Tha Ap 433Ekavihāriya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Ekavihāriya Chapter, the Forty-Fourth

428. {431.} Ekavihāriya

Walt 4630 In this present lucky aeon

Brahmā’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,

named Kassapa through his lineage,

Best Debater, Buddha arose. Verse 1

Walt 4631 Non-Delayed One, Unsupported,

Whose Mind is as Level as Space,

Very Empty, Neutral, Not Fond

of Appearances, the Master, Verse 2

Walt 4632 Heart Unattached, Defilement-Free,

Not Mixing in the clan and group,

Greatly Compassionate, Hero,

Skilled in means of disciplining, Verse 3

Walt 4633-4634 Active in duties to others,

Training the whole world with its gods,

Drying Up the muddiness on

road that leads to nirvana—

undying, supreme enjoyment,

obstacle to old age and death—

the One Who Helps the World Across

was seated amidst a huge crowd. Verse 4-5

Walt 4635 Lord, with the Voice of a Cuckoo,

the Sound of Brahmā, Thus-Gone-One,

Lifting those on very bad roads

who are lost without a Leader, Verse 6

Walt 4636 preaching the stainless Teaching then,

the World-Leader was seen by me.

Having listened to his Teaching,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 7

Walt 4637 Going forth, I was then thinking

of the Victor’s dispensation;

weighed down by associations,

I lived alone in lovely woods. Verse 8

Walt 4638 Physical solitude became

the great condition then for me,

possessed of mental solitude,

looking at meetings fearfully. Verse 9

Walt 4639 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 10

Walt 4640 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 11

Walt 4641 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 12

Thus indeed Venerable Ekavihāriya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ekavihāriya 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