Tha Ap 340Uttareyyadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

335. {338.} Uttareyyadāyaka

Walt 3021 In the city, Haṁsavatī,

I was a brahmin at that time,

a scholar who knew the mantras,

a master of the three Vedas. Verse 1

Walt 3022 I was honored by my students,

of good birth, well-educated,

I went out from the city then

for a water-consecration. Verse 2

Walt 3023 The Victor, Padumuttara,

was the Master of Everything.

The Victor entered the city

with one thousand undefiled ones. Verse 3

Walt 3024 Seeing him surrounded by saints,

I brought great pleasure to my heart,

as though made free of lust by just

seeing him , the Good-Looking One. Verse 4

Walt 3025 Hands pressed together on my head

I worshipped the Compliant One.

Happy, with pleasure in my heart,

I donated an upper cloak. Verse 5

Walt 3026 Taking it with both of my hands,

I threw that cloak into the sky .

That cloak became a canopy

as big as Buddha’s retinue. Verse 6

Walt 3027 It remained there covering that

massive group of monks and others

going about in search of alms;

then that miracle made me smile. Verse 7

Walt 3028 When he departed from the house,

the Self-Become One, Chief Person,

the Teacher, standing in the road,

gave me this expression of thanks: Verse 8

Walt 3029 “I shall relate details of him

who, happy, heart filled with pleasure,

made a gift of this cloak to me;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 9

Walt 3030 For thirty thousand aeons he

will delight in the world of gods.

Fifty times the lord of the gods,

he will exercise divine rule. Verse 10

Walt 3031 While he, endowed with good karma,

is dwelling in the world of gods,

there will be a cloth canopy

a hundred leagues on every side. Verse 11

Walt 3032 And thirty-six times he will be

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

and he will have much local rule,

innumerable by counting. Verse 12

Walt 3033 While he, endowed with good karma,

is transmigrating in the world,

everything wished for with his mind

will be realized, all the time. Verse 13

Walt 3034 This man is going to receive

cloth which is very expensive:

silk cloth and woolen blankets too,

khoma and also cotton cloth. Verse 14

Walt 3035 Everything wished for with his mind,

this man is going to receive.

He’s always going to enjoy

the result of one piece of cloth. Verse 15

Walt 3036 And afterwards, having gone forth,

incited by his wholesome roots,

he will realize for himself

the Blessed Gotama’s Teaching. Verse 16

Walt 3037 O! That karma well done by me

for the Omniscient One, Great Sage!

Having given a single cloak,

I have attained the deathless state. Verse 17

Walt 3038 When I am in a pavilion,

a tree-root or an empty house,

a cloth canopy is carried

for me, a fathom on each side. Verse 18

Walt 3039 And because of that robe I gave,

I’m dressed in clothes without asking.

I receive food and also drink:

that’s the fruit of an upper cloak. Verse 19

Walt 3040 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I did that good karma then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that is the fruit of giving cloth. Verse 20

Walt 3041 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 21

Thus indeed Venerable Uttareyyadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Uttareyyadāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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