Tha Ap 399Girimānanda

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

394. {397.} Girimānanda

Walt 3791 My wife had passed away, my son

had gone to the cemetery;

on a single pyre I had burned

my mother, father, and brothers. Verse 1

Walt 3792 I was consumed due to that grief,

I had become haggard and pale

and I was mentally deranged,

greatly pained because of that grief. Verse 2

Walt 3793 Wounded by the arrow of grief,

I went up to the forest’s edge.

Eating only wild fruits I found ,

I dwelt at the foot of a tree. Verse 3

Walt 3794 The Sambuddha named Sumedha,

the Victor, Ender of Dis-ease,

with a desire to lift me up,

did come into my presence then . Verse 4

Walt 3795 Having heard the sound of the feet

of Sumedha, the Sage So Great,

I having lifted up my head

did gaze upon him , the Great Sage. Verse 5

Walt 3796 When he , the Great Hero, approached,

then joy did get produced for me.

Having seen him, the World-Leader,

my mind at last was put at ease. Verse 6

Walt 3797 Having recovered consciousness,

I gave him a handful of leaves.

The Blessed One then sat down there,

out of compassion, Eyeful One. Verse 7

Walt 3798 Sitting down there, the Blessed One,

Sumedha, Leader of the World,

Buddha preached to me the Teaching

that removes the arrows of grief: Verse 8

Walt 3799 “Uninvited they’ve come from there;

not taking leave they’ve gone from here.

As they have come, so they have gone;

what good is wailing about that? Verse 9

Walt 3800 Just as, when rain is raining down,

people traveling on the road,

taking their goods, are going to

a place where the rain’s not falling, Verse 10

Walt 3801 and when the rain has ceased to fall,

they carry on as they had planned;

thus your mother and father too :

what good is wailing about that? Verse 11

Walt 3802 We’re all visiting strangers, guests,

wavering, driven on, shaken.

Thus your mother and father too :

what good is wailing about that? Verse 12

Walt 3803 Just as a serpent slithers on,

abandoning its worn-out skin,

thus your mother and father too :

their bodies are abandoned here.” Verse 13

Walt 3804 Understanding the Buddha’s words,

I removed the arrow of grief.

Generating happiness, I

worshipped the Best of the Buddhas. Verse 14

Walt 3805 Worshipping the Great Elephant,

I offered Sumedha, Leader

of the World, a stalk of flowers

endowed with a heavenly scent. Verse 15

Walt 3806 Having worshipped the Sambuddha,

pressing my hands upon my head,

calling to mind his chief virtues,

I praised the Leader of the World: Verse 16

Walt 3807 “Great Hero, you’re the One Who’s Crossed,

Omniscient One, the World-Leader.

You are lifting up all creatures

with your knowledge, O Sage So Great. Verse 17

Walt 3808 You cut off all perplexity

and also doubt, O Sage So Great.

You’re imparting the path to me

through your knowledge, O Eyeful One. Verse 18

Walt 3809 Arahants with the goal attained,

six-knowledge-holders, powerful,

wise ones who travel in the sky,

are surrounding you all the time. Verse 19

Walt 3810 Your followers are bearing fruit,

those attained and those being trained;

your followers are blossoming

like lotus flowers at sunrise. Verse 20

Walt 3811 As the ocean is unperturbed,

unequaled, difficult to cross,

thus too are you, O Eyeful One,

Endowed with Knowledge, Infinite.” Verse 21

Walt 3812 Having worshipped the World’s Victor,

the Eyeful One, he of Great Fame,

praising each of the directions,

crouched over I went off from there . Verse 22

Walt 3813 Falling from the world of the gods,

transmigrating from birth to birth,

I came out of my mother’s womb,

attentive and remembering. Verse 23

Walt 3814 Having departed from the house,

I went forth into homelessness.

Zealous, also intelligent,

I pastured in meditation. Verse 24

Walt 3815 Having put forth great exertion,

having gladdened the Sage So Great,

I thereafter am wandering,

like the moon freed from a cloud-bank. Verse 25

Walt 3816 I’m now intent on seclusion,

calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth;

knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 26

Walt 3817 In the thirty thousand aeons

since I worshipped the Buddha then ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 27

Walt 3818 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

All defilements are exhausted;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 28

Walt 3819 Being in Best Buddha’s presence

was a very good thing for me.

The three knowledges are attained;

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 29

Walt 3820 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 30

Thus indeed Venerable Girimānanda Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Girimānanda Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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