Tha Ap 397Padumakūṭāgāriya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

392. {395.} Padumakūṭāgāriya

Walt 3726 Piyadassi, the Blessed One,

the Self-Become One, World-Leader,

Solitude-Lover, Sambuddha,

Skilled in Meditation, was Sage. Verse 1

Walt 3727 Entering a grove in the woods,

Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,

spreading out his robe made of rags,

sat down, the Ultimate Person. Verse 2

Walt 3728 I was a deer-hunter back then,

within a grove in the forest.

I was wandering around back

then, searching for a spotted deer. Verse 3

Walt 3729 Then I saw the Sambuddha there,

Flood-Crosser, the Undefiled One,

like a regal sal tree in bloom,

like the risen hundred-rayed sun . Verse 4

Walt 3730 Having seen him , the God of Gods,

Piyadassi, the Great-Famed One,

entering a natural lake,

I brought some lotuses back then. Verse 5

Walt 3731 After bringing those lotuses,

hundred-petaled and beautiful,

having built a gabled hut, I

then covered it with lotuses. Verse 6

Walt 3732 Pitier, Compassionate One,

Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,

seven nights and days the Buddha,

Victor, dwelt in that gabled hut. Verse 7

Walt 3733 Throwing out the old lotuses,

I covered it with new ones then .

I stood there for that entire time,

hands pressed together in worship . Verse 8

Walt 3734 RIsing up from meditation,

Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,

looking out in all directions

the Leader of the World sat down. Verse 9

Walt 3735-3736 At that time Sudassana was

Buddha’s powerful attendant.

Knowing the thoughts of the Buddha,

of Piyadassi, the Teacher,

surrounded by accomplished monks

whose number was eighty thousand,

he went up to the World-Leader,

seated happily in the woods. Verse 10-11

Walt 3737 All the gods who were residing

throughout that grove in the forest,

knowing the thoughts of the Buddha,

then assembled together there . Verse 12

Walt 3738 When the spirits, the kumbhaṇḍas

and the demons came together,

and the monks’ Assembly arrived,

the Victor uttered these verses: Verse 13

Walt 3739 “He who worshipped me for a week

and made a residence for me,

I shall relate details of him;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 14

Walt 3740 I shall relate through my knowledge

what’s very hard to point out, deep,

very subtle and well-explained;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 15

Walt 3741 For fourteen aeons this one will

exercise rule over the gods.

They will carry up in the sky

a lofty gabled hut for him,

well- covered with lotus flowers:

that’s the fruit of former karma. Verse 16

Walt 3742 For twenty-four hundred aeons

he will transmigrate here and there.

A flying mansion made of blooms

will be carried in the sky there. Verse 17

Walt 3743 Just as water does not stick to

the surface of a lotus-leaf,

so defilements do not stick to

a possessor of this knowledge. Verse 18

Walt 3744 This one, after shattering the

five obstacles with his own mind,

giving birth to the intention,

setting out from home he’ll renounce;

after that the floral mansion

will set forth too , being carried. Verse 18e-f,.19

Walt 3745 When he’s dwelling beneath a tree,

or when his mindfulness is sharp,

there that mansion made of flowers

will be carried over his head. Verse 20

Walt 3746 Having given robes and alms-food,

requisites and dwelling places

to the Assembly of the monks,

he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.” Verse 21

Walt 3747 Through actions with the gabled hut,

I went forth to ordination;

when I’m dwelling beneath a tree,

the gabled hut’s carried for me . Verse 22

Walt 3748 Intentions don’t exist in me

for getting robes or food as alms.

In connection with my karma,

I get both already prepared. Verse 23

Walt 3749 I’ve lived many million aeons,

innumerable by counting.

They’ve elapsed for me emptily;

the World-Leaders have been set free. Verse 24

Walt 3750 Eighteen hundred aeons ago

lived the Guide named Piyadassi.

Having served him attentively,

I came into this present womb. Verse 25

Walt 3751 Here I saw Sambuddha named

Anoma, the One with Five Eyes.

Having then gone up to him, I

went forth into the homeless life. Verse 26

Walt 3752 The Buddha, Ender of Dis-ease,

the Victor preached the path to me.

Having listened to his Teaching,

I realized the deathless state. Verse 27

Walt 3753 Having pleased him , the Sambuddha,

Gotama, Bull of the Śākyas,

knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled.

Walt 3754 In the eighteen hundred aeons

since I worshipped the Buddha then ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 29

Walt 3755 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

All defilements are exhausted;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 30

Walt 3756 My being in Buddha’s presence

was a very good thing for me.

The three knowledges are attained;

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 31

Walt 3757 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 32

Thus indeed Venerable Padumakūṭāgāriya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Padumakūṭāgāriya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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