“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ;
“Just as, mendicants, in India the delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds are few,
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ;
“Just as, mendicants, in India the delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds are few,

Mama sudaṁ, bhikkhave, pitu nivesane pokkharaṇiyo kāritā honti.
In my father’s home, lotus ponds were made just for me.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, same bhūmibhāge pokkharaṇī caturaṁsā ālibaddhā pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.
Suppose there was a square, walled lotus pond on level ground, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso, pokkharaṇī sevālapaṇakapariyonaddhā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond covered with moss and aquatic plants.
So taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā ubhohi hatthehi iticiti ca sevālapaṇakaṁ apaviyūhitvā añjalinā pivitvā pakkameyya.
They’d plunge into the lotus pond, sweep apart the moss and aquatic plants, drink from their cupped hands, and be on their way.
Seyyathāpi, āvuso, pokkharaṇī acchodakā sātodakā sītodakā setakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā nānārukkhehi sañchannā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful, and shaded by many trees.
So taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā nhātvā ca pivitvā ca paccuttaritvā tattheva rukkhacchāyāya nisīdeyya vā nipajjeyya vā.
They’d plunge into the lotus pond to bathe and drink. And after emerging they’d sit or lie down right there in the shade of the trees.

Seyyathāpi, bho, pokkharaṇī acchodakā sātodakā sītodakā setakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.
So taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā nhātvā ca pivitvā ca sabbadarathakilamathapariḷāhaṁ paṭippassambheyya.
They’d plunge into the lotus pond to bathe and drink. And all their stress, weariness, and heat exhaustion would die down.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati sāmagāmake pokkharaṇiyāyaṁ.
At one time the Buddha was staying among the Sakyans near the little village of Sāma, by a lotus pond.
Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire lotus pond, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,
“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:
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Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.

Te raṭṭhasmā pabbājitā himavantapasse pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahāsākasaṇḍo, tattha vāsaṁ kappesuṁ.
They made their home beside a lotus pond on the slopes of the Himalayas, where there was a large grove of teak (sāka) trees.
‘Atthi, deva, himavantapasse pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahāsākasaṇḍo, tatthetarahi kumārā sammanti.
‘Sire, there is a lotus pond on the slopes of the Himalayas, by a large grove of teak trees. They’ve settled there.

Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
where he stayed by the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
“samaṇo khalu bho gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito aṅgesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi campaṁ anuppatto campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Campā and is staying on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
Atha kho campeyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā campāya nikkhamitvā saṅghasaṅghī gaṇībhūtā yena gaggarā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkamanti.
Then, having departed Campā, they formed into companies and headed to the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
Addasā kho soṇadaṇḍo brāhmaṇo campeyyake brāhmaṇagahapatike campāya nikkhamitvā saṅghasaṅghī gaṇībhūte yena gaggarā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkamante.
He saw the brahmins and householders heading for the lotus pond,
“kiṁ nu kho, bho khatte, campeyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā campāya nikkhamitvā saṅghasaṅghī gaṇībhūtā yena gaggarā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkamantī”ti?
“My steward, why are the brahmins and householders headed for the Gaggarā Lotus Pond?”
“Atthi kho, bho, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito aṅgesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi campaṁ anuppatto campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
“The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Campā and is staying on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
Samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo campaṁ anuppatto, campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Campā and is staying at the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
Yampi, bho, samaṇo gotamo campaṁ anuppatto campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre, atithimhākaṁ samaṇo gotamo;
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Atha kho soṇadaṇḍo brāhmaṇo mahatā brāhmaṇagaṇena saddhiṁ yena gaggarā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkami.
Then Soṇadaṇḍa together with a large group of brahmins went to see the Buddha.

