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7.11 SUNIKKHITTA'S MANSION (85)
(Sunikkhtta-vimana)
The Bhagava(Lord Buddha) was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta Grove. At that time as spoken of above, the venerable Elder Monk Maha-Moggallana, on a deva(angel)-tour came to the realm of the Thirty-three(heaven). A deva(angel)-youth who had been standing at the door of his own mansion approached the Elder with great reverence. In the past when a golden thupa(stupa,sacred monument), a yojana in size, had been erected over the relics of the Buddha Kassapa the fourfold assembly used to go from time to time with offering. A certain lay-disciple, having offered flowers there, also re-arranged some others that were badly arranged and offered them a fresh. Taking them as an object for meditation and recollecting the qualities of the Teacher, he placed their merit in his heart. When later he died, by the power of this very deed he was reborn in a twelve-yojana golden Mansion in the realm of the Thirty-three(heaven), and great was his retinue(attendants group). Then the venerable Elder Monk Maha-Moggallana asked him in these verses:
1 "Lofty is this Mansion with jewelled shafts, a dozen yojanas all round, there are seven hundred splendid pinnacled halls and lovely pillars of beryl spread over with the gleaming metal.
2 There do you dwell and drink and eat while deva(angel)-like lutes ,ake melody. Here are deva like flavours, the five kinds of sense pleasures and women decked in gold do dance.
3 Because of what is your beauty such? Because of what do you prosper here, and there arise whatever are those delights that are dear to your heart.?
4 I ask you, deva(angel) of great majesty, what merit did you perform when you were born a human being? Because of what is your brilliant majesty thus and your beauty illumines all the quarters(directions)?"
That deva(angel)-youth spoke in verses of the deed he had done, Explaining it the recensionists said:
5 That deva(angel)-youth, delighted at being questioned by Moggallana when asked the question explained of what deed this was the fruit(result).
6 "Having arranged well a badly arranged garland, having placed it at the Well farer's thupa(stupa,sacred monument), I am (now) of great psychic potency(power) and of great majesty, furnished with deva(angel)-like sense-pleasures.
7 Because of this is my beauty such, because of this do I prosper here and there arise whatever are those delights that are near to my heart.
8 Because of this is my brilliant majesty thus and my beauty illumines all the quarters(directions)."