Tha Ap 406Dhotaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

401. {404.} Dhotaka

Walt 3962 The River named Bhāgīrathī

is fed by the Himalayas.

It is always flowing along,

past the gate of Haṁsavatī. Verse 1

Walt 3963 The hermitage named Sobhita,

well-built, is on the river’s slopes.

The Buddha, Padumuttara,

the World’s Leader, was dwelling there. Verse 2

Walt 3964 He was honored the people,

like Indra by the thirty gods .

The Blessed One was seated there

fearlessly just like a lion. Verse 3

Walt 3965 I was a brahmin living in

the city of Haṁsavatī.

My name back then was Chalaṇga,

named thus because I was a sage. Verse 4

Walt 3966 One thousand eight hundred students

were surrounding me at that time.

Joined together with those students,

I went up to the riverbank. Verse 5

Walt 3967 At that place I saw Buddhist monks,

without deceit, cleansed of evil,

crossing Bhāgīrathī River .

At that time I reflected thus: Verse 6

Walt 3968 “These sons of Buddha, of great fame,

are crossing evening and morning;

they are being troubled themselves,

and their things are getting ruined. Verse 7

Walt 3969 The Buddha’s said to be the Chief

of the world including the gods.

I have not yet made donations

that would cleanse my road to rebirth. Verse 8

Walt 3970 Why then don’t I get a bridge built

on the river for Best Buddha?

Causing that work to be done, I’ll

transmigrate in this existence.” Verse 9

Walt 3971 Donating a hundred thousand

I had a bridge built for him there ,

trusting that “doing this deed will

be of great advantage to me.” Verse 10

Walt 3972 Having caused that bridge to be built,

I went up to the World-Leader.

Hands pressed together on my head,

I spoke these words to him back then : Verse 11

Walt 3973 “Donating one hundred thousand,

I’ve caused this magnificent bridge

to be constructed for your sake;

please accept it , O Sage So Great.” Verse 12

Walt 3974 Padumuttara, World-Knower,

Sacrificial Recipient,

seated in the monks’ Assembly,

spoke these verses about me then : Verse 13

Walt 3975 “He who had this bridge built for me,

feeling well- pleased by his own hands,

I shall relate details of him;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 14

Walt 3976 Fallen into a cave or from

the top of a mountain or tree,

even dying he will get caught:

that’s the fruit of giving bridges. Verse 15

Walt 3977 As the wind does not disturb a

banyan spreading its growing roots,

enemies will not defeat him :

that’s the fruit of giving bridges. Verse 16

Walt 3978 No thieves are going to defeat him

and the king will not despise him .

He’ll surpass all his enemies:

that’s the fruit of giving bridges. Verse 17

Walt 3979 Even in an unsheltered space,

being scorched by the sun’s harsh heat,

conforming with his good karma,

he won’t feel any discomfort. Verse 18

Walt 3980 In the world of gods or of men,

a well-built elephant-carriage

all of the time will come to be,

discerning what he is thinking. Verse 19

Walt 3981 A thousand fast carriages with

Sindh horses as quick as the wind

will come to him evening and morning:

that’s the fruit of giving bridges. Verse 20

Walt 3982 Having come to the human state,

this one is going to be happy;

here too for this very man the

elephant-carriage will appear. Verse 21

Walt 3983 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 22

Walt 3984 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

knowing well all the defilements

he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.” Verse 23

Walt 3985 O! that karma well-done by me

for him whose name is “Best Lotus.”

Having done that deed for him there,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 24

Walt 3986 Having put forth exertion, I’m

calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth;

like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 25

Walt 3988 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

All defilements are exhausted;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 26

Walt 3987 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 27

Walt 3989 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 28

Thus indeed Venerable Dhotaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Dhotaka Thera is finished.

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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