Tha Ap 47Pañcahatthiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

45. Pañcahatthiya

Walt 1191 The Sambuddha named Sumedha

was traveling through the bazaar

with downcast eyes, speaking few words,

mindful, with his sense -doors guarded. Verse 1

Walt 1192 Then they brought me —for my top-crest—

five handfuls of water lilies.

I did Buddha- pūjā with them

feeling well- pleased by my own hands. Verse 2

Walt 1193 Then those flowers that I had placed

became the Teacher’s canopy.

They flocked to the Great Elephant

like students to a good teacher. Verse 3

Walt 1194 In the thirty thousand aeons

since I offered him that flower,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 4

Walt 1195 One hundred twenty aeons hence

there were five different kṣatriyans.

All of them were named Hatthiya,

wheel-turning kings with great power. Verse 5

Walt 1196 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 6

Thus indeed Venerable Pañcahatthiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pañcahatthiya 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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