Tha Ap 133Sobhita

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Sobhita Chapter, the Fourteenth

131. Sobhita

Walt 1870 The Victor Padumuttara,

the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,

before a large body of folks

did preach the path of deathlessness. Verse 1

Walt 1871 Then having listened to his words,

those majestic words he uttered,

pressing both my hands together,

I became tranquil at that time. Verse 2

Walt 1872 “As the great ocean is

the foremost of the seas,

and the rock-heap Meru

is the best of mountains, Verse 3

likewise those people who

are controlled by the heart

approach not a tittle

of the Buddha’s knowledge.” Verse 4

Walt 1873 The Buddha, Compassionate, Sage,

setting forth the Dhamma -method,

seated in the monks’ Assembly,

uttered this verse about me then : Verse 5

Walt 1874 “He who praises knowledge like this

when the Buddha, World-Leader lives ,

for one hundred thousand aeons

will come to know no bad rebirth. Verse 6

Walt 1875 Having destroyed the defilements,

tranquil and well-attentive,

he’ll be the Teacher’s follower,

known by the name of Sobhita.” Verse 7

Walt 1877 I have burnt up my defilements,

all new existence is destroyed.

The three-fold knowing is attained,

I have done what the Buddha taught. Verse 8

Walt 1876 In the fifty-thousandth aeon

there were seven Samuggatas,

wheel-turning kings with great power,

possessors of the seven gems. Verse 9

Walt 1878 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 10

Thus indeed Venerable Sobhita Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sobhita Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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