Narada Bhante:

Devata, you are dressed in divine golden clothes and gold jewelry. Golden banners are waving in the sky. Even without this jewelry, your beauty shines brightly. You are wearing gold bangles, bracelets, and a necklace of gems. You wear a gold crown on your head and your body is covered with a golden net.

You are decorated with various types of garlands made from gold, rubies, pearls, beryl and cat’s-eye jewels. These garlands produce sweet music like the songs of peacocks, geese, and cuckoos. Your divine chariot is also decorated with beautiful gems and the color of each part on the chariot is well matched.

Your beauty shines in all directions when you travel in this chariot. Devata, what kind of meritorious actions did you do to receive this result?

Devata:

When I was in the human world, I learned about the death of Gautama Supreme Buddha who possessed immeasurable good qualities. With a very happy mind, I made a golden net and decorated it with jewels, gold, and pearls. Then I offered it to the Supreme Buddha.

In this way, I collected much merit as encouraged by the Buddha. That is how I was reborn in heaven and now enjoy happiness without any sorrow.

Moggallana Bhante:

Devata, this coral tree is beautiful and delightful. You are making garlands from the flowers of that tree while singing happily. When you dance, beautiful divine sounds and fragrance spread from your limbs. As you dance and as your hair waves, the bells on your hair play beautiful music. Also, as wind blows on the garland-crown on your head it plays beautiful music. Your garland-crown looks and smells very beautiful like a manjusaka tree full of fragrant flowers.

Do you smell these scents? Have you seen your beauty? We now ask you, what kind of meritorious actions did you do to have gained these results?

Devata:

When I was in the human world, one day I made a garland out of asoka flowers. It was so pretty and smelled delightful. I offered that flower garland to the Supreme Buddha.

In this way, I practiced lots of meritorious deeds as encouraged by the Buddha. This is why today I live very happily in this heaven without any sorrow or pain.

Moggallana Bhante:

Dear Devata, your mansion is crimson colored. Golden sand spreads all over your compound. Delightful music is always playing. You enjoy listening to that music very much.

Now you leave your mansion made of gems and walk towards the park of sala trees, full of beautiful flowers. When you go under a sala tree, something wonderful happens: the branches of the tree bend towards you and shower you with flowers. There are many beautiful birds in the park. Sala trees are blown by the wind in a beautiful rhythm, spreading their fragrance in all directions.

Do you smell these scents? Have you seen your beauty? We now ask you, what kind of meritorious actions did you do to gain these results?

Devata:

In my previous life I lived in the human world. I was a servant girl in a good family. One day, the Supreme Buddha visited my master’s house. I was very happy to see the Buddha sitting inside the house. I offered sala flowers spreading them around the Blessed One. I also made a beautiful garland-crown out of sala flowers and with delight offered it to the Supreme Buddha.

In this way, I practiced lots of meritorious deeds as encouraged by the Buddha. This is why today I live very happily in this heaven without any sorrow or pain.

Moggallana Bhante:

Devata, you shine brilliantly and colorfully. You are dressed in divine red clothing. Your body is as beautiful as if you had applied sandalwood cream. You seem to be very mighty, possessing psychic powers. Now you are worshiping me. Who are you?

Your throne is also valuable and decorated with various types of gems. When you are sitting on it, you shine like Sakka, King of Gods, in the heavenly Nandana Park.

Beautiful Devata, what kind of virtuous life did you lead in the past? We now ask you, what kind of meritorious actions did you do to gain these results?

Devata:

Bhante, when I was in the human world, one day while you were going on your almsround, I offered a flower garland and a piece of golden sugar to you. As a result of that meritorious deed, I enjoy this happiness today.

But Bhante, I feel very regretful because of a mistake I made. I did not listen to the excellent teachings preached by the King of Dhamma, the Supreme Buddha.

Bhante, please listen to me. If anybody has compassion for me they should encourage me to practice that excellent teaching of the Supreme Buddha.

