Tha Ap 213Hatthidāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Hatthi Chapter, the Twenty-Second

211. Hatthidāyaka

Walt 2319 I gifted a fine elephant,

with tusks like plough-poles, fully grown,

to Siddhattha, the Blessed One,

Lord of Bipeds, the Neutral One. Verse 1

Walt 2320 I grasp the ultimate meaning,

the unsurpassed pathway to peace.

I gave a very costly gift

to the Well-Wisher of All Worlds. Verse 2

Walt 2321 In the ninety-four aeons since

I gave him that gift at that time,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

the fruit of giving elephants. Verse 3

Walt 2322 In the seventy-eighth aeon

there were sixteen of royal caste,

named Samantapāsādika,

wheel-turning monarchs with great strength. Verse 4

Walt 2323 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 5

Thus indeed Venerable Hatthidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Hatthidāyaka 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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