Tha Ap 135Candanapūjaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

133. Candanapūjaka

Walt 1886 On Candabhāgā River’s bank,

I was a kinnara back then.

I lived on flowers as my food

and dressed in clothes made of flowers. Verse 1

Walt 1887 But Atthadassi, Blessed One,

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

departed through the forest’s roof,

like a swan-king flies through the air. Verse 2

Walt 1888 “Praise to you, O Well-Bred Person;

your heart is so well-purified.

Your complexion shows your pleasure;

your face shows your senses are clear.” Verse 3

Walt 1889 The Wise One, Great Intelligence,

having descended from the sky,

and spreading out his upper robe

sat on it, legs crossed together. Verse 4

Walt 1890 Carrying some sandalwood oil,

I went to the Victor's presence.

Happy, with pleasure in my heart,

I gave that oil to the Buddha. Verse 5

Walt 1891 Having worshipped the Sambuddha,

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

experiencing great delight,

I departed facing the north. Verse 6

Walt 1892 In the eighteen hundred aeons

since I did sandalwood- pūjā ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 7

Walt 1893 In the fourteenth aeon ago

there were three people who lived then ,

all known by the name Rohiṇi,

wheel-turning kings with great power. Verse 8

Walt 1894 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 9

Thus indeed Venerable Candanapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Candanapūjaka 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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