Tha Ap 160Nāgapupphiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

158. Nāgapupphiya

Walt 2031 There was a man named Suvaccha

a brahmin master of mantras,

placed in front by his own students,

residing upon a mountain. Verse 1

Walt 2032 The Victor, Padumuttara,

Sacrificial Recipient,

with a wish for my upliftment

did come into my presence then . Verse 2

Walt 2033 He walked back and forth in the sky,

like he was smoking and burning,

and after he had made me smile,

he departed facing the east. Verse 3

Walt 2034 And having seen that miracle,

marvel making hair stand on end,

taking an ironwood flower,

I scattered it in his pathway. Verse 4

Walt 2035 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I scattered that flower then ,

due to the pleasure in my heart,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth. Verse 5

Walt 2036 In the thirty-first aeon hence

I was the king, Mahāratha,

a wheel-turner with great power,

possessor of the seven gems. Verse 6

Walt 2037 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 7

Thus indeed Venerable Nāgapupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Nāgapupphiya 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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