(Mv.I.22.1) [56] Then Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Gayā Head as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour toward Rājagaha with the large Saṅgha of monks — a thousand monks — all of them former coiled-hair ascetics. Traveling by stages he arrived at Rājagaha. And there at Rājagaha the Blessed One stayed at the Suppatiṭṭha Shrine in the Sapling-forest Park.

(Mv.I.22.2) [57] King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha heard, “Master Gotama the contemplative — a son of the Sakyans, having gone forth from the Sakyan clan — has arrived at Rājagaha and is staying at the Suppatiṭṭha Shrine in the Sapling-forest Park.

“And of that master Gotama this fine reputation has spread: ‘He is indeed a Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened, consummate in clear-knowing & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of people fit to be tamed, teacher of devas & human beings, awakened, blessed.

“‘He has made known — having realized it through direct knowledge — this world with its devas, Māras, & Brahmās, its generations with their contemplatives & brahmans, their rulers & common people.

“‘He has explained the Dhamma admirable in the beginning, admirable in the middle, admirable in the end; has expounded the holy life both in its particulars & in its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly pure.’

“It is good to see such a worthy one.”

(Mv.I.22.3) Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, accompanied by 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, he bowed down and sat to one side. Some of the 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans also bowed down to the Blessed One and sat to one side. Some of them exchanged courteous greetings with the Blessed One, and after an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, sat to one side. Some of them, having raised their hands palm-to-palm in front of the heart to the Blessed One, sat to one side. Some of them, after announcing their name and clan in the Blessed One’ presence, sat to one side. Some of them, staying silent, sat to one side.

(Mv.I.22.4) Then the thought occurred to the 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, “Is the great contemplative living the holy life under Uruvelakassapa or is Uruvelakassapa living the holy life under the great contemplative?”

The Blessed One, having known with his awareness the train of thought in the awarenesses of the 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, addressed Uruvelakassapa in verse:

(Mv.I.22.6) [58] Then Ven. Uruvelakassapa got up from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and putting his head down at the Blessed One’s feet, said, “The Blessed One is my teacher. I am his disciple. The Blessed One is my teacher. I am his disciple.”

Then the thought occurred to the 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, “Uruvelakassapa is living the holy life under the great contemplative.”

(Mv.I.22.7) Then the Blessed One, having known with his awareness the train of thought in the minds of the 120,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, gave them a graduated talk: talk on generosity, talk on virtue, talk on heaven, talk on the drawbacks, lowliness, and defilement of sensuality, and talk on the rewards of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that their minds were ready — malleable, free from hindrances, uplifted, and bright — he proclaimed the characteristic Dhamma talk of Buddhas: stress, origination, cessation, and path.

(Mv.I.22.8) Just as a clean piece of cloth, free from grime, would properly take dye, in the same way, the dustless, stainless eye of Dhamma arose for 110,000 Magadhan householders and brahmans, headed by Bimbisāra, as they were sitting right there — “Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.”

(The remaining) 10,000 declared themselves lay-followers.

(Mv.I.22.9) [59] Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having seen the Dhamma, having attained the Dhamma, having known the Dhamma, having fathomed the Dhamma, having crossed over and beyond uncertainty, having no more perplexity, having gained fearlessness, independence of others with regard to the Teacher’s message, said to the Blessed One,

“Lord, before, when I was still a prince [young man], I had five aspirations. They are now fulfilled for me.

“Lord, before, when I was still a prince, I thought, ‘O! may I be consecrated as king!’ That, Lord, was my first aspiration. Now it is fulfilled for me.

“‘And may an arahant, rightly self-awakened, alight in my kingdom!’ This, Lord, was my second aspiration. Now it is fulfilled for me.

(Mv.I.22.10) “‘And may I attend on that Blessed One!’ That, Lord, was my third aspiration. Now it is fulfilled for me.

“‘And may that Blessed One teach me the Dhamma!’ That, Lord, was my fourth aspiration. Now it is fulfilled for me.

“‘And may I understand that Blessed One’s Dhamma!’ That, Lord, was my fifth aspiration. Now it is fulfilled for me.

“Lord, before, when I was still a prince, I had these five aspirations. They are now fulfilled for me.

(Mv.I.22.11) “Magnificent, lord! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has the Blessed One — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear.

“I go to the Blessed One for refuge, and the Dhamma and the Saṅgha of monks.

“May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forward, for life.

“And may the Blessed One acquiesce to my meal tomorrow, along with the Saṅgha of monks.”

The Blessed One acquiesced with silence.

(Mv.I.22.12) Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, understanding the Blessed One’s acquiescence, got up from his seat, bowed down to him, circumambulated him, keeping him to his right, and left.

[60] As the night was ending, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having ordered exquisite staple & non-staple food prepared, had the time announced to the Blessed One: “It’s time, Lord. The meal is ready.”

Then the Blessed One, early in the morning, adjusted his under robe and — carrying his bowl & robes, entered Rājagaha with the large Saṅgha of monks — a thousand monks — all of them former coiled-hair ascetics.

(Mv.I.22.13) [61] Now at that time, Sakka, King of the Devas, assuming the form of a brahman youth, went along ahead of the Saṅgha of monks, headed by the Buddha, singing this verse:

(Mv.I.22.14) [62] On seeing Sakka, King of the Devas, the people said, “How handsome, that brahman youth. How good-looking, that brahman youth. How inspiring, that brahman youth.”

“Whose (son/student) is that brahman youth?”

When that was said, Sakka, King of the Devas, addressed the people in verse:

(Mv.I.22.15) [63] Then the Blessed One went to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha’s residence and sat down on a seat laid out, along with the Saṅgha of monks.

Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, with his own hands, served & satisfied the Saṅgha of monks, headed by the Blessed One, with exquisite staple & non-staple food. When the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, the king sat to one side.

(Mv.I.22.16) As he was sitting there, the thought occurred to him, “Where should the Blessed One stay, that would be neither too far from the village nor too close, accessible, where interested people could come out, not crowded by day, with few noises or sounds of voices at night, far from wind and crowds, private from human beings, and appropriate for seclusion?”

(Mv.I.22.17) The thought occurred to him, “I have this Bamboo Grove (Veḷuvana) Park, which is neither too far from the village nor too close, accessible, where interested people could come out, not crowded by day, with few noises or sounds of voices at night, far from wind and crowds, private from human beings, and appropriate for seclusion

“What if I were to give the Bamboo Grove Park to the Saṅgha of monks, headed by the Blessed One?”

(Mv.I.22.18) So King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, taking a golden water vessel[3] made this offering to the Blessed One, “I give this Bamboo Grove Park to the Saṅgha of monks, headed by the Blessed One.”

The Blessed One accepted the monastery.

The Blessed One, having instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha with Dhamma talk, got up from his seat and left. Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow a monastery.”[4]