakka," and flew up into the air. The Asuras exclaimed, "We have been fooled by Old Sakka," and started up in pursuit. Mātali the charioteer brought up the chariot called Chariot of Victory and stopped by the way. Thereupon Sakka assisted his bride to mount and set out for the City of the Gods. Now when they reached the Forest of the Silk-cotton Trees, the Garuḍa fledglings, hearing the sound of the chariot and fearing they would be crushed to death, cried out. When Sakka heard their cries, he asked Mātali, "What are they that are crying?" "Garuḍa birds, Sire." "Why are they crying?" "They hear the sound of the chariot and fear they will be crushed to death." "Let not so numerous a host perish, crushed by the impact of the chariot, because of me alone. Cause the chariot to turn back." Thereupon Mātali gave the sign with the lash to the thousand Sindh horses and caused the chariot to turn back.

When the Asuras saw that the chariot had turned back, they said, "Old Sakka started out in flight from the city of the Asuras, but has just caused his chariot to turn back. Doubtless he has received reënforcements." And turning back, the Asuras entered the city of the Asuras by the same road by which they had come out and nevermore lifted up their heads. Sakka bore the Asura maiden Wellborn to the City of the Gods and installed her as the chief of twenty-five million celestial nymphs.