Tha Ap 432Sovaṇṇakattarika

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

427. {430.} Sovaṇṇakattarika

Walt 4617 The Self-Composed One, the Buddha,

the Self-Tamer, Attentive One,

Wandering the Path of Brahmā,

Delighting in Mental Relief, Verse 1

Walt 4618 the Flood-Crosser, the Sambuddha,

Who Loves Meditation and Trance,

the Sage, the Seated One, Attainer,

Brilliant as Blue Lotus Petals: Verse 2

Walt 4619 I approached him, the Best Buddha,

taking a gourd to hold water.

After washing the Buddha’s feet,

I gave that water- gourd to him . Verse 3

Walt 4620 The Sambuddha then had it fetched,

the Leader, Padumuttara,

“Bringing more water with this gourd,

place it at the soles of my feet.” Verse 4

Walt 4621 Agreeing, saying, “Excellent,”

and with respect for the Teacher,

carrying water with the gourd,

I brought it to the Best Buddha. Verse 5

Walt 4622 The Great Hero gave thanks for that,

quenching the anguish in my heart,

“Because of giving me this gourd,

let what you think be accomplished.” Verse 6

Walt 4623 For fifteen aeons after that,

I delighted in the gods’ world,

and thirty times I was a king,

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 7

Walt 4624 Whether by day or else by night,

walking back and forth or standing,

a water pot made out of gold

is standing right in front of me. Verse 8

Walt 4625 Giving a gourd to the Buddha,

I receive a gold water-pot:

the deed done with little trouble

becomes huge like that later on . Verse 9

Walt 4626 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I gave him that gourd back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of giving a gourd. Verse 10

Walt 4627 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 11

Walt 4628 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 12

Walt 4629 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 13

Thus indeed Venerable Sovaṇṇakattarika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sovaṇṇakattarika Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Sakiṁsammajjaka Thera,

Ekadussī, thus Āsanī,

then Kadamba and Koraṇḍa,

Ghataṅ, also Savanika,

Sucintita, Kiṇkhanika,

and Soṇṇa-Kattarika too:

there are a hundred verses here

plus seventy-one more verses

The Sakiṁsammajjaka Chapter, the Forty-Third

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.

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