Viyahapannatti 16.5: Uddeśaka 5: gaṃgadatta

At that time, in that period, there was a city named Ullukatīra—[it should be] described [in detail]. [There was] the Ekajambuka caitya—[it should be] described. At that time, in that period, the Master arrived [and] the assembly paid homage [to him]. At that time, in that period, Śakra, the Indra of the gods, king of the gods, wielder of the thunderbolt—just as [described] in the second uddeśaka, so [here]—came by his divine celestial vehicle [and] went up to where the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra was; having approached, he venerated and made obeisance to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having venerated and made obeisance, spoke thus:
“Can a deity, Venerable Sir, of great power, up to of great majesty, arrive [here] without taking hold of external pudgalas?”
“That sense is not valid.”
“Can a deity, Venerable Sir, of great power, up to of great majesty, arrive [here] having taken hold of external pudgalas?”
“Yes, he can.”
“Can a deity, Venerable Sir, of great power, up to of great majesty—in this same manner, by this phrase—go, speak, explain, open [his eyes], close [his eyes], contract [his limbs], establish a place, a bed, or a seat, transform [forms], or indulge in pleasures?”—up to—“Yes, he can.” Having asked these eight abruptly posed questions and explanations, and having asked them, he paid homage with a hurried veneration; having paid homage, he mounted that very divine celestial vehicle, and having mounted it, departed in that very direction from which he had appeared.

Saying “Venerable Sir!”, the venerable Gautama venerated and made obeisance to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having venerated and made obeisance, spoke thus: “On other days, Venerable Sir, Śakra, the Indra of the gods, king of the gods, venerates, makes obeisance to, honors, up to attends upon the Beloved of the Gods. Why, Venerable Sir, did Śakra, the Indra of the gods, king of the gods, ask the Beloved of the Gods eight abruptly posed questions and explanations today, and having asked them, venerated and made obeisance with a hurried veneration, up to departed?”
Addressing Gautama, the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra spoke thus to the venerable Gautama: “Indeed, Gautama, at that time, in that period, in the Mahāśukra kalpa, in the Mahāsāmānya vimāna, two deities of great power, up to of great majesty, were born into godhood in a single vimāna, namely, one born deceitful with wrong view, and one born non-deceitful with right view.
Then that deity born deceitful with wrong view spoke thus to that deity born non-deceitful with right view: ‘Pudgalas that are transforming are not transformed, they are untransformed; because they are transforming, pudgalas are not transformed, they are untransformed.’
Then that deity born non-deceitful with right view spoke thus to that deity born deceitful with wrong view: ‘Pudgalas that are transforming are transformed, not untransformed; because they are transforming, pudgalas are transformed, not untransformed.’ Thus he refuted that [deity] born deceitful with wrong view. Having refuted him, he applied clairvoyance; having applied it, he perceived me with clairvoyance; having perceived [me], this inner, deliberate, cherished, mental reflection arose [in him]:
‘Indeed, the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, staying outside the city of Ullukatīra in the Ekajambuka caitya, in the continent of Jambūdvīpa, in the region of Bhārata, having accepted a suitable lodging, abides cultivating himself through self-restraint and austerity. Therefore, it is indeed better for me to venerate the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, up to attend upon him, and to ask [him] this kind of explanation.’ Having reflected thus, he set out to go to the continent of Jambūdvīpa, to the region of Bhārata, to the city of Ullukatīra, to the Ekajambuka caitya, to my presence, surrounded by four thousand sāmānika gods, three assemblies, seven armies, seven commanders of armies, sixteen thousand guardian gods, and many other Vaimānika gods and goddesses residing in the Mahāsāmānya vimāna, accompanied by the resonant sound of kettledrums.
Then Śakra, the Indra of the gods, king of the gods, unable to endure that deity’s divine godly power, divine godly radiance, divine godly majesty, and divine te悍leśyā, asked me eight abruptly posed questions and explanations, paid homage with a hurried veneration, up to departed.”

And while the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, was narrating this matter to the Venerable Gautama, that god quickly arrived in that place. Then that god circumambulated the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, three times from left to right, praised and bowed to him, and having praised and bowed, spoke thus:

“Indeed, Venerable Sir, in the Mahāśukra kalpa, in the Mahāsāmānika celestial abode, a deceitful wrong-believing god who was reborn there said to me: ‘Pudgalas in the process of transforming are not transformed, they are untransformed; because they are transforming, pudgalas are not transformed, they are untransformed.’ Then I said to that reborn deceitful wrong-believing god: ‘Pudgalas in the process of transforming are transformed, not untransformed; because they are transforming, pudgalas are transformed, not untransformed.’ How is this matter, Venerable Sir?”

