Tha Ap 404Puṇṇaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

399. {402.} Puṇṇaka

Walt 3919 The Self-Become, Unconquered One,

the Buddha, who had an illness,

was living amidst the mountains,

near the top of a mountain slope. Verse 1

Walt 3920 All around my hermitage there,

when Buddha was passing away,

there was shouting out all the time,

there was brilliant light all the time. Verse 2

Walt 3921 Throughout that forest grove all the

bears and wolves, kara bānā bears,

the tigers and the lions too,

are roaring loudly all the time. Verse 3

Walt 3922-3923 After seeing those strange omens

I ascended the mountain slope.

There I saw him , the Sambuddha,

passed away, the Unconquered One,

like a regal sal tree in bloom,

like the risen hundred-rayed sun ,

aglow like charcoal that’s still hot ,

passed away, the Unconquered One. Verse 4-5

Walt 3924 Making it full of grass and sticks,

I then made a pyre for him there.

Having made that well-fashioned pyre,

I cremated the Buddha’s corpse. Verse 6

Walt 3925 After I’d cremated his corpse,

I sprinkled scented water there .

A spirit standing in the sky

fixed a name for me for all time: Verse 7

Walt 3926 “That duty was fulfilled by you

for the Great Sage, the Self-Become.

O sage you’re always going to be

named “the full one” in each lifetime .” Verse 8

Walt 3927 After falling from that body,

I went to the world of the gods.

There a divinely-made perfume

is then exuded in the sky. Verse 9

Walt 3928 Even in that world of gods the

name assigned me was “the full one.”

Whether born human or divine,

I fulfill all my intentions. Verse 10

Walt 3929 This is the final time for me;

my last rebirth is proceeding.

And here as well “the full one” is

the name assigned me that’s well known. Verse 11

Walt 3930 Having regaled the Sambuddha,

Gotama, Bull of the Śākyas,

knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 12

Walt 3931 In the ninety-one aeons since

I did that good karma back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

the fruit of duties for the corpse. Verse 13

Walt 3932 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 14

Walt 3933 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 15

Walt 3934 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 16

Thus indeed Venerable Puṇṇaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Puṇṇaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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