69(5)Pāricchattaka
(1)"Bhikkhus,when the foliage of the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree has turned yellow,
DPPN explains that the paricchattaka is a tree growing in the Nandana Grove in the Tavatimsa heaven.It is a hundred leagues in circumference and at its foot is Sakka's stone seat.The paricchattaka is said to be one of seven trees that last throughout the eon.(I am grateful to Dr.Julie Plummer of the Department of Plant Biology,University of Western Australia,for providing precise botanical terms for the different stages of floral development referred to in this sutta.) the Tāvatimsa devas are elated,[thinking]:'The foliage of the pāricchattaka coral tree now has turned yellow.Now it won't be long before its foliage will fall.'
(2)"When the foliage of the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree has fallen,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,[thinking]:
'The foliage of the paricchattaka coral tree now has fallen,Now it won't be long before its floral initiation occurs.
Na cirass'eva danijalakajato bhavissati.Mp:"The occasion when the tree gives birth to webs of leaves and flower,which come forth together."(3)"When the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree has had its floral initiation,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,[thinking]:
'The paricchattaka coral tree now has had its floral initiation.Now it won't be long before its floral differentiation occurs.
Na cirass'eva dani kharakajato bhavissati.Mp:"The occasion when it becomes possessed of a web of leaves and of flowers well divided and growing separately."(4)"When the Tavatimsa devas' pāricchattaka coral tree has had its floral differentiation,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,[thinking]:
'The paricchattaka coral tree now has had its floral differentiation.Now it won't be long before its bud formation occurs.
Ce and Ee:kudumalakajato;Be:kutumalakajato.Mp:"It starts to bud."(5)"When the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree has had its bud formation,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,[think-
ing]:
'The paricchattaka coral tree now has had its bud formation.
Now it won't be long before[118]its bud burst occurs.
Ce and Ee:kokasakajato;Be:korakajato.Mp:"It acquires flowers that have not yet blossomed,with closed mouths and large bellies."
(6)"When the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree has
had its bud burst,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,[thinking]:
'The paricchattaka coral tree now has had its bud burst.Now it
won't be long before it fully blossoms.'
Ce:sabbapaliphullo;Be and Ee:sabbaphaliphullo.Mp:"It has flowered fully in all respects."
(7)"When theTavatimsa devas' pāricchattaka coral tree has
fully blossomed,the Tavatimsa devas are elated,and they
spend four celestial months at the foot of the paricchattaka coral
tree enjoying themselves furnished and endowed with the five
objects of sensual pleasure.
When the paricchattaka coral tree has
fully blossomed,a radiance suffuses the area fifty yojanas all
around and a fragrance is carried along with the wind for a hundred yojanas.This is the majesty of the paricchattaka coral tree.
(1)“So too,bhikkhus,when a noble disciple intends to go forth from the household life into homelessness,on that occasion he is one whose foliage has turned yellow,like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree.
The simile does not merely compare the noble disciple to a coral tree at its different stages but uses the name of the stage to describe the noble disciple's development.He is"a noble disciple at [such and such stage]like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree."Ee omits the va after devānam,though it acknowledges this as a variant reading.(2)"When a noble disciple has shaved off his hair and beard,put on ochre robes;and gone forth from the household life into homelessness,on that occasion he is one whose foliage has fallen,like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree.
(3)"When,secluded from sensual pleasures,secluded from unwholesome states,a noble disciple enters and dwells in the first jhāna...on that occasion his floral initiation has occurred,like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree.
(4)"When,with the subsiding of thought and examination,a noble disciple enters and dwells in the second jhāna...on that occasion his floral differentiation has occurred,like theTavatimsa devas'pāricchattaka coral tree.
(5)"When,[119]with the fading away as well of rapture,a noble disciple...enters and dwells in the third jhāna...on thatoccasion his bud formation has occurred,like the Tāvatimsa devas' pāricchattaka coral tree.
(6)"When,with the abandoning of pleasure and pain,and with the previous passing away of joy and dejection,a noble disciple enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna...on that occasion his buds have burst open,like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchattaka coral tree.
(7)"When,with the destruction of the taints,a noble disciplehas realizedfor himself with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind;liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwells in it,on that occasion he has fully blossomed,like the Tavatimsa devas' paricchaftaka coral tree.
“On that occasion,bhikkhus,the earth-dwelling devas raise a cry:
'This Venerable So-and-So,the pupil of that Venerable One,went forth from the household life into homelessness from such and such a village or town,and now,with the destruction of the taints,he has realized for himself with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwells in it.'
Having heard the cry of the earth-dwelling devas,the devas[ruled by]the four great kings raise a cry....Having heard the cry of the devas [ruled by] the four great kings,the Tavatimsa devas...the Yama devas...the Tusita devas...the devas who delight in creation...the devas who control what is created by others..the devas of Brahmā's company raise a cry:
'This Ven-erable So-and-So...has realized for himself with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberationby wisdom,and having entered upon it,dwells in it.'
Thus[120]at that moment,at that instant,at that second,the cry spreads as far as the brahma world.
In a similar way,the cry of the deities,ascending through the celestial realms,occurs at the conclusion of the Buddha's first discourse.See SN 56:11,V423,17-24,4.This is the spiritual majesty of a
bhikkhu whose taints are destroyed."