Tha Ap 330Sumanāveliya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

328. Sumanāveliya

Walt 2888 All the people, come together,

were doing a great pūjā for

Vessabhu Buddha , Blessed One,

the World’s Best One, the Neutral One. Verse 1

Walt 2889 Making a ball of pure alms food

and , happy, a floral garland,

I then offered them in front of

the lion-throne of the Buddha. Verse 2

Walt 2890 All the people, come together,

are seeing that superb flower.

“By whom was this flower offered

to the Best Buddha, Neutral One?” Verse 3

Walt 2891 Because of that mental pleasure,

I was reborn in Nimmāna.

I experience own-karma,

done well in the past by myself. Verse 4

Walt 2892 In whichever womb I’m reborn,

whether it’s human or divine,

I am dear to all the people :

that’s the fruit of flower- pūjā . Verse 5

Walt 2893 I’ve come to know no reviling

of self-controlled ascetics done

by me by means of my body,

nor with my speech nor through my mind. Verse 6

Walt 2894 Because of that good behavior

and my mental resolution,

I am honored by all people :

that’s the fruit of not reviling. Verse 7

Walt 2895 In the thirty-one aeons since

I did that flower- pūjā then ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 8

Walt 2896 In the eleventh aeon hence

there was a king, Sahassāra,

wheel-turning monarch with great strength,

possessor of the seven gems. Verse 9

Walt 2897 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 10

Thus indeed Venerable Sumanāveliya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sumanāveliya 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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