Tha Ap 16Culla-Panthaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

14. Culla-Panthaka

Walt 708 The Victor Padumuttara,

Sacrificial Recipient,

leaving the group of followers,

dwelt in the Himalayas then. Verse 1

Walt 709 I too was in Himalaya,

dwelling in an ashram back then.

I went up to the World-Leader,

the Great Hero, who’d just arrived. Verse 2

Walt 710 Taking a floral umbrella,

I went up to the Bull of Men

practicing his meditation;

I caused him no interruption. Verse 3

Walt 711 Holding it up with both my hands

I gave the floral umbrella.

Padumuttara the Great Sage,

the Blessed One then received it. Verse 4

Walt 712 All the gods, who were delighted,

then approached the Himalayas.

They let out their cheers of “Sādhu,”

“the Eyeful One will give him thanks.” Verse 5

Walt 713 After saying this then those gods

approached him , the Best among Men.

They were carrying in the sky

his superb lotus-umbrella. Verse 6

Walt 714 “Hoisting a lotus-umbrella,

this ascetic gave it to me.

I shall relate details of him;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 7

Walt 715 He will exercise divine rule

for five and twenty full aeons.

Thirty-four times he’s going to be

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 8

Walt 716 In whichever womb he’s reborn,

whether it’s human or divine,

he’s going to carry that lotus

arrayed out in the open air. Verse 9

Walt 717 In one hundred thousands aeons

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 10

Walt 718 When Buddha’s words have been proclaimed

he will attain the human state.

In the mind-created body

he will be ranked as ultimate. Verse 11

Walt 719 There will be a pair of brothers;

they will both be known as Pantha.

Enjoying the ultimate goal

they’ll light up the dispensation.” Verse 12

Walt 720 I went forth into homelessness

but even after eighteen years

I’d not gained any distinction

in the Śākyan dispensation. Verse 13

Walt 721 I was in a dumb position;

I was despised in the city.

Even my brother dismissed me:

“It’s now time for you to go home.” Verse 14

Walt 722 Being one who was thus dismissed,

I stood there with my mind depressed,

in the monastery’s storage room,

desiring to be a true monk. Verse 15

Walt 723 Then to that place the Teacher came

and touching my head with his hand

then taking me by my own hand

he made me come inside again. Verse 16

Walt 724 Teacher, with compassion for me,

gave a cloth for wiping the feet.

In this way he did purify me

as I stood off to one side. Verse 17

Walt 725 Having taken him by the hands—

he who was like a red lotus—

right there my mind was liberated

and I became an arahant. Verse 18

Walt 726 In my mind-created bodies

I attained thorough excellence.

Knowing well all the defilements,

without defilements I now live. Verse 19

Walt 727 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 20

Thus indeed Venerable Cullapanthaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Cullapanthaka 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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