2 - Chapters 1 and 2 of the Mahavamsa

Summary

CHAPTER 1: THE TATHĀGATA COMES (TO SRI LANKA)

1. With a bow to the pure Perfect Buddha, born in a pure lineage (vamsa), I will speak the Mahāvamsa, in (full, with) all its varied chapters.

2. The (text) composed by the Ancients is too long in some places and too short in others, and repetitious.

3–4. Listen (now) to this (version), which does not have those faults, and is easy to learn and remember; it has come down (to us) by tradition. (Listen to it carefully) and where (the text) is such as to inspire serene confidence, give expression to (such) serene confidence, and where it is animating, to (such) animation.

5. Our conqueror, long ago, saw the Perfect Buddha Dīpankara and made the Resolution to attain enlightenment, to free the world from suffering.

6–10. Thereafter he paid reverence (in order) to these twenty-four Perfect Buddhas: Kondañña, the sage Mangala, Sumana and Revata Buddhas, the Great Sage Sobhita, the Perfect Buddha Anomadassī and the Conquerors Paduma and Nārada, the Perfect Buddha Padumuttara and Sumedha the Tathāgata, the Leaders Sujāta, Piyadassī and Atthadassī, the Conquerors Dhammadassī, Siddhattha, Tissa and Phussa, the Perfect Buddhas Vipassī and Sikhi, mighty Vessabhu, the Perfect Buddhas Kakusandha, Konāgamana, and the Happy One Kassapa.