4. Dhammapāsādapokkharaṇī
4. Lotus Ponds in the Palace of Principle
‘yannūnāhaṁ imāsu tālantarikāsu dhanusate dhanusate pokkharaṇiyo māpeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I have lotus ponds built between the palms, at intervals of a hundred bow lengths?’
Māpesi kho, ānanda, rājā mahāsudassano tāsu tālantarikāsu dhanusate dhanusate pokkharaṇiyo.
So that’s what he did.
Tā kho panānanda, pokkharaṇiyo catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ iṭṭhakāhi citā ahesuṁ—
The lotus ponds were lined with tiles of four colors,
Tāsu kho panānanda, pokkharaṇīsu cattāri cattāri sopānāni ahesuṁ catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ,
And four flights of stairs of four colors descended into each lotus pond,
Tā kho panānanda, pokkharaṇiyo dvīhi vedikāhi parikkhittā ahesuṁ ekā vedikā sovaṇṇamayā, ekā rūpiyamayā.
Those lotus ponds were surrounded by two balustrades, made of gold and silver.
‘yannūnāhaṁ imāsu pokkharaṇīsu evarūpaṁ mālaṁ ropāpeyyaṁ uppalaṁ padumaṁ kumudaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁ sabbotukaṁ sabbajanassa anāvaṭan’ti.
‘Why don’t I plant flowers in the lotus ponds such as blue water lilies, and lotuses of pink, yellow, and white, blooming all year round, and accessible to the public?’
Ropāpesi kho, ānanda, rājā mahāsudassano tāsu pokkharaṇīsu evarūpaṁ mālaṁ uppalaṁ padumaṁ kumudaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁ sabbotukaṁ sabbajanassa anāvaṭaṁ.
So that’s what he did.
‘yannūnāhaṁ imāsaṁ pokkharaṇīnaṁ tīre nhāpake purise ṭhapeyyaṁ, ye āgatāgataṁ janaṁ nhāpessantī’ti.
‘Why don’t I appoint bath attendants to help bathe the people who come to bathe in the lotus ponds?’
Ṭhapesi kho, ānanda, rājā mahāsudassano tāsaṁ pokkharaṇīnaṁ tīre nhāpake purise, ye āgatāgataṁ janaṁ nhāpesuṁ.
So that’s what he did.
‘yannūnāhaṁ imāsaṁ pokkharaṇīnaṁ tīre evarūpaṁ dānaṁ paṭṭhapeyyaṁ—
‘Why don’t I set up charities on the banks of the lotus ponds,
Paṭṭhapesi kho, ānanda, rājā mahāsudassano tāsaṁ pokkharaṇīnaṁ tīre evarūpaṁ dānaṁ—
So that’s what he did.
‘yannūnāhaṁ dhammassa pāsādassa purato dhammaṁ nāma pokkharaṇiṁ māpeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I build a lotus pond named Principle in front of the palace?’
Māpesi kho, ānanda, rājā mahāsudassano dhammassa pāsādassa purato dhammaṁ nāma pokkharaṇiṁ.
So that’s what he did.
Dhammā, ānanda, pokkharaṇī puratthimena pacchimena ca yojanaṁ āyāmena ahosi, uttarena dakkhiṇena ca aḍḍhayojanaṁ vitthārena.
The Lotus Pond of Principle stretched for a league from east to west, and half a league from north to south.
Dhammā, ānanda, pokkharaṇī catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ iṭṭhakāhi citā ahosi—
It was lined with tiles of four colors,
Dhammāya, ānanda, pokkharaṇiyā catuvīsati sopānāni ahesuṁ catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ—
It had twenty-four staircases of four colors,
Dhammā, ānanda, pokkharaṇī dvīhi vedikāhi parikkhittā ahosi—ekā vedikā sovaṇṇamayā, ekā rūpiyamayā.
It was surrounded by two balustrades, made of gold and silver.
Dhammā, ānanda, pokkharaṇī sattahi tālapantīhi parikkhittā ahosi—
It was surrounded by seven rows of palm trees,
Niṭṭhite kho panānanda, dhamme pāsāde niṭṭhitāya dhammāya ca pokkharaṇiyā rājā mahāsudassano ‘ye tena samayena samaṇesu vā samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu vā brāhmaṇasammatā’, te sabbakāmehi santappetvā dhammaṁ pāsādaṁ abhiruhi.
When the palace and its lotus pond were finished, King Mahāsudassana served those who were reckoned as true ascetics and brahmins with all they desired. Then he ascended the Palace of Principle.

Sītodakaṁ pokkharaṇiṁ,
As elephants burning in the heat of summer,

Abhijānāsi no tvaṁ, rājañña, divā seyyaṁ upagato supinakaṁ passitā ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan”ti?
Do you recall ever having a midday nap and seeing delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds in a dream?”
“Abhijānāmahaṁ, bho kassapa, divāseyyaṁ upagato supinakaṁ passitā ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan”ti.
“I do, sir.”

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants.

