At that time Ananda and Rahula reflected thus: "We have thought to ourselves if [our future] were only foretold, how happy we should be." Thereupon they rose from their seats, went before the Buddha, made obeisance at his feet, and together spoke to the Buddha, saying: "World-honored One! Let us in this also have a place. We have only the Tathagata in whom to trust. We are known to and acknowledged by all the worlds, including gods, men, and asuras. Ananda is always [thy] attendant, protecting and keeping the treasury of the Law, and Rahula is the Buddha's son. If the Buddha sees [fit] to predict for us Perfect Enlightenment our desires will be fulfilled and the hopes of many will be satisfied."
Thereupon the two thousand shravaka disciples who were under training and no longer under training all rose from their seats, bared their right shoulders, went before the Buddha, with one mind folded their hands, and gazed upon the World-honored One, wishing as Ananda and Rahula [had wished], and stood there in line.
Then the Buddha addressed Ananda, [saying]: "In a future world you will become a buddha with the title of Sovereign Universal King of Wisdom [great as] Mountains and Oceans Tathagata, Worshipful, All Wise, Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct, Well Departed, Understander of the World, Peerless Leader, Controller, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, World-honored One. He shall pay homage to sixty-two kotis of buddhas, protect and keep the treasury of the Law, and afterward attain Perfect Enlightenment, instructing twenty thousand myriad kotis of bodhisattvas like the sands of the Ganges, causing them to accomplish Perfect Enlightenment. His domain will be named Never-lowered Victorious Banner. Its land shall be pure, with lapis lazuli for earth. His kalpa will be named World-filling Wonderful Sound.
That buddha's lifetime will be immeasurable thousand myriad kotis of asamkhyeya kalpas, so that even if a man counts and calculates it for thousands of myriads of kotis of immeasurable asamkhyeya kalpas, it will be impossible to know it. [His] Righteous Law will abide in [his] world twice his lifetime and the Counterfeit Law again abide in [his] world double [the time] of the Righteous Law. Ananda! This buddha, Sovereign Universal King of Wisdom [great as] Mountains and Oceans, will be extolled and his merits praised by universal unlimited thousand myriad kotis of buddha-tathagatas like the sands of the Ganges."
Then the World-honored One, desiring to proclaim this teaching over again, spoke thus in verse:"I now declare among [you] monks that
Ananda, keeper of the Law,1
Shall pay homage to buddhas
And afterward accomplish Perfect Enlightenment.
His title will be Wisdom [great as] Mountains and Oceans
Sovereign Universal Buddha-King.
His domain will be pure,
Named Never-lowered Victorious Banner.
He shall instruct bodhisattvas
As sands of the Ganges in number.
That buddha will have august powers,
His fame filling the universe;
His lifetime will be beyond calculation
Because of his compassion for the living;
His Righteous Law will be twice his lifetime
And the Counterfeit double that.
Many as the sands of the Ganges,
Countless living creatures
In that buddha's Law
Shall cultivate the seed of the Buddha-way."
Thereupon the eight thousand bodhisattvas in the assembly who had newly started [on the road] all reflected thus: "We have not yet heard [even] senior bodhisattvas receive such predictions as these; what can be the cause of these shravakas obtaining such decisions as these?" Then the World-honored One, knowing what the bodhisattvas were thinking in their minds, addressed them, saying: "Good sons! I and Ananda together under the Buddha Firmament King at the same time conceived the thought of Perfect Enlightenment.
Ananda took constant pleasure in learning, [while] I was devoted to active progress. For this reason I have already attained Perfect Enlightenment, while Ananda has been taking care of my Law, as he will take care of the Law-treasuries of future buddhas, and instruct and bring to perfection the host of bodhisattvas. Such was his original vow, and so he receives this prediction."
Ananda, face to face with the Buddha, hearing his own prediction and the adornment of his domain, and that his vow had been fulfilled, was filled with joy at obtaining such unprecedented [news]. Instantly he remembered the Law-treasuries of unlimited thousand myriad kotis of buddhas in the past, and understood them without difficulty as if he were now hearing them, recalling also his original vow.Then Ananda spoke thus in verse:
"The rare and World-honored One
Recalls to my mind the Law
Of innumerable buddhas in the past
As if I were hearing it today.
I now, having no more doubts,
Peacefully abide in the Buddha-way.
Tactfully will I serve
In caring for the Buddha's Law."
Then the Buddha addressed Rahula: "In the world to come you will become a buddha entitled Teacher on Seven-Jeweled Lotuses Tathagata, Worshipful, All Wise, Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct, Well Departed, Understander of the World, Peerless Leader, Controller, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, World-honored One. He shall pay homage to buddha-tathagatas equal in number to the atoms of ten worlds, always becoming the eldest son of those buddhas, just as he is at present.
The domain of this Trader on Seven-Jeweled Lotuses Buddha will be splendidly adorned; the number of kalpas of his lifetime, the disciples converted by him, the Righteous Law and Counterfeit Law, will be just the same as those of the Sovereign Universal King of Wisdom [great as] Mountains and Oceans; and of this buddha he will also become the eldest son. Afterward he will attain Perfect Enlightenment."
Thereupon the World-honored One, desiring to proclaim this teaching over again, spoke thus in verse:
"When I was a prince royal,
Rahula was my eldest son.
Now that I have accomplished the Buddha-way,
He is the Law-heir receiving the Law.
In worlds to come,
Seeing infinite kotis of buddhas,
To all he will be eldest son
And with all his mind seek the Buddha-way.
Of the hidden course of Rahula
Only I am able to know.
At present as my eldest son
He is revealed to all.
Infinite thousand myriad kotis
Are his merits, beyond calculation.
Peacefully abiding in the Buddha-law,
He seeks the supreme Way."
At that time the World-honored One looked upon the two thousand men under training and no longer under training, gentle in mind, tranquil and calm, who were observing the Buddha with all their mind. The Buddha addressed Ananda, [saying]: "Do you see these two thousand men under training and no longer under training?"
"Yes, I see them."
"Ananda! These men shall pay homage to buddha-tathagatas innumerable as the atoms of fifty worlds, revere and honor them, and care for their treasuries of the Law; and finally, in the same hour, in domains in every direction, each will become a buddha. All will have the same title, namely, Jewel Sign Tathagata, Worshipful, All Wise, Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct, Well Departed, Understander of the World, Peerless Leader, Controller, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, World-honored One. Their lifetimes will be one kalpa, and the splendor of their domains, their shravakas and bodhisattvas, their Righteous Law and Counterfeit Law, all will be equal."
Then the World-honored One, desiring to proclaim this teaching over again, spoke thus in verse:
"These two thousand shravakas
Who are now in my presence,
I give to them the prediction that
In the future they will become buddhas.
The buddhas they worship will be
Numerous as the aforementioned atoms.
After caring for their Law-treasuries,
They will reach Perfect Enlightenment.
In domains in all directions
Each will have the same title;
Simultaneously sitting on the wisdom terrace,
They shall prove the supreme wisdom.
The name of all will be Jewel Sign;
Their domains and disciples,
Their Righteous Law and Counterfeit Law,
Will all be equal without difference.
All by transcendent [powers]
Shall everywhere save the living;
And their fame universally spreading,
They shall progress into nirvana."
Thereupon the two thousand men under training and no longer under training, hearing the Buddha's prediction, became ecstatic with joy and spoke thus in verse:
"World-honored One! Bright Lamp of Wisdom!
We, hearing [his] voice of prediction,
Are filled with joyfulness,
As if sprinkled with sweet dews
