Overall Teaching

The Bodhisattva declares that he will descend to earth. The devas descend to earth and transform into brahmins to inform people about the 32 marks of a cakravartin or buddha. The devas consider which land and family is suitable for the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva explains what qualities are necessary for a bodhisattva’s final birth, and they decide that it can only be in the Śākya clan of Kapilavastu.

Summary

1.     After deciding that the time for Dharma had come, the Bodhisattva exits the celestial palace and goes to the Dharmoccaya Palace, teaching 680 million devas.

2.     The Bodhisattva declared that in 12 years he will enter the womb of his mother.

1.     The devas descended to Jambudvīpa (India), transformed into brahmins, and taught that beings who have the 32 marks that the Bodhisattva will have will either become a cakravartin (Universal Monarch) or a buddha.

a. A cakravartin would have the seven treasures:

i. Wheel: after being consecrated and observing the poṣadha fast (8 precepts) the golden wheel would appear in the east, he would turn the wheel with his right hand and it would travel through space in the four directions. The king and his army would set up their camp wherever the wheel goes and the provincial kings will greet the king and offer over their lands to him voluntarily. The king will then instruct the whole world to uphold the 10 wholesome deeds. ii. Elephant: appearing in the same way as the wheel, it would be gold and could travel through the sky and transform itself. The king could mount the elephant at daybreak and travel through the whole world. iii. Horse: appearing as before, it has a blue body, black head, braided mane, and a gold banner, ornaments, and netting. It can fly and is called Bālāhaka. It can travel the world like the elephant.

iv.     Jewel: appearing as before, it is made of lapis lazuli and the light emitted therefrom can illuminate any area. Any people in its vicinity will be awakened by it and think it is daybreak. 

v.      Wife: appearing as before, she is a kṣatrīya and gives off the scent of sandalwood, she is always the correct temperature and soft to the touch.

Her mind and body always desire only the king.

vi.     Steward: appearing as before, he has divine sight which can see treasures in the entire area up to a yojana which don’t belong to anyone. In this way he can cater to the king’s material needs.

vii.    Minister: appearing as before, is consecrated, and can fulfil the king’s needs just by the king thinking about it: e.g. if he thinks of commissioning an army, it is done. viii. A cakravartin will also have 1000 sons who will bring peace to the world without violence.

b.    If he leaves his family and becomes a monk he will become a buddha, relinquish desire, and become the teacher of devas and humans.

c.     The devas thus inspired the brahmins to recite the Vedas.

1.     Other devas arrived and exhorted the pratyekabuddhas (solitary buddhas), telling them that soon the Bodhisattva will enter his mother’s womb.

a.     When they (such as Mātaṅga Pratyekabuddha) heard this, they rose into the sky to the height of seven tāla trees, merged into the fire element, and entered nirvāṇa. 

b.    They left only a few relics on the ground. Mātaṅga’s relics are known as ‘the footprints of the sage’ and the other Pratyekabuddhas at Vārāṇasī gave the park its namesake: Ṛṣipatana (Fallen Sages), which is the Deer Park (Mṛgadāva, the story of that name is related in the Mahāvastu).

2.     At that time the Bodhisattva engaged in the four great examinations:

a.     Examination of the time of his birth: so that he might appear on earth when old age, sickness, and death are known to humans.

b.    Examination of the continent of his birth: so that he is born on the southern continent (Jambudvīpa), and not the northern, eastern, or western one.

c.     Examination of the country of his birth: so that he is born in the central land and not where people are stupid as sheep, dull, and ignorant of right or wrong.

d.    Examination of the family of his birth: so that he is not born into an inferior family, only a priestly or ruling family (being born into whichever is superior at that time).

3.     After the devas asked the Bodhisattva what family he would be born into, they speculated on various possibilities and pointing out their flaws, the royal family of: 

a.     Magadha (fickle, without purity or merit), 

b.    Kośala (ignoble line, limited wealth), 

c.     Vatsa (illegitimate by birth, nihilist king), 

d.    Vaiśālī (no decorum or respect for elders), 

e.     Ujjayinī (uncivilized, wild, without heed for actions), 

f.      Mathurā (family with wrong views), 

g.     Hastināpura (confused genealogy, led by Pāṇḍavas who falsely believe they’re descended from gods, as in the Mahābhārata),

h.    Mithilā (Ayodhyā) (king is extremely aged and cannot produce a new son).

1.     The deva Jñānaketudhvaja asked the Bodhisattva what qualities a family must have for a bodhisattva to take his final birth there. He replied with sixty-four qualities, in summary:

a.     Qualities relevant to the nobility and fame of the family, without reproach.

b.    Of good caste, clan, and marital unions.

c.     With many men and women, servants and armies.

d.    Of wealth and treasures, with animals, and able to enjoy worldly pleasures.

e.     Of good moral quality, without fear or cowards, but known for kindness.

f.      Descended from bodhisattvas.

g.     They must pay homage to stūpas and caityas.

h.    Difficult to defeat.

2.     The Bodhisattva gave thirty-two qualities for the mother of a bodhisattva, in summary:

a.     Without faults like being prone to gossip or coarseness.

b.    Without greed, anger, or ignorance.

c.     With great discipline and other moral virtues, such as modesty and generosity.

d.    Not have given birth previously.

e.     Of excellent appearance and name.

f.      Of good caste and family.

3.     Moreover, the Bodhisattva explained that he must be conceived during a full noon in conjunction with the constellation Puṣya (Cancer), to a mother observing the poṣadha (8 precepts).

4.     The devas then realised that the Śākyas who live in Kapilavastu suit this description, with both Śuddhodana and queen Māyādevī being possessed of wonderful qualities, and believers in karma with great knowledge. Māyā is of beautiful physical and mental qualities and particularly pleasing speech. Because she appears like a magical emanation she is called “māyā” meaning illusion.

5.     Then a verse summary of the foregoing is given, in which it is emphasised that Māyādevī is the only suitable vessel for the Bodhisattva.