Viyahapannatti 5.4.229

5.4.229

At that time, in that period, two gods of great supernatural power and up to great majesty appeared from the Mahāśukra kalpa, from the Mahāsāmāṇa celestial abode, in the presence of the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra. Then those gods paid homage and bowed down to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, and in mind alone asked this kind of question:
‘Venerable Sir! How many hundreds of disciples of the Beloved of the gods will attain liberation and up to make an end [to suffering]?’
Then the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, having been asked in mind by those gods, answered this kind of question in mind alone to those gods: ‘Thus indeed, O Beloved of the gods! Seven hundred of my disciples will attain liberation and up to make an end [to suffering].’
Then those gods, having asked the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra in mind and having been answered in mind alone this kind of question, being pleased, delighted, rejoiced in heart, glad, joyful-minded, exceedingly cheerful, their hearts expanding with delight, paid homage and bowed down to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra; having paid homage and bowed down, listening with devotion in mind alone, bowing down, facing [him] with modesty, with joined hands, they attended upon him.
At that time, in that period, the eldest disciple of the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, the homeless ascetic named Indrabhūti, up to nearby, with knees raised, head bowed, absorbed in meditation, dwelt applying himself to self-restraint and austerity. Then, while that Venerable Gautama was in a pause between meditations, this kind of internal, reflected, wished-for, mental thought arose:
‘Thus indeed, two gods of great supernatural power and up to great majesty have appeared in the presence of the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra; but indeed I do not know those gods, from which kalpa or heaven or celestial abode, or for what purpose, have they come here so quickly? Therefore, let me go to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, pay homage, bow down, up to attend upon him, and ask these kinds of questions.’ Reflecting thus, having reflected, he rose up from his seat; having risen, he went to where the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra was, up to attended upon him.
‘Gautama!’ The Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra said thus to the Venerable Gautama: ‘Indeed, Gautama, while you were in a pause between meditations, did this kind of internal [thought arise], up to you have come quickly to my presence—is this matter correct, Gautama?’
‘Yes, [Lord], it is so.’
‘Then go, Gautama! These very gods will explain these kinds of matters.’
Then the Venerable Gautama, having been permitted by the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, paid homage and bowed down to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, and set out to go to where those gods were.
Then those gods saw the Venerable Gautama coming; having seen him, pleased, delighted, rejoiced in heart, glad, joyful-minded, exceedingly cheerful, their hearts expanding with delight, they quickly arose; having quickly arisen, they advanced, went to where the Venerable Gautama was, up to bowed down, and spoke thus:
‘Thus indeed, Venerable Sir! We two gods of great supernatural power and up to great majesty appeared from the Mahāśukra kalpa, from the Mahāsāmāṇa celestial abode, in the presence of the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra. Then we paid homage and bowed down to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra; having paid homage and bowed down, we asked this kind of question in mind alone:
“Venerable Sir! How many hundreds of disciples of the Beloved of the gods will attain liberation and up to make an end [to suffering]?”
Then the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, having been asked in mind by us, answered this kind of question to us in mind alone: “Thus indeed, O Beloved of the gods! Seven hundred of my disciples [will attain liberation and] up to make an end [to suffering].” Then we, having asked the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra in mind alone and having been answered this kind of question in mind alone, paid homage and bowed down to the Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra, up to attended upon him.’ Having said this, they paid homage and bowed down to the Venerable Gautama; having paid homage and bowed down, they returned in the very direction from which they had appeared.