They then saluted and questioned each other, and when
this was over, Buddha said to Mugalan, "Seven days after this I will go
down to Jambudvipa"; and thereupon Mugalan returned. At this time the
great kings of eight countries with their ministers and people, not
having seen Buddha for a long time, were all thirstily looking up for
him, and had collected in clouds in this kingdom to wait for the
World-honored one.
Then the bhikshuni Utpala thought in her heart, "To-day the kings, with
their ministers and people, will all be meeting and welcoming Buddha. I
am but a woman; how shall I succeed in being the first to see him?"
Buddha immediately, by his spirit-like power, changed her into the
appearance of a holy Chakravartti king, and she was the foremost of all
in doing reverence to him.
As Buddha descended from his position aloft in the Trayastrims'as
heaven, when he was coming down, there were made to appear three flights
of precious steps. Buddha was on the middle flight, the steps of which
were composed of the seven precious substances. The king of Brahma-loka
[4] also made a flight of silver steps appear on the right side, where
he was seen attending with a white chowry in his hand. Sakra, Ruler of
Devas, made a flight of steps of purple gold on the left side, where he
was seen attending and holding an umbrella of the seven precious
substances.
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