Tha Ap 440Harīṭakadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

435. {438.} Harīṭakadāyaka

Walt 4689 Myrobalan and gooseberry,

mango, rose-apple, bahera,

jujube, markingnut, bel—

I’m carrying that by myself. Verse 1

Walt 4690-4691 Seeing a Meditator, Sage,

Trance-Lover, on a mountain slope,

a Great Sage dwelling there alone,

who was tormented by disease,

taking a myrobalan, I

gave it to the Self-Become One.

When the medicine was eaten,

it allayed the Buddha’s illness. Verse 2-3

Walt 4692-4693 With his pain eliminated,

the Buddha then expressed his thanks:

“Due to this gift of medicine

and the allaying of illness,

being divine or human, or

born in another existence,

may you be happy everywhere,

and may illness not come to you.” Verse 4-5

Walt 4694 Having said this, the Sambuddha,

the Self-Become One, the Great Sage,

the Hero, rose into the sky,

just like a swan-king in the air. Verse 6

Walt 4695 From when I gave myrobalan

to the Great Sage, the Self-Become,

until this present birth of mine,

illness did not arise for me. Verse 7

Walt 4696 This is the final time for me;

my last rebirth is proceeding.

The three knowledges are attained;

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 8

Walt 4697 In the ninety-four aeons since

I gave him medicine back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that is the fruit of medicine. Verse 9

Walt 4698 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 10

Walt 4699 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 4700 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 12

Thus indeed Venerable Harīṭakadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Harīṭakadāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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