Mahākhandhako The Great Chapter - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Great Chapter - 26
Rājāyatanakathā
4: The Story about the Royal (Tree) 56
(Tapussa and Bhallika)
Atha kho Bhagavā sattāhassa accayena,
Then with the passing of seven days, the Gracious One,
tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhahitvā,
after arising from that concentration,
Mucalindamūlā yena Rājāyatanaṁ tenupasaṅkami,
approached the Royal (tree) 57 from the root of the Mucalinda (tree),
upasaṅkamitvā Rājāyatanamūle
and after approaching the root of the Royal (tree)
sattāhaṁ ekapallaṅkena nisīdi vimuttisukhapaṭisaṁvedī.
he sat in one cross-legged posture for seven days experiencing the happiness of
liberation. 58
Tena kho pana samayena Tapussabhallikā vāṇijā
Then at that time the merchants Tapussa and Ballika 59
Ukkalā taṁ desaṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti.
were in that district travelling along the highway from Ukkalā. 60
Atha kho Tapussabhallikānaṁ vāṇijānaṁ ñātisālohitā devatā
Then a god who had (formerly) been a blood relative 61 of the merchants Tapussa and
Bhallika
Tapussabhallike vāṇije etad-avoca:
said this to the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika:
56 At this point the Vinaya and the Udāna diverge, but interestingly the discourse that occurs
next in the Udāna is called Rājasuttaṁ.
57 Scientific name: Buchanania latifolia; FF: a medium-sized straight tree with rough bark and
dense pyramid-shaped clusters of white flowers. It was south of the Bodhi Tree according to
the commentary.
58 According to the Jā Nid seven weeks have passed by now. It also mentions that, before the
following events, Sakka brought the Buddha medicinal myrobalan to clean his stomach, and
a tooth-pick to clean his teeth and water to wash his face.
59 The commentary says they were brothers, and Jā Nid says they were leading a caravan of
500 carts.
60 According to DPPN Ukkalā was in what is modern day Orissa. They were therefore coming
from the south, and were apparently on their way to Rājagaha.
61 Comm: ñātibhūtapubbā devatā; AA specifies that the devatā was formerly their Mother
(source: DPPN).