11. Sīhāsanadāyaka

When the World-Leader Siddhattha,
the Best Biped had reached nirvana,
his words had been spread; many folks
had embraced his dispensation.

With a pleased heart and happy mind
I had a lion-throne fashioned.
Having had the lion-throne made,
I had a foot-stool constructed.

And then I had a house built there
to shield the lion-throne from rain.
Due to the pleasure in my heart
I was reborn in Tusitā.

A heavenly mansion, well-built,
existed at that time for me.
In length it measured twenty-four,
in width another fourteen leagues.

Seven thousand lovely maidens
were always waiting on me then.
There was a couch made out of gold
well-fashioned in the mansion there.

Elephant- and horse-carriages,
and divine carriages served me.
Palaces and also litters
were produced according to wish.

Couches constructed out of gems
and many other costly things
always came into being for me;
that’s the fruit of a lion-throne.

I am always climbing up steps
made of gold and made of silver,
made of crystal, made of lapis;
that is the fruit of the foot-stool.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I performed that act of merit,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;
that is the fruit of good karma.

There were three men all named Inda
seventy-three aeons ago;
there were three more named Sumana
seventy-two aeons ago;

and seventy aeons ago
there were three kings named Varuṇa;
they were lords of four continents
possessors of the seven gems.

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!

Thus indeed Venerable Sīhāsanadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.