Tha Ap 147Ummāpupphiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

145. Ummāpupphiya

Walt 1961 When Siddhattha, the Blessed One,

Sacrificial Recipient,

the World-Worshipped One passed away,

a stupa festival took place. Verse 1

Walt 1962 While the festival proceeded

for Siddhattha the Sage so Great,

taking a blue flax flower \[then

I placed it upon the stupa. Verse 2

Walt 1963 In the ninety-four aeons since

I offered that flower there then ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of stupa- pūjā . Verse 3

Walt 1964 And in the ninth aeon ago

there were five and eighty monarchs.

All were known as Somadeva,

wheel-turning kings with great power. Verse 4

Walt 1965 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 5

Thus indeed Venerable Ummāpupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ummāpupphiya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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