Tha Ap 122Jātipūjaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

120. Jātipūjaka

Walt 1758 When Vipassi Buddha was born,

there was a vast effulgence there .

The earth itself quaked in response ,

as did its oceans and mountains. Verse 1

Walt 1759 They interpreted the omens:

“A Buddha is born in the world,

the Top of all living beings

who will lift up all the people.” Verse 2

Walt 1760 Having heard news of the omens,

I performed pūjā for the birth.

There is no pūjā quite like the

pūjā that is done for the birth. Verse 3

Walt 1761 Having brought my own heart pleasure,

restraining myself wholesomely,

after doing that birth- pūjā

I passed away right on the spot. Verse 4

Walt 1762 In whichever womb I’m reborn,

whether it’s human or divine,

I surpass all other creatures:

that is the fruit of birth- pūjā . Verse 5

Walt 1763 The relics now look after me,

through the power of my own heart.

Others cannot disturb me now :

that is the fruit of birth- pūjā . Verse 6

Walt 1764 In the ninety-one aeons since

I performed that pūjā back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that is the fruit of birth- pūjā . Verse 7

Walt 1765 In the thirtieth aeon ago,

four and thirty lords of people,

all named Supāricariya,

were wheel-turning kings with great strength. Verse 8

Walt 1766 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 9

Thus indeed Venerable Jātipūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Jātipūjaka Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Parivāra, Sumaṅgalya,

Saraṇ, Āsana, Pupphika,

Citapūjī, Buddhasaññī,

Magg’, Upaṭṭhāna, Jātina

ninety uttered verses are

counted clearly in this part .

The Mahāparivāra Chapter, the Twelfth.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

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