Tha Ap 124Pupphathūpiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

122. Pupphathūpiya

Walt 1776 In the Himalayan region,

there’s a mountain named Lambaka.

I was dwelling at its center,

a brahmin master of mantras. Verse 1

Walt 1777 At that time five thousand students

were constantly surrounding me.

They all rose earlier than I ,

and were likewise skilled in mantras. Verse 2

Walt 1778 “ Teacher , you should know the fact that

Buddha has been born in the world,

bearing thirty-two great marks and

eighty lesser marks upon him.

The aura of the Best Victor,

fathom-wide, shines just like the sun.” Verse 3

Walt 1779 After hearing his students’ words,

the brahmin master of mantras,

setting out from his own ashram,

then asked directions, that brahmin:

“In which region is he living,

the Great Hero, the World-Leader? Verse 4

Walt 1780 I will worship that direction

and the Victor, Without Rival.

And happy, with a happy heart,

I will worship the Thus-Gone-One. Verse 5

Walt 1781 Come now, you students, let us go;

let us see him , the Thus-Gone-One.

Having worshipped the Teacher’s feet,

we will hear his dispensation.” Verse 6

Walt 1782 One day after I had set out,

I contracted a bad illness.

I laid down beneath a sal tree ,

in great pain due to that illness. Verse 7

Walt 1783 Assembling all the students then

I asked them questions in this way:

“of what sort is the virtue of

the World’s Lord, the Supreme Buddha?” Verse 8

Walt 1784 Then questioned by me they explained

the Best Buddha most thoroughly,

as well as they could see him then

and showed him to me face-to-face. Verse 9

Walt 1785 After hearing the students’ words,

I brought my own heart pleasure then .

Having built a floral stupa

I passed away right on the spot. Verse 10

Walt 1786 They, after burning my body,

came into the Buddha’s presence.

Pressing hands together for him,

they all worshipped the Teacher then . Verse 11

Walt 1787 Having made a floral stupa

for the Well-Gone-One, the Great Sage,

for one hundred thousand aeons,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth. Verse 12

Walt 1788 In the forty-thousandth aeon

there were sixteen Kṣatriyan men .

All were known as Aggisamā,

wheel-turning kings with great power. Verse 13

Walt 1789 In the twenty-thousandth aeon,

thirty-eight rulers of the earth

were kings who turned the wheel of law,

and all were named Ghatāsana. Verse 14

Walt 1790 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 15

Thus indeed Venerable Pupphathūpiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pupphathūpiya 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.

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

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