Tha Ap 33Kuṇḍadhāna

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Kuṇḍadhāna Chapter, the Fourth

31. Kuṇḍadhāna

Walt 1003 With a pleased heart and happy mind

I went up to the Best Buddha,

the Self-Become One, Top Person,

who had spent a week secluded. Verse 1

Walt 1004 Discerning the time when he’d rise,

I approached the Sage So Great then,

Padumuttara, carrying

a big sheaf of banana fruits. Verse 2

Walt 1005 The Blessed One, World-Chief, Great Sage,

accepting that fruit I gave him,

brought great pleasure to my heart then,

by eating it all at that time . Verse 3

Walt 1006 Having eaten, the Sambuddha,

Peerless One, Caravan-Leader,

then sitting down on his own seat

did speak these verses about me : Verse 4

Walt 1007 “Let those spirits who are living

in the forest on this mountain,

together with those from the past

and future, listen to my words. Verse 5

Walt 1008 I shall relate the details of

this one who served the Buddha well,

like a lion, king of the beasts;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 6

Walt 1009 This one will be a king of gods

in the future eleven times.

And thirty-four times he will be

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 7

Walt 1010 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 8

Walt 1011 Having cursed some Buddhist monks,

arahants who are virtuous then ,

as the result of that bad deed

he will receive an ugly name. Verse 9

Walt 1012 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

he’ll be Gotama’s follower

known by the name Kuṇḍadhāna. Verse 10

Walt 1013 Binding myself to solitude,

meditator, trance-lover,

satisfying the Teacher, now

I‘m living without defilements. Verse 11

Walt 1014 Honored by the monks’ Assembly,

the top followers around him,

Buddha sat in that Assembly

and had me take the ticket there . Verse 12

Walt 1015 Putting my robe on one shoulder

and worshipping the World-Leader,

in front of the Best Debater

I took the first such ticket then . Verse 13

Walt 1016 Due to that act, the Blessed One,

Who Makes the Ten-Thousand Worlds Quake

sitting in the monks’ Assembly

did place me in that foremost place. Verse 14

Walt 1017 My effort bearing the burden

brought me release from attachments.

Now I’m bearing my last body

in the Buddha’s dispensation. Verse 15

Walt 1018 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 16

Thus indeed Venerable Kuṇḍadhāna Thera spoke these verses.

The Legend of Venerable Kuṇḍadhāna 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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