Seyyathāpi, sāriputta, pokkharaṇī acchodakā sātodakā sītodakā setakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.
Atha puriso āgaccheyya ghammābhitatto ghammapareto kilanto tasito pipāsito ekāyanena maggena tameva pokkharaṇiṁ paṇidhāya.
Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same lotus pond.
‘tathā bhavaṁ puriso paṭipanno tathā ca iriyati tañca maggaṁ samārūḷho, yathā imaṁyeva pokkharaṇiṁ āgamissatī’ti.
‘This person is proceeding in such a way and has entered such a path that they will arrive at that very lotus pond.’
Tamenaṁ passeyya aparena samayena taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā nhāyitvā ca pivitvā ca sabbadarathakilamathapariḷāhaṁ paṭippassambhetvā paccuttaritvā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe nisinnaṁ vā nipannaṁ vā, ekantasukhā vedanā vedayamānaṁ.
Then some time later they would see that person after they had plunged into that lotus pond, bathed and drunk. When all their stress, weariness, and heat exhaustion had faded away, they emerged and sat or lay down in that woodland thicket, where they experienced exclusively pleasant feelings.

Seyyathāpi nāma kuñjaro saṭṭhihāyano gambhīraṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā sāṇadhovikaṁ nāma kīḷitajātaṁ kīḷati;
I’ll play a game of ear-washing with the ascetic Gotama, like a sixty-year-old elephant would plunge into a deep lotus pond and play a game of ear-washing!
“Seyyathāpi, bhante, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre pokkharaṇī.
“Sir, suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village,
Atha kho, bhante, sambahulā kumārakā vā kumārikā vā tamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā nikkhamitvā yena sā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkameyyuṁ; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā taṁ kakkaṭakaṁ udakā uddharitvā thale patiṭṭhāpeyyuṁ.
Then several boys or girls would leave the town or village and go to the pond, where they’d pull out the crab and put it on dry land.
Evañhi so, bhante, kakkaṭako sabbehi aḷehi sañchinnehi sambhaggehi sampalibhaggehi abhabbo taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ puna otarituṁ, seyyathāpi pubbe.
And when that crab’s claws had all been snapped, cracked, and broken off it wouldn’t be able to return down into that lotus pond.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pokkharaṇī acchodakā sātodakā sītodakā setakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.
So taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ āgamma vineyya udakapipāsaṁ vineyya ghammapariḷāhaṁ …pe… pacchimāya cepi disāya puriso āgaccheyya …pe… uttarāya cepi disāya puriso āgaccheyya …pe… dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya puriso āgaccheyya. Yato kuto cepi naṁ puriso āgaccheyya ghammābhitatto ghammapareto, kilanto tasito pipāsito. So taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ āgamma vineyya udakapipāsaṁ, vineyya ghammapariḷāhaṁ.
No matter what direction they come from, when they arrive at that lotus pond they would alleviate their thirst and heat exhaustion.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.

Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso supinakaṁ passeyya ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.
“Suppose a person was to see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds in a dream.

Seyyathāpi nāma kuñjaro saṭṭhihāyano gambhīraṁ pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā sāṇadhovikaṁ nāma kīḷitajātaṁ kīḷati; evamevāhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ sāṇadhovikaṁ maññe kīḷitajātaṁ kīḷissāmi.
I’ll play a game of ear-washing with the ascetic Gotama, like a sixty-year-old elephant would plunge into a deep lotus pond and play a game of ear-washing!

tena muhuttaṁ gaccha, tena muhuttaṁ gantvā dakkhissasi rājagahassa ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
Go along a while further and you’ll see Rājagaha with its delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds.’
tena muhuttaṁ gaccha, tena muhuttaṁ gantvā dakkhissasi rājagahassa ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
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Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, same bhūmibhāge caturassā pokkharaṇī assa āḷibandhā pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.
Suppose there was a square, walled lotus pond on level ground, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.

‘passāmi kho ahaṁ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
‘Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!’
‘aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, samma, anavakāso yaṁ tvaṁ uparipabbate ṭhito passeyyāsi ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
‘It’s impossible, it cannot happen that, standing at the peak, you can see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds.’
‘passāmi kho ahaṁ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
‘Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!’
aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ samma, anavakāso yaṁ tvaṁ uparipabbate ṭhito passeyyāsi ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
“It’s impossible, it cannot happen that, standing at the peak, you can see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds.”
‘passāmi kho ahaṁ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.
“Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!”’

Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, amanussaṭṭhāne pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond in an uninhabited region with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.
Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre pokkharaṇī acchodakā sītodakā sātodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā.
Suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful.

