Mahā Sudassanasutta untranslated

Mahā Sudassanasutta. Preached between the twin Sāla trees in Upavattana, the grove of the Mallas. Ānanda asks the Buddha not to die in the “little wattle and daub” town of Kusināra, but in some important city, such as Campā, Rājagaha or Sāvatthī. The Buddha tells him that Kusinārā was once Mahā Sammata, the royal city of King Mahā Sudassana, and was surrounded by seven ramparts, a city containing all the characteristics of a great capital.

Mahā Sudassana possessed the seven treasures of a Cakkavatti: the cakkaratana, the hatthiratana (named Uposatha), the assaratana (named Valāhaka), the maṇiratana, the itthiratana (pearl among women), the gahapatiratana, and the parināyakaratana. He also possessed four iddhi powers: he was handsome, long lived, free from disease, and beloved by all classes of people. He had lotus ponds made all over his kingdom, food and clothing being placed on their banks for any who might require them. With the money brought to the king by the people, Vissakamma, under Sakka’s orders, built the Dhammapāsāda Palace, filled with all splendor and luxury. The king possessed a gabled hall called Mahā Vyūha, where he spent the hot part of the day. In front of the Dhammapāsāda was the Dhammapokkharaṇī.

Having realized that his power and glory were the result of past good deeds, Mahā Sudassana practiced generosity, self-conquest and self-control, and developed the four jhānas, suffusing all quarters with thoughts of love and pity and sympathy and equanimity.

Mahā Sudassana had eighty-four thousand cities, the chief of which was Mahā Sammata; eighty-four thousand palaces, the chief being Dhammapāsāda; eighty-four thousand gabled houses, the chief being Mahā Vyūha; eighty-four thousand state elephants, led by Uposatha; and eighty-four thousand horses, led by Valāhaka. He had eighty-four thousand chariots led by Vejayanta, and eighty-four thousand wives, of whom Subhaddā was the chief. One day, the king realized that his death was approaching, and, when Subhaddā visited him to try and induce him to enjoy his pleasures, he stopped her, telling her to speak to him of the impermanence of things and the need for giving up all desire. While she talked to him of these things, he died and was reborn in the Brahma world. For eighty-four thousand years be had been a prince, a viceroy and a king respectively, and later, for forty-eight thousand years, a devout layman in the Dhammapāsāda. Mahā Sudassana is identified with the Bodhisatta (DN.ii.169-99; the story is also referred to at SN.iii.144).

In the time of Kassapa Buddha, Sudassana had been a forester. He met a monk in the forest and built a hut for him. He also requested the monk to receive alms every day at his house or, at least, to eat there. The monk agreed, and Sudassana made his hut comfortable in every way, constructing walks, bathing places, gardens, etc., outside. He also gave him innumerable gifts, of various kinds and descriptions. DN­a.ii.631f.