Tha Ap 446Bhallāṭakadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

441. {444.} Bhallāṭakadāyaka

Walt 4738-4739 Spreading out a rug made of grass

for the Gold-Colored Sambuddha,

Bearing the Thirty-two Great Marks,

flying along the forest top,

like a regal sal tree in bloom,

I asked him, the Best of Buddhas:

“let the Buddha show me mercy;

I would like to give you alms food.” Verse 1-2

Walt 4740 Merciful, Compassionate One,

Atthadassi, Greatly Famed One,

discerning what I was thinking,

descended to my hermitage. Verse 3

Walt 4741 Descending, the Sambuddha then

sat down on that mat made of leaves.

Having taken some markingnut,

I gave it to the Best Buddha. Verse 4

Walt 4742 While I meditated on him ,

the Victor then consumed that fruit .

Bringing pleasure to my heart there,

I then worshipped him, the Victor. Verse 5

Walt 4743 In the eighteen hundred aeons

since I gave him that fruit back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that is the fruit of giving fruit. Verse 6

Walt 4744 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 7

Walt 4745 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 4746 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 9

Thus indeed Venerable Bhallāṭakadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Bhallāṭakadāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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