Tha Ap 412Udena

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

407. {410.} Udena

Walt 4219 In the Himalayan region,

there’s a mountain named Paduma.

My well-built hermitage is there,

with well-fashioned halls made of leaves. Verse 1

Walt 4220 The rivers that are flowing there

have good banks and are beautiful,

with clear water, water that’s cool;

those rivers are always lovely. Verse 2

Walt 4221 There are sheatfish, pāvusa fish,

valaja , reed-fish and red-fish.

They are shining in the river;

the rivers always transport them . Verse 3

Walt 4222 They’re veiled in mango, rose-apple,

kareri and coral-bean tree,

golden shower, trumpet-flower,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 4

Walt 4223 Alangium, red bimbijāl ,

and māyākārī trees in bloom

are diffusing perfumes there ,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 5

Walt 4224 Hiptage vines and sattalika ,

ironwood and sal in flower

are wafting divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 6

Walt 4225 Neem, salalā , yellow cheesewood

and aṭṭhaṅga trees in full bloom,

are wafting divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 7

Walt 4226 My hermitage has lots of fruit:

myrobalan and gooseberry,

mango, rose-apple, bahera,

jujube, markingnut, bel. Verse 8

Walt 4227 There kadam and banana trees

are flowering in my hermitage.

Wafting divine fragrances, they’re

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 9

Walt 4228 Asokapiṇḍī , cavarī ,

and yellow cheesewood trees in bloom,

are wafting divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 10

Walt 4229 Laurel and mountain laurel trees

and timira trees in bloom there,

are wafting divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 11

Walt 4230 Nigguṇḍi , sirinigguṇḍi

and champak trees which are in bloom,

are wafting divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 12

Walt 4231 Near the hermitage there’s a pond,

full of the songs of ruddy geese,

covered with mandālaka blooms

and with pink and blue lotuses. Verse 13

Walt 4232 It has clear water, cool water,

good bathing-fords which are lovely.

It is clear, the same as crystal,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 14

Walt 4233 Pink lotuses are blooming there,

and white and blue lotuses too .

It’s covered in mandālaka ,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 15

Walt 4234 Sheatfish also pāvusa fish,

valaja , reed-fish and red-fish

are swimming around in that pond ,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 16

Walt 4235 Crocodiles and alligators,

tortoises and other fierce beasts,

ogāhas , and pythons too are

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 17

Walt 4236 Pigeons and ravi -swans as well,

ruddy geese and nadīcaras ,

lapwings, also mynah birds are

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 18

Walt 4237 Shrubs like nayita , ambagandhi ,

and screw-pine are blossoming there,

wafting their divine fragrances,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 19

Walt 4238 Lions and tigers and leopards,

bears and wolves, kara bānā bears

are roaming about in the woods,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 20

Walt 4239 Those bearing weights of matted hair,

who wear deer-leather outer robes,

are roaming about in the woods,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 21

Walt 4240 Those hermits wearing deer-leather

are clever, living peacefully,

and they’re all eating little food,

beautifying my hermitage. Verse 22

Walt 4241 Carrying their shoulder yokes,

plunging into the forest then,

eating only roots and wild fruits,

they live in the hermitage then. Verse 23

Walt 4242 They do not carry wood for fires

nor water for washing their feet;

through their collective majesty,

that all gets carried by itself. Verse 24

Walt 4243 Those eighty-four thousand sages

gathered together in that place;

all practice meditation and

are seeking ultimate meaning. Verse 25

Walt 4244 All are ascetics, celibates,

reproving, with vows for fixed minds

and able to fly through the sky;

they live in the hermitage then. Verse 26

Walt 4245 For five days they would congregate,

tranquil and living peacefully,

then worshipping one another,

they’re departing the way they face. Verse 27

Walt 4246 The Victor, Padumuttara,

was the Master of Everything.

Doing away with the darkness,

the Victor arose at that time. Verse 28

Walt 4247 There was a powerful spirit

then, living near my hermitage.

He praised the Sambuddha to me,

the one named “Ultimate Lotus.” Verse 29

Walt 4248 “It is a Buddha who arose,

the Great Sage, Padumuttara;

having gone quickly, Sir, you now

should visit him , the Sambuddha.” Verse 30

Walt 4249 After hearing the spirit’s words,

with a mind that was very clear,

having shored up the hermitage;

I then set out from the forest. Verse 31

Walt 4250 As though my clothes were now in flames,

quickly leaving the hermitage,

staying over a single night,

I came up to Buddha , the Guide. Verse 32

Walt 4251 Padumuttara, World-Knower,

Sacrificial Recipient,

explaining the Four Noble Truths,

was declaring the deathless path. Verse 33

Walt 4252 Taking a pink lotus in bloom,

I went up to the Sage So Great.

Happy, with pleasure in my heart,

I offered it to the Buddha. Verse 34

Walt 2453 Having worshipped the Sambuddha

whose name was “Ultimate Lotus,”

placing deer-hide on one shoulder,

I praised the Leader of the World: Verse 35

Walt 2454 “That knowledge by which the Buddha

now dwells here without defilements,

I shall eulogize that knowledge;

all of you listen to my words. Verse 36

Walt 2455 Blocking the stream of existence,

you ferry all creatures across.

Having listened to your Teaching,

they’re crossing the stream of craving. Verse 37

Walt 2456 You’re the Teacher for those who breathe,

the Banner, the Flag and the Pole;

you are the Goal, the Solid Ground,

the Island, the Best of Bipeds. Verse 38

Walt 4257 The heads of groups throughout the world

are said to be leading teachers.

You are the Chief, Omniscient One;

they have all come into your fold. Verse 39

Walt 4258 Through your knowledge, Omniscient One,

you ferry many folks across.

Coming to take a look at you,

they make an end to suffering. Verse 40

Walt 4259 Whatever perfumes are produced,

waft through this world, O Eyeful One.

None is equal to your sweet scent,

O Field of Merit, O Great Sage. Verse 41

Walt 4260 O Eyeful One, you liberate

from woeful states, and wombs of beasts.

O Great Sage, you are explaining

the unconditioned path of peace.” Verse 42

Walt 4261 Padumuttara, World-Knower,

Sacrificial Recipient,

seated in the monks’ Assembly,

spoke these verses about me then : Verse 43

Walt 4262 “He who thus worshipped my knowledge,

feeling well- pleased by his own hands,

I shall relate details of him;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 44

Walt 4263 For thirty thousand aeons he

will delight in the world of gods.

A thousand time’s he’ll be a king,

a king who turns the wheel of law .” Verse 45

Walt 4264 The gain for me was well-received,

having pleased him , the Sambuddha.

Knowing well all the defilements,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 46

Walt 4265 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 47

Walt 4266 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 48

Walt 4267 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 49

Thus indeed Venerable Udena Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Udena Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Metteyya, Puṇṇaka Thera,

Mettagu, and Dhovaka too,

Upasīva, also Nanda,

and Hemaka seventh from there.

Todeyya and Jatukaṇṇi,

and Udena, greatly famed one.

There are three hundred verses here,

plus eighty-three beyond that count .

The Metteyya Chapter, the Forty-First

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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