Tha Ap 11Khadiravaniya Revata

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

9. Khadiravaniya Revata

Walt 637 The River named Bhāgīrathī

is fed by the Himalayas.

I, a Boatman on the near bank,

ferried folks over the rough ford. Verse 1

Walt 638 “The Lord named Padumuttara

the Sambuddha, the Best Biped,

with one hundred thousand arahants

will need to cross the raging stream.” Verse 2

Walt 639 Getting many boats tied as one

very carefully by workers

and having made a covering,

I honored him , the Bull of Men. Verse 3

Walt 640 When the Sambuddha had arrived

he then climbed onto that large boat.

In the middle of the river

the Teacher spoke these verses then : Verse 4

Walt 641 “He who ferried the Sambuddha

and undefiled Assembly across,

due to the pleasure in his heart

will delight in the world of gods. Verse 5

Walt 642 A divine mansion will arise,

well made for you, fixed on a boat

which will always sail across the

sky, with a floral canopy. Verse 6

Walt 643 In the fifty-eighth aeon thence

he will be a wheel-turning king,

victorious on all four sides

a Kṣatriyan named Tāraṇa. Verse 7

Walt 644 In the fifty-seventh aeon

he’ll be the king named Campaka.

With mighty power, he will shine

just like the sun when it rises. Verse 8

Walt 645 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 9

Walt 646 Falling from the highest heaven

he will go to a human state.

He’ll be a kinsman of Brahma;

he will be known as Revata. Verse 10

Walt 647 Setting forth from the house and world,

incited by his wholesome roots,

he’ll renounce in the teaching of

the Blessed One named Gotama. Verse 11

Walt 648 And later on, once he’s renounced,

bound to the rule, contemplative,

knowing well all the defilements,

he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.” Verse 12

Walt 649 My effort bearing the burden

brought me release from attachments.

Now I’m bearing my last body

in the Supreme Buddha’s teaching. Verse 13

Walt 650 Karma done a hundred thousand

aeons hence showed me its fruit here:

well-liberated, arrow-quick,

I have destroyed my defilements.

Walt 651 Seeing my fondness for the woods,

the Sage, Who Reached the World’s End,

the Great Sage, therefore did rank me

foremost among the forest monks.

Walt 652 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 14

Thus indeed Venerable Khadiravaniya Revata Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Khadiravaniya Revata Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

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