Saddharma Pundarika

SR No.: 007677
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: H Kern
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1884
Total Pages: 2546
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 46 MB

Page 219

VII.
ANCIENT DEVOTION.
175
In course of time, monks, those sixteen novices grasped, kept, and fully penetrated the Lord's teaching.
Subsequently, monks, the Lord Mahâbhigñagñanabhibha, the Tathagata, &c., foretold those sixteen novices their future destiny to supreme, perfect enlightenment. And while the Lord Mahâbhigñagñanâbhibhū, the Tathagata, &c., was propounding the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law, the disciples as well as the sixteen novices were full of faith, and many hundred thousand myriads of kotis of beings acquired perfect certainty.
Thereupon, monks, after propounding the Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law during eight thousand Æons without interruption, the Lord Mahâbhigñagñânâbhibhū, the Tathagata, &c., entered the monastery to retire for the purpose of meditation, and in that retirement, monks, the Tathagata continued in the monastery during eightyfour thousand kotis of Æons.
Now, monks, when the sixteen novices perceived that the Lord was absorbed, they sat down on the seats, the royal thrones which had been prepared for each of them, and 3 amply expounded, during eightyfour hundred thousand myriads of kotis“, the Dhar
1 Nirvikikitsâprâpta; a var. lect. has vikikitsâprâpta, which means exactly the reverse, at least if we take vikikitsâ in its usual acceptation.
Pratisamlayana, seclusion, retirement for the purpose of meditation, absorbing oneself in meditation ; Pâli patisallâna.
In one MS. added in the margin, after rendering homage to the Lord M., the Tathagata.'
• One would expect eighty-four thousand kons, the same number as above. Burnouf has in both cases eighty-four thousand Æons, and that would seem to be the preferable reading.
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