Those devas who possess strong confidence in the Supreme Buddha, the Supreme Dhamma, and the Supreme Sangha outshine me in heavenly life span, fame, and radiance. Those other devas are very beautiful, mighty, and powerful. They experience much more happiness than I do.

Vangisa Bhante:

Devata, you are traveling in the sky on the back of a very large divine elephant who has psychic powers. Your elephant is decorated with a beautiful golden net and golden flowers. On the elephant’s two tusks, there are beautiful ponds with crystal clear water and many lotus flowers. In the middle of each lotus, a devata is dancing to divine music.

Devata, you are very powerful even amongst the gods, shining brightly in all directions. what kind of meritorious actions did you do when you were in the human world?

Devata:

When I was in the human world, one day I went to Baranasi to see the Supreme Buddha. I offered a pair of robes to the Blessed One, worshiped his sacred feet, and sat down and paid homage to the Buddha by happily placing my hands together.

The Supreme Buddha’s body shines with the color of pure gold. The Great Teacher taught me the cause of suffering, the suffering of this impermanent life, the unconditioned sorrowless state, the supreme bliss of Nibbana, and the Noble Eightfold Path which leads to the destruction of defilements.

My lifespan was very short. After death I was reborn among the devas of the Tavatimsa Heaven where there is much entertainment. Now I am a wife of the god Sakka. My name is Yasuttara and everybody knows who I am.

Moggallana Bhante:

Devata, your beauty shines in all directions like the bright star named Osadhi.

What are the meritorious deeds that led to this happiness?

Tell me Devata, what kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world to have gained this beauty that shines in all directions, and to have earned all these wonderful things?

That devata, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what she had done that resulted in such great happiness.

Devata:

In the human world I lived in the city of Baranasi. The Supreme Buddha was born in the Clan of the Sun. Therefore he is known as the Kinsman of the Sun. One day I happily offered a dry lump of rice cake to the Supreme Buddha.

The lump of rice cake I gave was very dry, unsalted and not tasty. But look at the result of that tiny offering! When others see how I enjoy life here, who would not want to collect merit?

Because of this meritorious deed, I have been born as a very beautiful devata and enjoy all the wonderful things that delight my heart.

Great Bhante, that was the meritorious action I did to have such a beautiful body that shines in all directions.

Moggallana Bhante:

Devata, your beauty shines in all directions like the bright star named Osadhi.

What are the meritorious deeds that led to this happiness?

Tell me Devata, what kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world to have gained this beauty that shines in all directions, and to have earned all these wonderful things?

That devata, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what she had done that resulted in such great happiness.

Devata:

In the human world I lived in the city of Andhakavinda. One day I offered some gruel cooked with jujube and flavored with oil to the Supreme Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun. I tried to make it very delicious adding pepper, garlic, and other tasty ingredients. With a delighted heart I offered that medicinal gruel to the Supreme Buddha.

If one becomes the beautiful queen of a wheel-turning monarch, the happiness she experiences is not even worth a sixteenth part of the result of this rice-gruel gift.

A hundred gold coins, a hundred horses, a hundred chariots pulled by mules, a hundred thousand maidens decorated in beautiful ornaments—happiness gained from these items is not worth a sixteenth part of the result of this rice-gruel gift.

Even the happiness gained from a hundred Himalayan elephants with round tusks like wheels and necks decorated with golden ornaments is not worth a sixteenth part of the result of this rice-gruel gift.

Even if someone became the ruler of this whole earth, a wheel-turning monarch, even his happiness is not worth a sixteenth part of the result of this rice-gruel gift.

God Sakka:

Dear Deva, you are wearing yellow clothes and jewelry. You have put on yellow sandalwood cream and you have decorated yourself with yellow lotuses and yellow scarves. Your mansion is yellow; even your furniture is yellow. Furthermore, your plates and bowls are yellow. There are also yellow umbrellas, vehicles, horses, and fans. Everything in this mansion is yellow.

Tell me Devata, what kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world? We ask about the action that gave this result.

Devata:

God Sakka, Lord of Devas, in the human world there were vines with tiny yellow flowers. One day I plucked four flowers without thinking about gaining any special results. Then I went to the stupa containing the relics of the Supreme Buddha.

