Tha Ap 408Nanda

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

403. {406.} Nanda

Walt 4050 I was a deer-hunter back then,

within a grove in the forest.

While searching after spotted deer,

I saw the Self-Become One there . Verse 1

Walt 4051 The Sambuddha named Anuraddha,

the Self-Become, Unconquered One,

Seclusion-Lover, the Wise One,

plunged into the forest back then. Verse 2

Walt 4052 Having gathered four sticks of wood,

I placed them in four corner- spots.

Building a well-built pavilion,

I covered it with lotus blooms. Verse 3

Walt 4053 Having covered the pavilion,

I greeted the Self-Become One.

Laying aside my bow right there,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 4

Walt 4054 A short time after going forth,

I was afflicted with illness.

Transmigrating through past karma,

I passed away right then and there. Verse 5

Walt 4055 Bound up with my former karma,

I went to Tusitā heaven.

There a mansion made out of gold

is produced according to wish. Verse 6

Walt 4056 My divine carriage stands in wait,

a thousand-horse-yoked vehicle.

Ascending into that carriage,

I travel according to wish. Verse 7

Walt 4057 When I am going out from there,

having been reborn as a god,

a pavilion’s held up for me

a hundred leagues on every side. Verse 8

Walt 4058 I always nestle on a bed

that’s constantly strewn with flowers.

And from the sky, pink lotuses

are raining on me all the time. Verse 9

Walt 4059 When the rays of light are throbbing,

and the sun’s heat scorches the world ,

the heat is not oppressing me:

that’s the fruit of a pavilion. Verse 10

Walt 4060 I pass beyond all bad rebirth;

the states of woe are closed to me.

In a pavilion or tree-root,

burning heat is not known by me. Verse 11

Walt 4061 Fixing perception on the earth,

I cross over the great ocean.

That’s my well-done karma, the fruit

of doing that Buddha- pūjā . Verse 12

Walt 4062 Making roads, even with no road,

I am traveling in the sky.

O! that karma well-done by me:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 13

Walt 4063 I know former existences,

the “divine eye” is purified,

my defilements are all destroyed:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 14

Walt 4064 Buddha’s legitimate offspring,

worthy heir to the Great Teaching,

I’ve renounced my earlier birth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 15

Walt 4065 I’m one who pleased the Well-Gone-One,

Gotama, Bull of the Śākyas,

the Dhamma ’s heir, I bear its flag:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 16

Walt 4066 After serving the Sambuddha,

Gotama, Bull of the Śākyas,

I asked the Leader of the World

about the path that goes beyond. Verse 17

Walt 4067 Being asked, the Buddha then told

the deep and subtle state beyond .

Having heard that Teaching of his,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 18

Walt 4068 O! that karma well-done by me!

I’m fully freed from being born;

I have destroyed all defilements;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 19

Walt 4069 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 20

Walt 4070 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 21

Walt 4071 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 22

Thus indeed Venerable Nanda Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Nanda 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org