Tha Ap 481Pānadhidāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

476. {479.} Pānadhidāyaka

Walt 5006 Anomadassi, Blessed One,

the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,

gone out during the siesta,

got on the road, the Eyeful One. Verse 1

Walt 5007 Taking a well-made pair of shoes,

I also went along the road.

There I saw him , the Sambuddha,

Carrying a Bowl, Good-Looking. Verse 2

Walt 5008 Bringing pleasure to my own heart,

taking out those shoes that I had ,

placing them at the Buddha’s feet,

I spoke these words to him back then : Verse 3

Walt 5009 “Put on these shoes , O Sage So Great,

O Well-Gone-One, O Lord, O Guide.

I will receive the fruit from this;

let the purpose succeed for me!” Verse 4

Walt 5010 Anomadassi, Blessed One,

the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,

after having put on those shoes,

spoke these words about me back then : Verse 5

Walt 5011 “This one who gave these shoes to me,

feeling well- pleased by his own hands,

I shall relate details of him;

all of you listen to my words:” Verse 6

Walt 5012 Knowing that Buddha would speak, the

gods all came together there then ,

happy, stirred up with emotion,

thrilled, with their hands together. Verse 7

Walt 5013 “Due to this offering of shoes,

this one is going to be happy,

and fifty-five different times,

he will exercise divine rule. Verse 8

Walt 5014 A thousand times he’ll be a king,

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

And there will be much local rule,

innumerable by counting. Verse 9

Walt 5015 Aeons beyond measure from now,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 10

Walt 5016 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

knowing well all the defilements,

he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled. Verse 11

Walt 5017 Merit-filled, he’ll be reborn in

the world of the gods or of men;

he will receive vehicles, which

resemble divine vehicles.” Verse 12

Walt 5018 My palaces and palanquins,

ornamented elephants and

chariots yoked with thoroughbreds

are always appearing for me. Verse 13

Walt 5019 When I’m departing from the house,

I depart on a chariot.

When my hair was being cut off,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 14

Walt 5020 The gain for me was well-received,

that carefully hiring merchants,

then giving just one pair of shoes,

I’ve attained the unshaking state. Verse 15

Walt 5021 During aeons beyond measure

since I gave those shoes at that time ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of a pair of shoes. Verse 16

Walt 5022 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 17

Walt 5023 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 18

Walt 5024 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 19

Thus indeed Venerable Pānadhidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pānadhidāyaka Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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