The next day the Buddha leads the thousand monks into Rājagaha to the palace, where King Bimbisāra serves the meal with his own hands. The Pali Vinaya, the Chinese Dharmaguptaka Vinaya and the later commentaries of the Southern tradition say that as they entered the city Sakka, in the form of a brahmin youth, walked ahead to lead the way, singing verses in praise of the Buddha. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
When Sakka led the way: the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya places it on the road as the king went out of the city to meet the Buddha, before the king had seen him, and says Sakka formed a canopy of cloud and raised a cool breeze to dispel the heat; the Chinese Dharmaguptaka Vinaya says it was raining at the time. Taishō Canon
More differences between accounts (1)
The Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the Tibetan Vinaya do not have Sakka leading the way in the form of a youth.
Dating
Year 2 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged thirty-six, before the , the day after the king ; the Pali Vinaya states “the next day”, so it can be fixed to the day.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by three schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (Sifen lü) and the Chinese Mahīśāsaka Vinaya (Wufen lü). Attested across multiple schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- Pali Canon巴利律 Kd 1:22.13.1–22.16.3
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1428 p.798a–b
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1421 p.109c
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1450 p.136c–137a
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D1 nga 74b2–75a5