While I was thinking about the sacred body of the Supreme Buddha, my heart was delighted. I was always thinking about that stupa. I did not realize there was a cow chasing me.

Before I could offer the flowers to the stupa, I was killed by that cow. If I had collected the merit of offering the flowers, my happiness would have been much better than this. Great Sakka, because of that meritorious deed, I was reborn here after I left the human world.

The leader of the Tavatimsa Heaven, God Sakka, also called Maghava, told his chariot driver, Deva Matali, about that excellent meritorious deed. Other devas were also happily listening to him.

God Sakka:

Dear Matali, look at this excellent result. Isn’t this wonderful? Although the object which she was going to offer was very small, it generated a great result. If one gives even a very small thing with a confident heart to the Supreme Buddha or to a disciple of the Buddha, the result is not small.

Dear Matali, come, we too shall go worship the relics of the Supreme Buddha. Collecting merit always gives happiness. If people offer something to the Supreme Buddha when he is alive or after he has passed away, as long as they have the same confident mind on both occasions, the results will be the same. Beings are reborn in heaven because of their confident minds.

Those who respect the Supreme Buddha are reborn in heaven. Surely, Supreme Buddhas are born into this world for the benefit of all beings.

Moggallana Bhante:

Dear Deva, you are sitting on the back of an elephant that travels in the sky using its psychic powers. This all-white elephant has two huge tusks. It is beautifully decorated and very powerful.

On the two tusks are beautiful ponds with crystal clear water and many lotus flowers. In the middle of each lotus, a devata is dancing to divine music.

Oh Deva, you are very powerful even amongst the gods, shining brightly in all directions. What kind of meritorious actions did you do when you were in the human world?

That deva, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what he had done that resulted in such great happiness.

Deva:

I offered eight fallen flowers to the stupa that held the relics of the great sage Kassapa Supreme Buddha. I did it with my own hands having a confident mind.

Because of this meritorious deed, I have been born as a very beautiful deva and enjoy all the wonderful things that delight my heart.

Great Bhante, that was the meritorious action I did to have such a beautiful body which shines in all directions.

Moggallana Bhante:

Dear Deva, your chariot pulled by a thousand horses is very beautiful and colorful. You are heading to the park sitting on that chariot like the god Sakka, the first giver and the lord of beings. This chariot is made of gold. The bottom edges of the frame are very beautiful. The pillars inside the chariot are well crafted as if they were made by talented artists. The chariot shines like the full moon. This vehicle is covered with golden nets and decorated with various types of jewels. We hear sweet music and see goddesses holding beautiful fly-whisks.

The hub is beautiful as though magically created. Thousands of spokes on the wheel are decorated with gems. The vehicle shines as bright as lightning. This chariot is covered with countless ornaments and has rims with thousands of stripes. Golden nets release the sweet sound of beautiful music. The top is decorated with gems and is as beautiful as the moon. Gleaming, shining, and always pure, it is made even more beautiful with golden carvings. It shines like streaks of beryl gemstones.

These horses are also decorated with jewels like the beautiful moon. They are well built, strong, fast, powerful, and gigantic. They travel to wherever your mind wishes. These four-legged, soft, obedient, pleasing, and pure bred horses move in perfect harmony. As they travel in the sky shaking their ornaments, bells ring and the well-made decorations shine more brilliantly. The voices of these horses are as sweet as music. When the sound of the chariot, the sound of the decorations, the sound of the feet of the horses, the sound of the voices of the horses, and the music of divine musicians are mixed together, it is like an orchestra.

The goddesses in this chariot have extremely beautiful half-closed eyes, like the tender eyes of a deer. They have long eyelashes, smiling faces, and pleasant speech. Their bodies are covered with nets of gems. They are entertained by great heavenly musicians.

These goddesses are decorated with attractive red and gold clothes. They have large, shining, crimson colored eyes. They are worshiping you. These goddesses who have thin waists, thighs, breasts, round fingers, lovely faces, and are decorated with golden ornaments – they are extremely attractive. They are worshiping you.

