Tha Ap 34Sāgata

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

32. Sāgata

Walt 1019 Back then I was a brahmin man

known by the name of Sobhita.

Being honored by my students,

I went out to the ashram then . Verse 1

Walt 1020 Honored by the monks’ Assembly,

right at that time the Blessed One,

setting out from the ashram’s door,

stood there , the Ultimate Person. Verse 2

Walt 1021 I then saw him, the Sambuddha,

Tame One with a Tamed Retinue.

Bringing pleasure to my own heart

I praised the World-Leader kindly: Verse 3

Walt 1022 “Whatever trees that there might be

they all grow up in the firm earth.

So too, smart beings all grow up

in the Victor’s dispensation. Verse 4

Walt 1023 The Caravan-Leader, O Wise One,

you do remove many people

from the wrong road, lifting them up

by declaring the road to them . Verse 5

Walt 1024 Tame One surrounded by the tamed,

Meditator, by trance-lovers,

by those bent on exertion and

by peaceful ones, by neutral ones, Verse 6

Walt 1025 adorned by all your followers

with their virtues, you are splendid.

Your light spreads over everything

like the sun when it is rising.” Verse 7

Walt 1026 Seeing the pleasure in my heart

the Great Sage Padumuttara,

standing in the monks’ Assembly,

the Teacher spoke these verses then : Verse 8

Walt 1027 “I’ll relate details of this brahmin

who has caused joy to be produced.

For a hundred thousand aeons

he’ll delight in the world of gods. Verse 9

Walt 1028 Falling from Tusitā heaven

incited by his wholesome roots

he will renounce in the Blessed

One, Gotama’s dispensation. Verse 10

Walt 1029 Due to that karma done very well

he will attain arahantship.

He’ll be the Teacher’s follower

known by the name of Sāgata. Verse 11

Walt 1030 After renouncing he’ll avoid

bad karma done with the body then .

Avoiding bad karma with words

he’ll purify his livelihood.” Verse 12

Walt 1031 I am now living in that way,

skilled in the elements of power.

Knowing well all the defilements,

without defilements I now live. Verse 13

Walt 1032 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 14

This indeed Venerable Sāgata Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sāgata 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