Tha Ap 43Upāli (2)

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Upāli Chapter, the Fifth

41. Upāli (2)

Walt 1116 The World’s Great Lord, surrounded by

a thousand arahants undefiled,

being one bound to solitude

went off into seclusion then . Verse 1

Walt 1117 I was dressed in deer-leather clothes ,

carrying a triple rod there .

Then I saw the Chief of the World

encompassed by the Assembly. Verse 2

Walt 1118 Placing deer-hide on one shoulder,

hands pressed together on my head,

having worshipped the Sambuddha,

I praised the World-Leader kindly: Verse 3

Walt 1119 “Just as all birds, crows and so on,

hatched from eggs or born out of sweat,

born in wombs or viviparous,

always travel across the sky; Verse 4

Walt 1120 Whatever creatures may exist,

those with and without consciousness,

are all of them included in

the great knowledge that you possess. Verse 5

Walt 1121 Whatever mountain scents there are

in the supreme Himalaya

they all can’t match even a bit

the scent of your morality. Verse 6

Walt 1122 This world together with its gods

is grasped by the darkness-makers.

When your knowledge is shining forth

the darkness-makers are destroyed. Verse 7

Walt 1123 Just as creatures are in the dark

when the sun has set for the day ,

this world’s enshrouded in darkness

when a Buddha has not appeared. Verse 8

Walt 1124 Just as the sun when it rises

drives away darkness every day,

so too do you, O Best Buddha,

destroy the darkness every day. Verse 9

Walt 1125 You are one bent on exertion,

Buddha in the world with its gods.

Through their delight in your karma

you satisfy many people.” Verse 10

Walt 1126 Then giving thanks for all of that,

the Great Sage Padumuttara,

the Hero, flew into the sky

just like a swan-king in the air. Verse 11

Walt 1127 Having flown off, the Sambuddha,

the Great Sage Padumuttara,

the Teacher, standing in the sky,

spoke these verses about me then : Verse 12

Walt 1128 “I shall relate details of him

who has made this praise of knowledge,

combined with good analogies;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 13

Walt 1129 Eighteen different times he will be

the king over all of the gods.

He will reside upon the earth

and have three hundred earthly reigns. Verse 14

Walt 1130 Full five hundred times he will reign,

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

and he will have much local rule

innumerable by counting. Verse 15

Walt 1131 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 16

Walt 1132 Having fallen from Tusitā,

incited by his wholesome roots,

a low ascetic with dreadlocks,

he will be known as Upāli. Verse 17

Walt 1133 And afterwards, having gone forth,

driving away every evil,

knowing well all the defilements,

he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled. Verse 18

Walt 1134 And the Śākyas’ Son, Greatly Famed,

the Buddha known as Gotama,

pleased by his Vinaya knowledge

will place him in that foremost place.” Verse 19

Walt 1135 I, after going forth with faith,

did my duty , am undefiled.

Knowing well all the defilements,

without defilements I now live. Verse 20

Walt 1136 The Blessed One did pity me;

I am skilled in the Vinaya .

Delighted by my own karma

I’m living without defilements. Verse 21

Walt 1137 Self-controlled in monastic rules

and in the five organs of sense,

I carry all the Vinaya

entirely, that gemstone-mine. Verse 22

Walt 1138 And then, discerning my virtue,

the Teacher, the Best in the World,

seated in the monks’ Assembly,

did place me in that foremost place. Verse 23

Walt 1139 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 24

Thus indeed Venerable Upāli Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Upāli 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