“O Gaṅgadatta!” the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra said thus to the god Gaṅgadatta: “I too, O Gaṅgadatta, declare, speak, explain, and set forth thus: ‘Pudgalas in the process of transforming are transformed, not untransformed; because they are transforming, pudgalas are transformed, not untransformed.’ This matter of yours is true.”

Then that god Gaṅgadatta, having heard and grasped this matter in the presence of the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, rejoiced and gratified, praised and bowed to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having praised and bowed, sat neither too near [nor too far], up to revering him.

Then the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, expounded Dharma to the god Gaṅgadatta and to that exceedingly large assembly, up to [the point where he] became an achiever [of righteousness].

Then that god Gaṅgadatta, having heard and grasped Dharma in the presence of the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, rejoiced and gratified, arose from his seat, and having arisen, praised and bowed to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having praised and bowed, spoke thus: “Venerable Sir, am I, the god Gaṅgadatta, capable of liberation or incapable of liberation? Possessed of right view or possessed of wrong view? Having a finite saṃsāra or having an infinite saṃsāra? One for whom enlightenment is easily attained or difficult to attain? An achiever or a non-achiever? In his final birth or not in his final birth?”

“O Gaṅgadatta!” the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra said thus to the god Gaṅgadatta: “Gaṅgadatta! You are capable of liberation, not incapable of liberation. Possessed of right view, not possessed of wrong view. Having a finite saṃsāra, not having an infinite saṃsāra. One for whom enlightenment is easily attained, not difficult to attain. An achiever, not a non-achiever. In your final birth, not not in your final birth.”

Then that god Gaṅgadatta, having been addressed thus by the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, with a mind rejoiced and pleased, delighted, glad at heart, exceedingly cheerful, his heart expanding with joy, praised and bowed to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having praised and bowed, spoke thus: “Venerable Sir, you know all and see all; you know in all respects and see in all respects; you know through all time and see through all time; you know all states and see all states.

Beloved of the gods knows whether before or after I attained, reached, and acquired such divine divine-power, divine divine-radiance, and divine divine-potency; therefore, with devotion toward the Beloved of the gods, I wish to display to the śramaṇas and Nirgranthas headed by Gautama my divine divine-power, divine divine-radiance, divine divine-potency, and the thirty-two-fold theatrical performance.”

Then the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, being spoken to thus by the god Gaṅgadatta, did not heed or take note of this matter of the god Gaṅgadatta, and remained silent.

Then that god Gaṅgadatta spoke thus a second and a third time to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra: “Venerable Sir, you know all and see all; you know in all respects and see in all respects; you know through all time and see through all time; you know all states and see all states.

Beloved of the gods knows whether before or after I attained, reached, and acquired such divine divine-power, divine divine-radiance, and divine divine-potency; therefore, with devotion toward the Beloved of the gods, I wish to display to the śramaṇas and Nirgranthas headed by Gautama my divine divine-power, divine divine-radiance, divine divine-potency, and the thirty-two-fold theatrical performance”—saying so, up to displaying the thirty-two-fold theatrical performance; and having displayed it, up to returned in that very direction.

