Overall Teaching

The Bodhisattva enters the womb in the form of a six tusked elephant. The brahmins predict that he will be a cakravartin or buddha. The Buddha reveals that while he dwelt in the womb he dwelt in a temple in the right side of her womb, which is shown to the assembly from Brahmā’s heaven. While in the womb, the Bodhisattva taught many devas and bodhisattvas who came to honour him.

Summary

1.     When the moon entered Viśākhā[1] and the climate was perfect, on the full moon day during Puṣya[2] the Bodhisattva moved into the right side of Queen Māyā in the form of the six tusked elephant, within the womb he only stayed on the right side.

2.     In her dream Queen Māyā saw the elephant entering her womb and became absorbed in samādhi as a result.

3.     Māyā went to the aśoka-tree forest and summoned King Śuddhodana. But the king’s body became extremely heavy and he could not enter. The bodhisattvas then informed the king that a bodhisattva was born to Queen Māyā.

4.     The king could then enter the forest and asked the queen what he could do for her. She described her dream to him.

5.     Then the brāhmins asked to be told the dream, afterwards they interpreted that her son would be a great universal monarch, unless he renounces the kingdom, in which case he would become a buddha.

6.     The king was satisfied with this prediction and offered to the brāhmins.

7.     Alms and food were distributed by the king in all directions of the city.

8.     Considering which residence the queen can reside in, the devas arrived and said they would provide her with a palace, each successively up to the highest devas offered competing claims.

a.     King Śuddhodana provided the best palace of humans for her, and by the Bodhisattva’s power Queen Māyā also appeared in each of the deva’s palaces.

b.     During this time the devas each believed the queen was in their own residence.

c.     Within the queen’s womb the Bodhisattva always dwelt in a crossed-legged posture on the right side of her womb.

d.     The Bodhisattva remained in the “great array” samādhi which fulfilled the gods’ wishes and the king’s wishes.

9.     The devas and Ānanda wondered how the Bodhisattva could dwell in an impure human womb when the devas turn back even upon approaching foul smelling human habitations.

a.     The Buddha explained that he dwelt in a jewelled structure at that time.

b.     Summoning Brahmā who removed and kept that structure, the Buddha asked him to bring it to show to everyone. Brahmā fetched it and summoned the other millions of gods who would like to see it.

c.     While it was placed on top of a large palace, Śakra and gods and beings below him were unable to see it because of their inferior abilities.

d.     The Buddha explained that they would be able to see it when it was brought before the Buddha, and had the divine music silenced for it would make humans insane from merely hearing it.

e.     The jewelled structure was brought before the Buddha. It appeared to be of four sides with an upper floor which was scaled to fit a foetus. It shone brightly and was free of all impurities.

f.      The throne in the structure was similar to a conch.

g.     The temple made of divine sandalwood. It contained within it two more layers of other temples, in the middle of which was the throne with cushions. The structure was adorned with flowers that arose from the Bodhisattva’s cultivation. The temple reflected all things within the godly abodes of the desire realm.

10. On the evening when the Bodhisattva entered the womb a lotus from the waters below the earth arose and pierced the earth, rising six million eight hundred thousand leagues to the Brahmā realm. Brahmā and his charioteers were only able to see it, and he took from it a drop of nectar and placed it in a vessel of beryl. He offered this to the Bodhisattva who accepted it, and drank it. Only a bodhisattva in his final birth is able to digest this drop of vital energy, this is possible due to past actions: 

a.     Particularly due to giving medicine to the sick, fulfilling the wishes of aspirants, and not abandoning those who come for refuge. Also, offering flowers, fruits, and foods first to buddhas, past buddhas, the saṅgha, and his parents and only later eating for himself.

11. Similarly, within the temple a set of garments called “the ornament of a hundred thousand” appeared. Only a bodhisattva in their final birth can wear these and nothing can compare with it.

12. The Buddha explains that the Bodhisattva’s intentions were accomplished because of his previous aspirations and not only does that temple appear within the right side of his mother’s womb, but he appears seated, with limbs, organs, and characteristics fully formed.

13. When he entered the womb, Śakra, the four great kings, and various types of yakṣas constantly stayed close, and he was always served by four goddesses (Utkhalī, Samutkhalī, Dhvajavatī, and Prabhāvatī).

14. The Bodhisattva shone from within the womb with a light visible five leagues away and the Queen could always see him within her womb. This was like how lightning illuminates everything from a dark mass of clouds.

15. The devas saw this and came to honour the Bodhisattva. When he saw this the Bodhisattva gave them a Dharma teaching and then dismissed them by extending and drawing back his right hand. They left after circling the Queen three times.

16. The bodhisattva would also joyfully salute all guests before they saluted him.

17. The morning after he entered the womb Śakra and the various gods appeared and were being taught by the bodhisattva from within the womb. He taught in such a way that they felt they were being taught to one-on-one by the bodhisattva. They then were dismissed and departed.

18. By evening Brahmā appeared with the vital drop and his assembly. The Bodhisattva indicated for them to settle, and taught them in the same way.

19. Similarly hundreds of thousands of bodhisattvas approached to be taught, who sat on spontaneously appearing lion thrones. They were taught regarding the divisions of the Mahāyāna. Only gods of equal fortune were able to perceive them.

20. While the Bodhisattva was in her womb, Queen Māyā did not feel any bodily or mental discomfort. She always felt light and supple. She always observed the five precepts and ten wholesome actions. She never felt lust towards anyone and no one felt lust towards her. By merely seeing her beings were freed from their possessions and diseases. She also picked herbs and gave them to the sick who quickly recovered.

21. The Queen saw the Bodhisattva within her womb when looking at her belly which made her joyful. Through his blessings the rains and winds were timely, seasons were balanced, and harvests were bountiful.

22. All the Śākyas had plenty to eat, became generous, and made merit. King Śuddhodana devoted himself to religious practice and lived purely as an ascetic.

23. Ānanda, Śakra, and the other gods were all shown the jewelled structure and they were amazed. Then Brahmā brought it back up to his realm and installed it as an object of worship.

24. The Buddha then repeats the details of the chapter in verse form.

[1] Constellation of Libra.

[2] Cancer.