Tha Ap 339Tiṇakuṭidāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

334. {337.} Tiṇakuṭidāyaka

Walt 3005 In the city, Bandumatī,

I was one who worked for others.

Though bound in service to others,

I looked not for another’s rice. Verse 1

Walt 3006 Gone off alone and sitting down,

I thought it out in this way:

“The Buddha’s risen in the world

and I’ve provided no service. Verse 2

Walt 3007 It is time to clean up my life;

the moment is prepared for me.

Suffering is a taste of hell

for creatures devoid of merit. Verse 3

Walt 3008 Having thought it out in this way,

I approached the labor foreman.

After begging him for some work,

I entered into the forest. Verse 4

Walt 3009 Having gathered at that time some

grass and sticks and also some vines,

and having put three poles in place,

I constructed a grass hut there . Verse 5

Walt 3010 After I dedicated that

hut for the Assembly of monks,

I came back on that very day

and approached the labor foreman. Verse 6

Walt 3011 Due to that karma done very well,

I then went to Tāvatiṁsa.

My mansion there, very well made,

was created by a grass hut. Verse 7

Walt 3012 The mansion that appeared for me,

a mil- kaṇḍa cent- bheṇḍu large ,

made of gold, covered in flags,

contained a hundred thousand doors. Verse 8

Walt 3013 In whichever womb I’m reborn,

whether it’s human or divine,

recognizing what I’m thinking,

a palace comes to be for me . Verse 9

Walt 3014 I do not experience fear,

get stupefied, horripilate;

I do not know those things in me:

that’s the fruit of grass-hut -giving . Verse 10

Walt 3015 Lions and tigers and leopards,

bears and wolves, kara bānā bears—

all of them stay away from me:

that’s the fruit of grass-hut -giving . Verse 11

Walt 3016 Vipers and ghosts, cobras as well ,

kumbhaṇḍa , rakkhasa - demons ;

they too are all avoiding me:

that’s the fruit of grass-hut -giving . Verse 12

Walt 3017 I do not remember seeing

my dreams when they are of evil.

Mindfulness arises for me:

that’s the fruit of grass-hut -giving . Verse 13

Walt 3018 Just because of that grass-hut -gift ,

I have experienced success.

I have witnessed the Teaching of

Gotama Buddha , Blessed One. Verse 14

Walt 3019 In the ninety-one aeons since

I did that good karma back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of grass-hut -giving . Verse 15

Walt 3020 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 16

Thus indeed Venerable Tiṇakuṭidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Tiṇakuṭidāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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