Tha Ap 318Āsanatthavika

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

316. Āsanatthavika

Walt 2793 Sikhi Buddha , Supreme Stupa,

was the Kinsman of the World then.

I was journeying in a dark

forest, a barren wilderness. Verse 1

Walt 2794 After exiting the forest,

I saw the Buddha’s lion throne.

Confidently pressing my hands,

I praised the Leader of the World. Verse 2

Walt 2795 Throughout the entire day I praised

the Buddha, the World’s Chief Leader.

Happy, and with a happy heart,

I uttered this speech at that time: Verse 3

Walt 2796 “Praise to you, O Well-Bred Person!

Praise to you, Ultimate Person!

You’re the Omniscient, Great Hero,

the World’s Best, the Bull among Men.” Verse 4

Walt 2797 After praising Sikhi like that ,

after saluting his throne there ,

led away by other concerns,

I departed facing north. Verse 5

Walt 2798 In the thirty-one aeons since

I praised the Best Debater then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of singing praises. Verse 6

Walt 2799 In the twenty-seventh aeon

ago were seven Atulyas,

wheel-turning monarchs with great strength,

possessors of the seven gems. Verse 7

Walt 2800 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 8

Thus indeed Venerable Āsanatthavika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Āsanatthavika 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org