Tha Ap 35Mahā-Kaccāna

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

33. Mahā-Kaccāna

Walt 1033 Covering it over with gold,

I had a lion-throne fashioned

at the shrine known as “Paduma”

of the Lord Padumuttara. Verse 1

Walt 1034 Taking an umbrella of gems

and a fan made out of ox-tail,

I placed them there for that Buddha,

the World’s Kinsman, the Neutral One. Verse 2

Walt 1035 Throughout the earth the lesser gods

all gathered together there then.

“He’ll relate the karmic results

of umbrellas and seats of gems. Verse 3

Walt 1036 We will listen to all that’s said

when the Teacher is speaking thus .

We will produce great happiness

in the Buddha’s dispensation.” Verse 4

Walt 1037 Sitting down on the throne of gold,

the Self-Become One, Top Person,

encompassed by the Assembly

then spoke these verses about me : Verse 5

Walt 1038 “I shall relate details of him

who has given this throne to me ,

made of gold and also of gems;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 6

Walt 1039 For thirty aeons, king of gods,

he will exercise divine rule.

A hundred leagues surrounding him

he will conquer with his bright light. Verse 7

Walt 1040 Having come to the human world

he will be a wheel-turning king.

His name will be Pabhassara

and he will possess great power. Verse 8

Walt 1041 Like the risen hundred-rayed sun ,

whether it is day or it’s night,

that Kṣatriyan will shine forth there

eight cubits all around himself . Verse 9

Walt 1042 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 10

Walt 1043 Falling from Tusitā heaven,

incited by his wholesome roots,

he’ll be born as Brahma’s kinsman;

his name will then be Kaccāna. Verse 11

Walt 1044 After he renounces the world,

he’ll be an arahant, undefiled.

Gotama, the Lamp of the World

will place him in a foremost place. Verse 12

Walt 1045 He’ll explicate in great detail

the problems that are posed in brief.

Explicating thus that problem

he will fulfill all their desires.” Verse 13

Walt 1046 Being born in a wealthy clan,

a brahmin master of mantras,

giving up my wealth and grain I

then went forth into homelessness. Verse 14

Walt 1047 I explicate in great detail

the problems posed only in brief.

Fulfilling all of their desires

I satisfy the Best Biped. Verse 15

Walt 1048 Satisfied by me, the Hero,

the Self-Become One, Top Person,

seated in the monks’ Assembly

did place me in that foremost place. Verse 16

Walt 1049 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 17

Thus indeed Venerable Mahākaccāna Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahākaccāna Thera is finshed.

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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