[82] 8.
"Having ascended a many-hued mansion (vimāna),
banisher of distress and sorrow, of many splendid designs,
surrounded by a troupe of celestial nymphs (accharā),
you rejoice like Sunimmita, the lord of beings.
There is none your equal — whence, then, one superior? —
in fame, in merit, and in power (iddhi);
and all the devas, the hosts of the Thirty (tidasa), having gathered together,
pay homage to you, as the devas pay homage to the moon.
And these nymphs of yours, all around,
dance, sing, and give delight;
you have attained divine power, you are of great majesty.
When you were a human being, what merit did you make?
By what is your majesty thus blazing,
and your radiance shines forth in all directions?"
That young deva (devaputta), elated at being questioned by Moggallāna, … of what deed this is the fruit.
"I too, venerable sir, was formerly
a disciple of the Conqueror (jina) named Sumedha;
a worldling (puthujjana) I was, without realization;
for seven years I lived gone forth.
I venerated the jewel-mound, covered with a net of gold,
of the Teacher, the Conqueror Sumedha —
who had attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta), crossed over the flood (ogha), the Such One —
and made my mind serene with confidence in the stūpa (thūpa).
I had no gift, nor had I anything to give;
but there I urged on others:
'Venerate that relic (dhātu) of him who is worthy of veneration;
thus, it is said, you will go from here to heaven (sagga).'
Just that wholesome deed was done by me;
I myself experience divine happiness,
and I rejoice in the midst of the host of the Thirty;
I have not come to the exhaustion of that merit."
The Anekavaṇṇa Vimāna, the eighth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.