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre pokkharaṇī.
“Sir, suppose there was a lotus pond not far from a town or village,
Atha kho, bhante, sambahulā kumārakā vā kumārikāyo vā tamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā nikkhamitvā yena sā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkameyyuṁ; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ kakkaṭakaṁ udakā uddharitvā thale patiṭṭhapeyyuṁ.
Then several boys or girls would leave the town or village and go to the pond, where they’d pull out the crab and put it on dry land.
Evañhi so, bhante, kakkaṭako sabbehi aḷehi sañchinnehi sambhaggehi sampalibhaggehi abhabbo taṁ pokkharaṇiṁ otarituṁ.
And when that crab’s claws had all been snapped, cracked, and broken off it wouldn’t be able to return down into that lotus pond.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sattahi ca upāsakasatehi sattahi ca upāsikāsatehi anekehi ca devatāsahassehi.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond, together with a large Saṅgha of around five hundred mendicants, seven hundred male and seven hundred female lay followers, and many thousands of deities.
“ayaṁ kho bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sattahi ca upāsakasatehi sattahi ca upāsikāsatehi anekehi ca devatāsahassehi.
“The Buddha is staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond, together with a large Saṅgha of around five hundred mendicants, seven hundred male and seven hundred female lay followers, and many thousands of deities.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā padumaṁ upasiṅghati.
Now at that time, after the meal, on their return from almsround, that mendicant plunged into a lotus pond and sniffed a pink lotus.

Tamanugacchanto passeyya purāṇaṁ nagaraṁ purāṇaṁ rājadhāniṁ pubbakehi manussehi ajjhāvuṭṭhaṁ ārāmasampannaṁ vanasampannaṁ pokkharaṇīsampannaṁ uddhāpavantaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.
they’d see an ancient city, an ancient capital, inhabited by humans in the past. It was lovely, complete with parks, groves, lotus ponds, and embankments.
Tamanugacchanto addasaṁ purāṇaṁ nagaraṁ purāṇaṁ rājadhāniṁ pubbakehi manussehi ajjhāvuṭṭhaṁ ārāmasampannaṁ vanasampannaṁ pokkharaṇīsampannaṁ uddhāpavantaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.
Following it along I saw an ancient city, an ancient capital, inhabited by humans in the past. It was lovely, complete with parks, groves, lotus ponds, and embankments.

Pokkharaṇīsutta
A Lotus Pond
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pokkharaṇī paññāsayojanāni āyāmena paññāsayojanāni vitthārena paññāsayojanāni ubbedhena, puṇṇā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.
“Mendicants, suppose there was a lotus pond that was fifty leagues long, fifty leagues wide, and fifty leagues deep, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.
katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhataṁ yaṁ vā pokkharaṇiyā udakan”ti?
Which is more: the water on the tip of the blade of grass, or the water in the lotus pond?”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ.
“Sir, the water in the lotus pond is certainly more.
Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ upanidhāya kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhatan”ti.
Compared to the water in the lotus pond, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.”

Nakhasikhā pokkharaṇī,
sn13.11

“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññataro puriso rājagahā nikkhamitvā ‘lokacintaṁ cintessāmī’ti yena sumāgadhā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sumāgadhāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre nisīdi lokacintaṁ cintento.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, a certain person left Rājagaha, thinking ‘I’ll speculate about the world.’ They went to the Sumāgadhā lotus pond and sat down on the bank speculating about the world.
Addasā kho, bhikkhave, so puriso sumāgadhāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ bhisamuḷālaṁ pavisantaṁ.
Then that person saw an army of four divisions enter a lotus stalk.
‘Idhāhaṁ, bhante, rājagahā nikkhamitvā “lokacintaṁ cintessāmī”ti yena sumāgadhā pokkharaṇī tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā sumāgadhāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre nisīdiṁ lokacintaṁ cintento.
‘Sirs, I left Rājagaha, thinking “I’ll speculate about the world.” I went to the Sumāgadhā lotus pond and sat down on the bank speculating about the world.
Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, sumāgadhāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ bhisamuḷālaṁ pavisantaṁ.
Then I saw an army of four divisions enter a lotus stalk.

Pokkharaṇīsutta
A Lotus Pond
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pokkharaṇī paññāsayojanāni āyāmena, paññāsayojanāni vitthārena, paññāsayojanāni ubbedhena, puṇṇā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā.
“Mendicants, suppose there was a lotus pond that was fifty leagues long, fifty leagues wide, and fifty leagues deep, full to the brim so a crow could drink from it.
katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—yaṁ vā kusaggena ubbhataṁ, yaṁ vā pokkharaṇiyā udakan”ti?
Which is more: the water on the tip of the blade of grass, or the water in the lotus pond?”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ; appamattakaṁ kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhataṁ.
“Sir, the water in the lotus pond is certainly more. The water on the tip of a blade of grass is tiny.
Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti pokkharaṇiyā udakaṁ upanidhāya kusaggena udakaṁ ubbhatan”ti.
Compared to the water in the lotus pond, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”

Nakhasikhā pokkharaṇī,
sn56.60