Tha Ap 418Ekadīpiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

413. {416.} Ekadīpiya

Walt 4391 When the Well-Gone-One passed away,

Siddhattha, Leader of the World,

all the gods and human beings

are worshipping the Best Biped. Verse 1

Walt 4392 And when a shrine had been set up

for Siddhattha, the World-Leader,

they’re worshipping the Teacher’s shrine

as vigorously as each could. Verse 2

Walt 4393 In the shrine’s vicinity, I

lit a lamp for the Buddha .

I kept my lamp lit the whole night,

until the sun rose the next day . Verse 3

Walt 4394 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 4

Walt 4395 There my well-constructed mansion

was known by the name “Single Lamp.”

One hundred thousand lamps always

are lit for me in the mansion. Verse 5

Walt 4396 Like the sun when it is rising,

my body is always shining.

There is light for me all the time

through all the light of my body. Verse 6

Walt 4397 Right through walls, also right through rocks,

and passing over mountain -top s,

I am seeing, with my own eyes,

even one hundred leagues distant . Verse 7

Walt 4398 And seventy-seven times I

delighted in the world of gods.

And thirty-one different times,

I exercised divine rule there . Verse 8

Walt 4399 And then twenty-eight times I was

a king who turns the wheel of law .

There was also much local rule,

innumerable by counting. Verse 9

Walt 4400 Falling from the world of the gods,

I was born in a mother’s womb.

Even inside my mother’s womb,

one of my eyes remains open. Verse 10

Walt 4401 I went forth into homelessness

when I was only four years old .

When eight months still had not elapsed,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 11

Walt 4402 I purified my “divine eye;”

all new existence is destroyed.

Every defilement is cut off:

that’s the fruit of a single lamp. Verse 12

Walt 4403 Right through walls, also right through rocks;

I am seeing, passing over

even entire mountain -top s:

that’s the fruit of a single lamp. Verse 13

Walt 4404 Uneven spots are even for

me; darkness is not ever known;

I don’t see anything darkly:

that’s the fruit of a single lamp. Verse 14

Walt 4405 In the ninety-four aeons since

I gave Buddha a lamp back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of a single lamp. Verse 15

Walt 4406 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 16

Walt 4407 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 17

Walt 4408 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 18

Thus indeed Venerable Ekadīpiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ekadīpiya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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