At that time, due to the Thus Come One’s majestic spiritual power, in all the world systems of the ten directions, beings in the Jambudvipa in every set of four continents could see a Thus Come One seated beneath the tree.
Accompanying each of them were Bodhisattvas who relied on the Buddha’s spiritual power and proclaimed the Dharma. Every being considered himself to be constantly in the presence of the Buddha.
At that time, the World Honored One, without departing from beneath all the bodhi trees, ascended Mount Sumeru and approached the palace of Lord Shakra. Celestial Lord Shakra, who was in front of his Wondrous Splendid Palace, saw the Buddha coming from afar. He immediately used his spiritual powers to adorn this palace and set up a Universal Light Treasury Lion Throne. That throne was entirely made out of wondrous gems.
Ten thousand terraces adorned it to the ultimate. Ten thousand golden nets covered it from above. Ten thousand kinds of curtains and ten thousand kinds of canopies encircled it in orderly array. Ten thousand silken fabrics were draped upon it. Ten thousand pearl necklaces everywhere interlaced. Ten thousand garments were suspended above the throne. Ten thousand gods and ten thousand Brahma kings surrounded it in front and behind. Ten thousand lights illuminated it.
When Lord Shakra had arranged the throne for the Thus Come One, he made a half bow, joined his palms, reverently faced the Buddha and said, “Welcome, World Honored One. Welcome, Well Gone One. Welcome, Thus Come One, Worthy One, One of Proper Enlightenment. I only pray that the Buddha will pity us and stay in this palace.”
At that time, the World Honored One accepted his invitation and entered the Wondrous Splendid Palace. In all the worlds throughout the ten directions, this happened exactly the same way.
Then for Lord Shakra, due to the Buddha’s spiritual powers, all the music in the palace spontaneously ceased. He himself recalled how in the presence of past Buddhas he had established all kinds of wholesome foundations in the Dharma, and so he spoke in verse:
Kashyapa Thus Come One has great compassion;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Kanakamuni Buddha’s vision is unobstructed;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Krakucchanda Buddha is like a golden mountain;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Vishvabhu Buddha is free from the three defilements;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Shikhin Thus Come One is free from discrimination;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Vipashyin Buddha resembles the full moon;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Pushya Buddha has fathomed the foremost truth;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Tirnabhashya Thus Come One has unobstructed eloquence;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Padma Buddha is immaculately pure;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Dipankara Thus Come One is radiantly bright;
There is nothing more auspicious than this.
That Buddha once entered this palace;
Therefore this place is most auspicious.
Just as the Lord of the Trayastrimsha Heaven in this world, through the Thus Come One’s spiritual power, spoke in verse praising the meritorious virtues of the ten Buddhas, so too did the Heavenly Lord Shakras throughout the worlds of the ten directions praise the Buddhas’ meritorious virtues.
At that time, the World Honored One entered the Wondrous Splendid Palace and sat in full lotus. That palace suddenly expanded until it was spacious enough to accommodate all the celestial multitudes. This also occurred throughout the worlds of the ten directions.
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