AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.196 The Great Dreams

Numbered Discourses 5.196 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.196

20. Brahmins – 20. Brāhmaṇavagga

AN 5.196 The Great Dreams – Mahāsupinasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, before his awakening five great dreams appeared to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, when he was still not awake but intent on awakening.

“Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato pañca mahāsupinā pāturahesuṁ.

1.2

What five?

Katame pañca?

1.3

This great earth was his bed. Himalaya, king of mountains, was his pillow. His left hand was laid down in the eastern sea. His right hand was laid down in the western sea. And both his feet were laid down in the southern sea.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ mahāpathavī mahāsayanaṁ ahosi, himavā pabbatarājā bibbohanaṁ ahosi, puratthime samudde vāmo hattho ohito ahosi, pacchime samudde dakkhiṇo hattho ohito ahosi, dakkhiṇe samudde ubho pādā ohitā ahesuṁ.

1.4

This is the first great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ paṭhamo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

2.1

Next, a kind of grass called ‘the crosser’ grew up from his navel and stood pressing against the cloudy sky.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato tiriyā nāma tiṇajāti nābhiyā uggantvā nabhaṁ āhacca ṭhitā ahosi.

2.2

This is the second great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ dutiyo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

3.1

Next, white caterpillars with black heads crawled up from his feet and covered his knees.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato setā kimī kaṇhasīsā pādehi ussakkitvā (…) yāva jāṇumaṇḍalā paṭicchādesuṁ.

3.2

This is the third great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ tatiyo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

4.1

Next, four birds of different colors came from the four quarters. They fell at his feet, turning pure white.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato cattāro sakuṇā nānāvaṇṇā catūhi disāhi āgantvā pādamūle nipatitvā sabbasetā sampajjiṁsu.

4.2

This is the fourth great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ catuttho mahāsupino pāturahosi.

5.1

Next, he walked back and forth on top of a huge mountain of filth while remaining unsoiled.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato arahaṁ sammāsambuddho pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddho bodhisattova samāno mahato mīḷhapabbatassa uparūpari caṅkamati alippamāno mīḷhena.

5.2

This is the fifth great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ pañcamo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

6.1

Now, as to when, before his awakening, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha was still not awake but intent on awakening. This great earth was his bed. Himalaya, king of mountains, was his pillow. His left hand was laid down in the eastern sea. His right hand was laid down in the western sea. And both his feet were laid down in the southern sea.

Yampi, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ayaṁ mahāpathavī mahāsayanaṁ ahosi, himavā pabbatarājā bibbohanaṁ ahosi, puratthime samudde vāmo hattho ohito ahosi, pacchime samudde dakkhiṇo hattho ohito ahosi, dakkhiṇe samudde ubho pādā ohitā ahesuṁ;

6.2

This was fulfilled when the Buddha awakened to the perfect awakening.

tathāgatena, bhikkhave, arahatā sammāsambuddhena anuttarā sammāsambodhi abhisambuddhā.

6.3

This was the first great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.

Tassā abhisambodhāya ayaṁ paṭhamo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

7.1

As to when a kind of grass called ‘the crosser’ grew up from his navel and stood pressing against the cloudy sky.

Yampi, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato tiriyā nāma tiṇajāti nābhiyā uggantvā nabhaṁ āhacca ṭhitā ahosi;

7.2

This was fulfilled when, after the Buddha had awakened to the noble eightfold path, it was well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.

tathāgatena, bhikkhave, arahatā sammāsambuddhena ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo abhisambujjhitvā yāva devamanussehi suppakāsito.

7.3

This was the second great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.

Tassa abhisambodhāya ayaṁ dutiyo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

8.1

As to when white caterpillars with black heads crawled up from his feet and covered his knees.

Yampi, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato setā kimī kaṇhasīsā pādehi ussakkitvā yāva jāṇumaṇḍalā paṭicchādesuṁ;

8.2

This was fulfilled when many white-clothed laypeople went for refuge to him for life.

bahū, bhikkhave, gihī odātavasanā tathāgataṁ pāṇupetā saraṇaṁ gatā.

8.3

This was the third great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.

Tassa abhisambodhāya ayaṁ tatiyo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

9.1

As to when four birds of different colors came from the four quarters. They fell at his feet, turning pure white.

Yampi, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato cattāro sakuṇā nānāvaṇṇā catūhi disāhi āgantvā pādamūle nipatitvā sabbasetā sampajjiṁsu;

9.2

This was fulfilled when members of the four castes—aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers—went forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One and realized supreme freedom.

cattārome, bhikkhave, vaṇṇā khattiyā brāhmaṇā vessā suddā te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā anuttaraṁ vimuttiṁ sacchikaronti.

9.3

This was the fourth great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.

Tassa abhisambodhāya ayaṁ catuttho mahāsupino pāturahosi.

10.1

As to when he walked back and forth on top of a huge mountain of filth while remaining unsoiled.

Yampi, bhikkhave, tathāgato arahaṁ sammāsambuddho pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddho bodhisattova samāno mahato mīḷhapabbatassa uparūpari caṅkamati alippamāno mīḷhena;

10.2

This was fulfilled when the Realized One received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And he used them untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape.

lābhī, bhikkhave, tathāgato cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ, taṁ tathāgato agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

10.3

This was the fifth great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.

Tassa abhisambodhāya ayaṁ pañcamo mahāsupino pāturahosi.

11.1

Before his awakening these five great dreams appeared to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, when he was still not awake but intent on awakening.”

Tathāgatassa, bhikkhave, arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato ime pañca mahāsupinā pāturahesun”ti.

11.2

Chaṭṭhaṁ.