Tha Ap 405Mettagu

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

400. {403.} Mettagu

Walt 3935 In the Himalayan region,

there’s a mountain named Asoka.

In that place was my hermitage,

constructed by Vissakamma. Verse 1

Walt 3936 The Sambuddha named Sumedha,

Chief, Compassionate One, the Sage,

dressing himself in the morning,

approached me begging for alms food. Verse 2

Walt 3937 Seeing the Great Hero who’d come,

Sumedha, Leader of the World,

taking a good alms-bowl, I

filled it with clarified butter. Verse 3

Walt 3938 Giving it to the Best Buddha,

Sumedha, Leader of the World,

pressing both my hands together,

I brought pleasure to my heart there . Verse 4

Walt 3940 Because of this ghee-offering,

made with intention and resolve,

whether born human or divine,

I obtain enormous comfort. Verse 5

Walt 3941 Avoiding states of suffering,

I transmigrate from birth to birth.

Having resolved my heart on it,

I’m obtaining the deathless state. Verse 6

Walt 3942 “This gain for you is well-received,

which is that you saw me, brahmin.

Having arrived to look at me,

you’re going to be an arahant. Verse 7

Walt 3943 Be confident and have no fear,

after finding the Great-Famed One.

Having given this ghee to me,

you will be freed from being born. Verse 8

Walt 3944 Because of this ghee-offering

and practicing with loving heart,

for eighteen hundred aeons you

will delight in the world of gods. Verse 9

Walt 3945 And eighteen times you also will

become the king of all the gods,

and you will have much local rule,

innumerable by counting. Verse 10

Walt 3946 And fifty-one times you will be

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

lord of the grove of rose-apples,

victorious on all four sides. Verse 11

Walt 3947 Unperturbed like the great ocean,

as hard to carry as the earth,

in just that way your possessions

are going to be immeasurable.” Verse 12

Walt 3948 I went forth after giving up

six hundred million worth of gold.

Seeking after what is wholesome,

I first went up to Bāvarī. Verse 13

Walt 3949 While I studied the mantras there,

Vedic science and reading marks,

you arose in the world , Great Sage,

destroying that bewilderment. Verse 14

Walt 3950 Having a desire to see you,

I came up to you , O Great Sage.

Having listened to your Teaching,

I then attained the deathless state. Verse 15

Walt 3951 Thirty thousand aeons ago

I gave that ghee to the Buddha.

In the interval I don’t know

any begging of ghee by me. Verse 16

Walt 3952 My intentions being discerned,

what I wish for then arises.

My heart discerned I am reborn,

and I gratify everyone. Verse 17

Walt 3953 O! the Buddha! O! the Teaching!

O! our Teacher’s great achievement!

After giving a bit of ghee,

I receive immeasurably. Verse 18

Walt 3954 The water in the great ocean,

the extent of Mt. Meru’s slope,

would not be one half a quarter

of the ghee arising for me. Verse 19

Walt 3955 The universe’s full extent,

made into a gigantic pile

would not be able to fill the

space of the clothing worn by me. Verse 20

Walt 3956 Himalaya, king of mountains,

although it is the best mountain,

is not even comparable

to the perfumes anointing me. Verse 21

Walt 3957 Clothes and perfumes and ghee and food,

or everything that’s in the world,

and nirvana, unconditioned:

that is the fruit of giving ghee. Verse 22

Walt 3958 My couch today is mindfulness,

my pasture’s meditative states,

my food is wisdom’s seven parts:

that is the fruit of giving ghee. Verse 23

Walt 3959 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 24

Walt 3960 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 25

Walt 3961 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 26

Thus indeed Venerable Mettagu Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mettagu Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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