Tha Ap 421Patthodanadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

416. {419.} Patthodanadāyaka

Walt 4435 Back then I traveled the forest,

doing regular forest work.

Taking half a pint of cooked rice,

I went to work in the forest . Verse 1

Walt 4436 There I saw him , the Sambuddha,

the Self-Become, Unconquered One,

gone out from the forest for alms.

Having seen him, my heart was pleased. Verse 2

Walt 4437 “I’m bound to working for others,

and no merit exists for me.

I have this half-pint of cooked rice;

I will feed it to the Great Sage.” Verse 3

Walt 4438 Taking that half-pint of rice, I

gave it to the Self-Become One.

While I meditated on him ,

the Sage then consumed that cooked rice . Verse 4

Walt 4439 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 5

Walt 4440 Thirty-six times the lord of gods,

I exercised divine rule there .

Thirty-three times I was a king,

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 6

Walt 4441 There was also much local rule,

innumerable by counting.

I’m always happy and famous:

the fruit of half a pint of rice. Verse 7

Walt 4442 Transmigrating from birth to birth,

I receive wealth without limit.

I have no lack of possessions:

the fruit of half a pint of rice. Verse 8

Walt 4443 Possessions come to be for me,

resembling a river stream;

I cannot even measure them:

the fruit of half a pint of rice. Verse 9

Walt 4444 People say, “Eat this,” “enjoy this,”

“lit down to sleep in this good bed.”

Due to that I’m always happy:

the fruit of half a pint of rice. Verse 10

Walt 4445 In the ninety-four aeons since

I gave him that gift at that time,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

the fruit of half a pint of rice. Verse 11

Walt 4446 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 12

Walt 4447 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 13

Walt 4448 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 14

Thus indeed Venerable Patthodanadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Patthodanadāyaka 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