Overall Teaching

The Bodhisattva’s awakening is a shared, cosmic event. From devas to nāgas to a humble grass-cutter, all beings contribute offerings, showing that Buddhahood arises through universal support and interdependence, not in isolation.

Summary

1. The Offerings of Devas at the Bodhimaṇḍa

   • After regaining strength, the Bodhisattva proceeds to the bodhimaṇḍa, declaring to the devas of the earth that he is about to awaken. They adorn the three thousand worlds with flowers, incense, and fragrant water, while other devas scatter marvellous blossoms and offer jewelled nets radiating light. The entire cosmos becomes splendidly decorated as a sign of reverence.

2. Mahābrahmā’s Praise of the Bodhisattva

   • Mahābrahmā, beholding the Bodhisattva at the bodhimaṇḍa, praises his virtues, mastery of the bodhisattva path, and determination to overcome Māra and realise supreme awakening. He exhorts other devas to honour him, acknowledging his countless past practices of righteousness. In verse, Mahābrahmā proclaims the Bodhisattva’s role as benefactor of humans and gods, his triumph over false teachings, and his power to adorn the heavens with Dharma.

3. The Nāga King’s Praise of the Bodhisattva

   • As the Bodhisattva steps onto the bodhimaṇḍa, light shines across the worlds, relieving beings of suffering. The nāga king Kālika recognises this light as the sign of a Buddha-to-be, recalling past Buddhas and urging nāgas to make offerings. The natural world responds—rivers calm, trees bow, and heavenly bodies dim before the Bodhisattva’s radiance.

4. The Nāga Queen’s Praise of the Bodhisattva

   • Nāga Queen Suvarṇaprabhāsa, with attendants, offers flowers, fragrances, and songs. She praises the Bodhisattva’s purity, fearlessness, and liberating power, recognising him as a saviour who dispels ignorance and embodies boundless compassion.

5. The Offering of the Grass Cutter Svastika

   • The humble grass-cutter Svastika offers soft grass for the Bodhisattva’s seat. Vajrapāṇi recalls that in a past age, a householder named Matimān vowed to provide grass for every Buddha’s throne; Svastika is his rebirth, now fulfilling that vow. This act shows how even ordinary beings’ past aspirations mature into crucial contributions to awakening.

6. Offerings and Praises of the Devīs of the Bodhi Tree

   • Ten thousand devīs gather around the bodhi tree, offering flowers and perfumes while reciting praises. They honour the Bodhisattva as fearless, pure, and a healer of afflictions, predicting his imminent enlightenment and celebrating his dedication across countless aeons.

7. The Bodhisattva Ascends the Vajrāsana

   • Finally, the Bodhisattva places Svastika’s grass on the vajrāsana, circumambulates the bodhi tree seven times, and sits. Eighty-four thousand devas offer lion thrones, and through skilful means, he appears seated on each one while truly sitting on the vajrāsana. At that moment, he attains anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi, and the devas rejoice with unwavering commitment to the path.