Tha Ap 485Bhisadāyaka

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

480. {483.} Bhisadāyaka

Walt 5057 I, having plunged into a pond,

served by various elephants,

am pulling up lotus root there,

because they’re what I’m eating then. Verse 1

Walt 5058-5059 The Buddha in that period

bore the name Padumuttara.

Wearing cloth dyed red, the Buddha

is traveling through the sky there ,

shaking his robes made out of rags.

Then I heard the sound of his robes ,

and looking upward at the sky,

I saw the Leader of the World. Verse 2-3

Walt 5060-5061 Remaining in that very place,

I invited the World-Leader:

“Honey is flowing from the roots

and milk and oil flow from the stems;

let the Buddha, the Eyeful One,

with pity accept some from me.”

Then the Teacher, Compassionate,

the Greatly Famed One, descended. Verse 4-5a-b

Walt 5062 The Eyeful One, with pity then,

accepted that alms food of mine.

Accepting it , the Sambuddha

expressed his thanks to me like this : Verse 5c-d,.6a-b

Walt 5063 “Be happy, O merit-filled one;

let your rebirth be accomplished.

Due to this gift of lotus root,

may you receive huge happiness.” Verse 6c-f

Walt 5064 Having said that, the Sambuddha,

the one whose name was “Best Lotus,”

the Sambuddha, taking that food,

the Victor flew off through the sky. Verse 7

Walt 5065 Having taken more lotus root,

I came back to my hermitage.

Hanging that root up in a tree,

I remembered my offering. Verse 8

Walt 5066 A massive wind -storm then arose:

it agitated the forest.

The space was filled up with the noise

of thunderbolts bursting forth there . Verse 9

Walt 5067 Then lightening falling from the sky,

struck me right on top of my head.

Because of that, sitting down,

I passed away right on the spot. Verse 10

Walt 5068 Then bound up with my good karma,

I was reborn in Tusitā.

When my human body fell down,

I delighted in the gods’ world. Verse 11

Walt 5069 Eighty-six thousand women then,

decked out in fine clothes and jewelry,

wait on me evening and morning:

the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 12

Walt 5070 Having come to a human womb,

I am then happy all the time.

I have no lack of possessions:

the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 13

Walt 5071 Having then been pitied by him,

the God of Gods, the Neutral One,

all defilements are exhausted;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 14

Walt 5072 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I gave that alms food back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 15

Walt 5073 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 16

Walt 5074 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 17

Walt 5075 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 18

Thus indeed Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Bhisadāyaka 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.

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