Tha Ap 19Upasena Vaṅgantaputta

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

17. Upasena Vaṅgantaputta

Walt 759 I approached the Ultimate Man

the Blessed Padumuttara

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

as he sat on a mountain slope. Verse 1

Walt 760 Seeing a dinner-plate in bloom

I plucked several stalks from it

and, adorning an umbrella,

I raised it over the Buddha. Verse 2

Walt 761 And then I gave an almsgiving

of milk-rice, delicious to eat.

I fed eight monks who were there then

with the Buddha as the ninth one. Verse 3

Walt 762 The Great Hero gave thanks to me

the Self-Become-One, Best Person:

“Because of this umbrella gift

there will be showers of milk-rice. Verse 4

Walt 763 He will enjoy great happiness

due to that pleasure in his heart.

Thirty times as the king of gods

he will exercise divine rule. Verse 5

Walt 764 And twenty different times he’ll be

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

and he will have much local rule

innumerable by counting. Verse 6

Walt 765 The one whom they call Sumedha

greatly wise, wise as is the earth,

is going to become the Buddha

in one hundred thousand aeons. Verse 7

Walt 766 When the dispensation’s shining

he will go to a human state.

With Upasena as his name

he’ll be the Teacher’s follower. Verse 8

Walt 767 This is the last time I’ll exist;

now all being has been cancelled.

Conquering Death with his legions

I am bearing my last body. Verse 9

Walt 768 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 10

Thus indeed Venerable Upasena Vaṅgantaputta Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Upasena Vaṅgantaputta Thera is finished.

The Third Recitation Portion 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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