Tha Ap 533Mahākaccāna

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Kaccāna Chapter, the Fifty-Fourth

528. {531.} Mahākaccāna

Walt 5663 The Victor, Padumuttara,

Lust-less, Unconquered Vanquisher,

the Leader came into being,

one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 5664 The Hero, with Lotus-Leaf Eyes,

with a Mouth as Pure as the Moon,

Shining like a Mountain of Gold,

Bright as the Sun when it’s Blazing, Verse 2

Walt 5665 Transporting Beings’ Eyes and Minds,

Adorned with the Excellent Marks,

Traveled the Roads of All Sayings,

Honored by People and the Gods, Verse 3

Walt 5666-5667 Sambuddha, waking beings up,

Eloquent One, Sweet-Sounding One,

Compassion’s Continuous Nest,

Confident among Multitudes,

is preaching the sweet Teaching there ,

taking up the Four Noble Truths.

He is lifting up those with breath,

when they’re sunk in delusion’s muck. Verse 4-5

Walt 5668 Being an ascetic, alone,

my home was Himalaya then.

I saw the Victor, traveling

the world of humans through the sky. Verse 6

Walt 5669 Having gone into his presence,

I then heard him preaching Dhamma

and praising the great virtue of

one of that Hero’s followers: Verse 7

Walt 5670-5671 “Whereby this monk Kaccāyana

provides lengthy explanations

of what’s been said by me in brief,

he gladdens multitudes, and me.

I see no other follower

or anyone preaching this way.

Thus he’s top, in that foremost place;

so should you consider him , monks.” Verse 8-9

Walt 5672-5673 At that time, being astonished,

having heard that lovely speaking,

going to the Himalayas,

bringing back a heap of flowers,

having worshipped the World’s-Refuge,

I aspired to attain that place.

At that time, discerning my wish,

the Refuge-less One prophesied: Verse 10-11

Walt 5673-5674 “All of you, look at this great sage,

skin the color of polished gold,

hair growing upward, broad-shouldered,

standing steadfast, hands together,

with eyes which are full of laughter,

at home in praising the Buddha,

grasping the Teaching superbly,

resembling sprinkled ambrosia. Verse 12-13

Walt 5675-5676 Hearing of Kaccāna’s virtue,

he stands there wishing for that place.

When very far in the future,

the Sage So Great is Gotama,

Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

this one will be that Teacher’s follower;

his name will be Kaccāna then . Verse 14-15

Walt 5677 Very learned, with great knowledge,

clever at conclusions, a sage,

he will attain that wished-for place,

as this has been foretold by me.” Verse 16

Walt 5678 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I did that karma back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 17

Walt 5679 I transmigrate in just two states:

that of a god, or of a man.

I don’t go to other rebirths:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 18

Walt 5680 When human I‘m born in two clans:

the kṣatriyan or the brahmin.

I don’t get born in lesser clans:

that’s the fruit of Buddha- pūjā . Verse 19

Walt 5681-5682 Now, in my final existence,

I was born in Ujjain city,

sharp, a master of the Vedas,

the son of Tiriṭivaccha,

who was the brahmin counsellor

of the king , Pajjota Caṇḍa;

my mother’s Candapaduma;

I’m Kaccāna, with superb skin. Verse 20-21

Walt 5683-5684 Dispatched by the earth’s protector

to go and invite the Buddha,

having seen the Heap of Virtue,

Leader, Door to Freedom City,

and having heard his flawless speech

which cleanses the muck of rebirth,

I attained deathless peacefulness,

with five hundred associates . Verse 22-23

Walt 5685 Clever at conclusions by birth,

very wealthy and good-looking,

I was placed in that foremost place

of the Well-Gone-One, the Wise One. Verse 24

Walt 5686 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 25

Walt 5687 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 26

Walt 5688 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 27

Thus indeed Venerable Mahākaccāna Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahākaccāna 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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