Tha Ap 436Ñāṇathavika

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

431. {434.} Ñāṇathavika

Walt 4664 I saw the Ultimate Biped,

shining like a dinner-plate tree,

blazing forth like a tree of lamps,

glittering as though made of gold. Verse 1

Walt 4665 Putting aside my water-pot,

my robes of bark and my ewer,

placing deer-hide on one shoulder,

I then praised him, the Best Buddha: Verse 2

Walt 4666 “Great Sage, shedding the knowledge-light,

which dispels confusion-darkness

produced by the delusion-web,

you’re the One who has Crossed Over. Verse 3

Walt 4667 O Unexcelled One, you lift up

this world in its entirety;

there is not in its whole extent

a simile for your knowledge. Verse 4

Walt 4668 Due to that knowledge, the Buddha

is known as “the Omniscient One.”

Great Hero, I’m worshipping him,

the Unobstructed, All-Knower.” Verse 5

Walt 4669 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I praised the Best of Buddhas,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of praising knowledge. Verse 6

Walt 4670 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 7

Walt 4671 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 8

Walt 4672 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 9

Thus indeed Venerable Ñāṇathavika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ñāṇathavika 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.

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