Tha Ap 173Kumudamāliya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Kumuda Chapter, the Eighteenth

171. Kumudamāliya

Walt 2104 In the Himalayan Mountains,

there was a large, natural lake.

I was a rakkhasa born there,

of frightful form, having great strength. Verse 1

Walt 2105 White lotuses were blooming there,

arising just as big as wheels,

and I then picked those lotuses.

The Strong One’s group was there then too . Verse 2

Walt 2106 But Atthadassi, Blessed One,

the Biped-Lord, the Bull of Men,

seeing that those flowers were picked,

did come into my presence then . Verse 3

Walt 2107 The God of Gods, the Bull of Men,

the Sambuddha approached me then .

Picking up all of those flowers

I gave them all to the Buddha. Verse 4

Walt 2108 That company then stretched out to

the ends of the Himalayas.

With a canopy over him

the Thus-Gone-One did journey forth. Verse 5

Walt 2109 In the eighteen hundred aeons

since I offered that flower to him ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 6

Walt 2110 In the fifteenth aeon ago,

there were seven lords of people,

wheel-turning kings with great power,

all known as Sahassaratha. Verse 7

Walt 2111 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 8

Thus indeed Venerable Kumudamāliya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Kumudamāliya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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