These goddesses have beautiful braids which are distributed equally and decorated with golden threads. These goddesses are decorated with lotus flowers and are using divine sandalwood cream. They entertain you as you wish. They are worshiping you. Their neck, hands, and legs are decorated with beautiful ornaments. They shine as brilliantly as the sun that shines in all ten directions. The flowers in their hands and their jewelry shake along with the breeze playing sweet music.

Dear Deva, the sounds of chariots, elephants, and birds are heard in your park. Devas who are entertained by these, with lotus-like hands clap and produce the sound of guitars.

When pleasing music is played, very talented goddesses dance, twisting their bodies here and there, on large lotus flowers. When these songs, music, and dances are mixed together, the goddesses dance continuously, shining brightly.

You, fortunate deva, enjoy this sweet music of guitars. You are respected by others like the god Sakka.

What kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world? What kind of precepts did you follow? And what kind of restrained life did you lead? Surely this cannot be the result of a small merit, a small virtue. You are extremely powerful and surpass other gods with your radiance.

Is all this the fruit of your generosity, your virtuous behavior, or because you worshiped monks in the past? Please answer my questions, so that I may know.

That deva, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what he had done that resulted in such great happiness.

Deva:

One day, I saw the Great Being who had restrained his senses and freed himself from defilements. He is like the greatest god among all gods, with meritorious marks on his body as if made of gold. He is like a great elephant who crossed over samsara, who opened the doors of deathlessness: Kassapa Supreme Buddha. As soon as I saw the Great Buddha, I made my mind confident in him. Kassapa Supreme Buddha was a great person who bore the flag of Dhamma and was not attached to anything.

Spreading flowers around my house, I welcomed the Supreme Buddha and offered sweet food, drinks and robes. Yes, I treated the Great Buddha very well with food, drinks, sweets, and robes. Now I travel from heaven to heaven. My home, where my heart delights, is the Sudassana Heavenly Realm.

In that way, I made my mind confident before giving, while giving, and after giving. That is how I practiced meritorious deeds. When I departed from the human world, I was reborn in this heaven, and now I am very happy here like the god Sakka.

Great sage, if someone wishes to enjoy long life, great beauty, happiness and power, they should offer well-arranged food and drinks to the Supreme Buddha who is freed from desires.

Neither in this world nor another world, is there a being greater or equal to the Supreme Buddha. The Supreme Buddha is the worthiest recipient of offerings among all worthy beings. Those who want merit can receive great merit through such offerings.

Moggallana Bhante:

Dear Deva, your body is multicolored. You are in a colorful mansion without sadness, surrounded by goddesses. You experience delight, like the god Sunimmita. No one equals your fame, merit, strength, and psychic power. All the devas in Tavatimsa Heaven are gathered here worshiping you, just as people worship the moon. Goddesses are dancing, singing, and entertaining you.

Powerful Deva, you have become a leader among devas. You shine brilliantly in all directions. Tell me Deva, what kind of meritorious action did you do when you were in the human world to have gained this beauty that shines in all directions, and to have earned all these wonderful things?

That deva, delighted at being questioned by Arahant Moggallana, gladly explained what he had done that resulted in such great happiness.

Deva:

Bhante, at that time, there was a Supreme Buddha named Sumedha Buddha. I was a disciple of that great victor. Even though I was a monk for seven years near the Buddha, I did not attain any stage of enlightenment. I lived just as an ordinary monk.

Sumedha Supreme Buddha, the Great Teacher, the Great Victor, the one who is unshaken by ups and downs, attained final Nibbana at passing away. A stupa, of a golden net and decorated with gems, was built to hold the Buddha’s sacred relics. I worshiped that stupa with a happy mind.

Although I did not have anything with which to practice generosity, I encouraged others. I would tell people, “Pay homage to the sacred relics of the Buddhas, who are worthy of homage, and you will be able to go to heaven!”

That was the only meritorious action I did. From the result of that, I enjoy this divine happiness rejoicing in the midst of Tavatimsa devas. The result of that meritorious deed has not yet ended.