[31] Bhikkhus, then King Bandhumā had the brahmin soothsayers dressed in unworn cloths and satisfied them with everything they desired. Then, bhikkhus, King Bandhumā appointed nurses for Prince Vipassī. Some gave him milk to drink, some bathed him, some held him, and some carried him about on the hip.
Bhikkhus, for Prince Vipassī, once he was born, a white parasol was held over him both by day and by night, with the thought: 'Let neither cold nor heat nor grass nor dust nor dew afflict him.'
Bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, once born, was dear and pleasing to many people. Just as, bhikkhus, a blue lotus, a red lotus, or a white lotus is dear and pleasing to many people, even so, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī was dear and pleasing to many people. Indeed, he was carried about from hip to hip.
Bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, once born, had a voice that was charming, graceful, sweet, and endearing. Just as, bhikkhus, on the Himavanta mountain the birds called karavīka have voices that are charming, graceful, sweet, and endearing, even so, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī had a voice that was charming, graceful, sweet, and endearing.
Bhikkhus, for Prince Vipassī, once he was born, there appeared the divine eye (dibbacakkhu), born of the ripening of kamma, by which he could see for a league (yojana) all around, both by day and by night.
Bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, once born, gazed without blinking. Just as, bhikkhus, the deities of Tāvatiṃsa gaze without blinking, even so, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī gazed without blinking. Bhikkhus, for Prince Vipassī, once he was born, the designation 'Vipassī' arose.
Then, bhikkhus, King Bandhumā, seated in the hall of judgment, would seat Prince Vipassī on his lap and adjudicate the cases. There, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, seated on his father's lap, examining and examining, would settle the cases with knowledge (ñāṇa) — 'Examining and examining, the prince settles the cases with knowledge.' Then, bhikkhus, all the more did the designation 'Vipassī' arise for Prince Vipassī.
Then, bhikkhus, King Bandhumā had three palaces built for Prince Vipassī: one for the rainy season, one for the winter, and one for the hot season; and he provided him with the five strands of sensual pleasure. There indeed, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, being entertained in the rains palace for the four months by musical instruments played by no men, did not come down to the lower storey of the palace.
End of the first recitation section.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.