Tha Ap 475Ukkāsatika

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

470. {473.} Ukkāsatika

Walt 4965 The Blessed One named Kosika,

Meditator, Trance-Loving One,

Buddha, Seclusion-Lover, Sage,

lived on Cittakūṭa back then. Verse 1

Walt 4966 Plunged into the Himalayas,

attended by troops of women,

I saw him , Kosika Buddha,

like the moon on the fifteenth day. Verse 2

Walt 4967 With a hundred flaming -torches,

I waited on him at that time.

Remaining seven nights and days,

on the eighth day I departed. Verse 3

Walt 4968 With a pleased heart, having worshipped

the Self-Become, Unconquered One,

Kosika Buddha, when he rose,

I also gave one meal to him . Verse 4

Walt 4969 Through that karma for the World’s Best,

the Biped-Lord, the Bull of Men,

I was reborn in Tusitā:

that is the fruit of that one meal. Verse 5

Walt 4970 During the day and also at

night, there is always light for me;

on all sides for a hundred leagues,

I am permeated by light. Verse 6

Walt 4971 In the fifty-fifth aeon hence

I was a king who turns the wheel,

lord of the grove of rose-apples,

victorious on all four sides. Verse 7

Walt 4972 My city at that time was rich,

prosperous and well-constructed.

It measured thirty leagues in length,

and it was twenty leagues in width. Verse 8

Walt 4973 My city was named Sobhana;

it was built by Vissakamma.

It did not lack for the ten sounds,

well-accompanied by cymbals. Verse 9

Walt 4974 No thing in that city was \[made

of\] sticks or of vines or of clay.

Everything was made out of gold,

and it was shining all the time. Verse 10

Walt 4975 Four rampart walls surrounded it ;

they were constructed out of gems.

In the middle, a palmyra

pond was made by Vissakamma. Verse 11

Walt 4976 There were ten thousand ponds as well ,

covered with pink and blue lotus,

covered with white lotuses too ,

all exuding varied perfumes. Verse 12

Walt 4977 In the ninety-four aeons since

I carried those torches for him ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

the fruit of carrying torches. Verse 13

Walt 4978 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 14

Walt 4979 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 15

Walt 4980 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 16

Thus indeed Venerable Ukkāsatika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ukkāsatika 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