Tha Ap 425Ekâsanadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

420. {423.} Ekâsanadāyaka

Walt 4497 In the Himalayan region,

there’s a mountain named Kosika.

My well-built hermitage is there,

with well-fashioned halls made of leaves. Verse 1

Walt 4498 My name back then was Nārada,

and I was known as Kassapa.

I’m living on Kosika then,

seeking the path of purity. Verse 2

Walt 4499 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the Great Master of Everything,

Solitude-Lover, Sambuddha,

came there in the path of the wind. Verse 3

Walt 4500 Seeing the rays of the Great Sage,

flying over the forest then ,

I prepared a couch out of sticks,

and spread my leather robe on it . Verse 4

Walt 4501 After preparing him that seat,

hands pressed together on my head,

declaring my great state of mind,

I spoke these words to him back then : Verse 5

Walt 4502 “ You are the Surgeon, Great Hero,

the Physician for the diseased.

O Guide, give your healing to me ,

one who’s afflicted with disease. Verse 6

Walt 4503 O Sage, those seeking what is right

who see you, O Best of Buddhas,

always gain success in their goal:

existence is shattered for them. Verse 7

Walt 4504 There’s nothing for me to give you;

I live eating only wild fruits.

But I do have this seat to give;

sit down on this couch made of sticks.” Verse 8

Walt 4505 The Blessed One did sit down there,

unfrightened like a lion -king .

After spending a moment there,

he spoke these words to me back then : Verse 9

Walt 4506 “Be confident, don’t be afraid;

you have obtained a wishing stone.

Everything which you have wished for

will be fulfilled in the future. Verse 10

Walt 4507 It is no trifle, what you’ve done,

in the unexcelled merit-field.

Self-lifting up is possible

for one whose mind is well- controlled. Verse 11

Walt 4508 Because of this gift of a seat,

done with intention and resolve,

for one hundred thousand aeons

you won’t fall into suffering. Verse 12

Walt 4509 Fifty times the lord of the gods,

you will exercise divine rule,

and eighty times you’ll be a king,

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 13

Walt 4510 And there will be much local rule,

innumerable by counting.

Being happy in every place,

you’ll transmigrate in existence.” Verse 14

Walt 4511 Having said this, the Sambuddha,

the Leader, Ultimate Lotus,

the Hero rose into the sky,

just like a swan-king in the air. Verse 15

Walt 4512 Elephant- and horse-vehicles,

with chariots and palanquins—

I am obtaining all of them:

that’s the fruit of a single seat. Verse 16

Walt 4513 Even having entered the woods,

whenever I wish for a seat,

discerning what I am thinking,

a palanquin’s waiting on me. Verse 17

Walt 4514 Being gone into the water

whenever I wish for a seat,

discerning what I am thinking,

a palanquin’s waiting on me. Verse 18

Walt 4515 In whichever womb I’m reborn,

whether it’s human or divine,

a hundred thousand palanquins

are waiting on me all the time. Verse 19

Walt 4516 I transmigrate in just two states:

that of a god, or of a man.

When human I‘m born in two clans:

the kṣatriyan or the brahmin. Verse 20

Walt 4517 Having given a single seat

in the unexcelled merit-field,

taking the Teaching-palanquin,

I’m living without defilements. Verse 21

Walt 4518 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I gave that gift at that time,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of a single seat. Verse 22

Walt 4519 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 23

Walt 4520 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 24

Walt 4521 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 25

Thus indeed Venerable Ekâsanadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ekâsanadāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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