"Venerable Sir!" Lord Gautama bowed to and venerated the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, and having bowed to and venerated him, spoke thus:
"Where has that divine celestial splendour, divine celestial brilliance, and divine celestial power of the god Gaṅgadatta gone, Venerable Sir? Where has it entered?"
"Gautama! It has gone into the body; it has entered into the body; [as in] the illustration of the peaked roof hall, up to: it has entered into the body."
"Oh, Venerable Sir! The god Gaṅgadatta has great splendour, great brilliance, great strength, great fame, and great majesty!
By what [cause], Venerable Sir, was that divine celestial splendour, that divine celestial brilliance, and that divine celestial power attained, acquired, and fully accomplished by the god Gaṅgadatta? What was he in his previous life? What was his name, or what was his gotra?
In which village, town, market-city, royal capital, bordered settlement, miserable hamlet, isolated town, port-city, river-mouth town, mine, hermitage, fortress, or encampment [did he live]?
What did he give, or what did he consume, or what did he perform, or what did he practice? Or from which suitable śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa, having heard and grasped even a single noble, righteous, wholesome saying, did the god Gaṅgadatta attain, acquire, and fully accomplish that divine celestial splendour, that divine celestial brilliance, and that divine celestial power?"
"Gautama!" the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, spoke thus to Lord Gautama: "Indeed, Gautama, at that time, in that period, right here in the continent of Jambūdvīpa, in the realm of Bhārata, there was a city named Hastināpura—a description—and a park named Sahasrāmravana—a description.
There, in the city of Hastināpura, lived a householder named Gaṅgadatta—prosperous, up to: not overcome by many people.
At that time, in that period, the Arhat Munisuvrata, the founder, up to: the omniscient, the all-seeing, accompanied by a wheel moving in the sky, an umbrella moving in the sky, chowries in the sky, a crystal-like lion-throne with a footstool in the sky, with the banner of Dharma drawn forward before him, surrounded by a multitude of disciples, wandering in due order, going from village to village, dwelling in great ease, arrived at the city of Hastināpura, at the Sahasrāmravana park, up to: dwelt there. The assembly came forth, up to: attended upon him.
Then the householder Gaṅgadatta, having received news of this event, delighted and joyful, bathed, having performed the daily auspicious rites, up to: with his body adorned with light and precious ornaments, departed from his house. Having departed, he set out on foot, went right through the middle of the city of Hastināpura, and arrived at the Sahasrāmravana park, where the Arhat Munisuvrata was. Having arrived, he circumambulated the Arhat Munisuvrata three times from left to right, up to: attended upon him with the threefold attendance.
Then the Arhat Munisuvrata expounded the Dharma to the householder Gaṅgadatta and to that very large assembly, up to: the assembly returned.
Then the householder Gaṅgadatta, having heard and grasped the Dharma in the presence of the Arhat Munisuvrata, delighted and joyful, arose from his seat. Having arisen, he bowed to and venerated the Arhat Munisuvrata, and having bowed to and venerated him, spoke thus:
'I have faith, Venerable Sir, in the Nirgrantha proclamation, up to: it is just as you say; only, Beloved of the Gods, I shall establish my eldest son in the household, and then, Beloved of the Gods, having shaved my head, I shall go forth from the household into homelessness in your presence.'
'As it pleases you, Beloved of the Gods! Make no hindrance.'
Then the householder Gaṅgadatta, having been addressed thus by the Arhat Munisuvrata, delighted and joyful, bowed to and venerated the Arhat Munisuvrata, and having bowed to and venerated him, departed from the presence of the Arhat Munisuvrata from the Sahasrāmravana park. Having departed, he arrived at the city of Hastināpura, at his own house. Having arrived, he had abundant food, drink, delicacies, and savouries prepared, and having had them prepared, he invited his friends, relatives, kin, family, affines, and dependents. Having invited them, and thereafter having bathed—as in the case of Pūraṇa, up to: he established his eldest son in the household. He asked permission of those friends, relatives, kin, family, affines, dependents, and his eldest son, and having asked permission, he mounted a palanquin borne by a thousand men. Having mounted it, followed along the road by his friends, relatives, kin, family, affines, dependents, and his eldest son, with all his splendour, up to: to the sounds of kettle-drums and musical instruments, he went right through the middle of the city of Hastināpura. Having gone forth, he arrived at the Sahasrāmravana park. Having arrived, he beheld the umbrella and other supernatural attributes of the Tīrthaṅkara.
Thus, as in the case of Udāyana, up to: he removed his ornaments himself, and having removed them, he plucked out his hair himself in five handfuls. Having done so, he approached the Arhat Munisuvrata; just as in the case of Udāyana, he took initiation in the same manner, and in the same manner studied the eleven Aṅgas, up to: emaciated himself through a one-month saṃlekhanā, and having emaciated himself, cut off sixty meals by fasting; having confessed and repented, attained composure, and in the fullness of time having met his death, he was reborn in the Mahāśukra heaven, in the Mahāsāmānika celestial abode, in the manifestation-hall on the divine bed, up to: was reborn as the god Gaṅgadatta.
Then the god Gaṅgadatta, as soon as he was thus reborn, attained the state of completion through the five kinds of completions, [namely: through the completion of nourishment, up to: through the completions of speech and mind.] Thus indeed, Gautama, did the god Gaṅgadatta attain, acquire, and fully accomplish that divine celestial splendour, that divine celestial brilliance, and that divine celestial power."
"How long, Venerable Sir, has the lifespan duration of the god Gaṅgadatta been declared to be?"
"Gautama! A lifespan duration of seventeen sāgaropamas has been declared."
"When the god Gaṅgadatta passes away immediately from that celestial realm at the exhaustion of his life, the exhaustion of his existence, and the exhaustion of his lifespan duration, where will he go, Venerable Sir? Where will he be reborn?"
"Gautama! In the realm of Mahāvideha, he will become liberated, up to: will make an end of all suffering."
"So it is, Venerable Sir! So it is, Venerable Sir!"