The king builds the Bodhisatta three palaces, for the winter, the summer and the rains, so that he may live at home in the utmost comfort. The Aṅguttara Nikāya of the and the Rouruan jing (Discourse on Delicacy) in the Chinese Madhyama Āgama record the Buddha's own recollection: there were lotus ponds in the house, and he wore only the finest Kāsi cloth (fine cloth produced in the country of Kāsi); during the four months of the rains he stayed in the rains palace, entertained only by women musicians, and never came downstairs. The Buddha says that in the midst of this life he reflected on old age, sickness and death, and so gave up three kinds of pride. Taishō Canon
Pali Canon
More sources (2)
Different Accounts
The names of the palaces: the Aṅguttara Nikāya of the Southern tradition has palaces for winter, summer and the rains; the Chinese Madhyama Āgama and the Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya have palaces for spring, summer and winter; the later commentaries of the Southern tradition say the three palaces had nine, seven and five storeys according to the season. Taishō Canon
More differences between accounts (2)
The age at which they were built: the later commentaries of the Southern tradition have sixteen; the Buddha biography Fo benxing ji jing has nineteen. Taishō Canon
The number of women attendants in the palace: the later commentaries of the Southern tradition have forty thousand; the Chinese Shi'er you jing says twenty thousand in each palace, sixty thousand in all three. Taishō Canon
Dating
The Buddha aged sixteen; this age is given by the later commentaries of the Southern tradition. The canonical texts themselves give no time, and the Buddha biographies also give nineteen; the year is uncertain.
Related Entries
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by two schools, the Pali canon of the Southern tradition and the Chinese Madhyama Āgama. Recorded by two schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time); commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it). Time precision: year uncertain.
Sources
- Pali Canon巴利 AN 3.39:1.1–2.2
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.26 p.607c
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1425 p.365b
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.190 p.707a
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.195 p.146c
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Ja-a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Bv-a，§50，PTS 0.278
- Pali Canon巴利 AN 3.39Entire text
- Pali Canon巴利 AN 3.39:2.1
- Pali Canon巴利 Bv 27:15.1
- Pali Canon巴利 AN 3.39:2.2
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Bv-a，PTS 0.278