Tha Ap 13Sīhāsanadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Sīhāsana Chapter, the Second

11. Sīhāsanadāyaka

Walt 674 When the World-Leader Siddhattha,

the Best Biped had reached nirvana,

his words had been spread; many folks

had embraced his dispensation. Verse 1

Walt 675 With a pleased heart and happy mind

I had a lion-throne fashioned.

Having had the lion-throne made,

I had a foot-stool constructed. Verse 2

Walt 676 And then I had a house built there

to shield the lion-throne from rain.

Due to the pleasure in my heart

I was reborn in Tusitā. Verse 3

Walt 677 A heavenly mansion, well-built,

existed at that time for me.

In length it measured twenty-four,

in width another fourteen leagues. Verse 4

Walt 678 Seven thousand lovely maidens

were always waiting on me then .

There was a couch made out of gold

well-fashioned in the mansion there . Verse 5

Walt 679 Elephant- and horse-carriages,

and divine carriages served me .

Palaces and also litters

were produced according to wish. Verse 6

Walt 680 Couches constructed out of gems

and many other costly things

always came into being for me;

that’s the fruit of a lion-throne. Verse 7

Walt 681 I am always climbing up steps

made of gold and made of silver,

made of crystal, made of lapis;

that is the fruit of the foot-stool. Verse 8

Walt 682 In the ninety-four aeons since

I performed that act of merit ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;

that is the fruit of good karma. Verse 9

Walt 683 There were three men all named Inda

seventy-three aeons ago;

there were three more named Sumana

seventy-two aeons ago; Verse 10

Walt 684 and seventy aeons ago

there were three kings named Varuṇa;

they were lords of four continents

possessors of the seven gems. Verse 11

Walt 685 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 12

Thus indeed Venerable Sīhāsanadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sīhāsanadāyaka 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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