Tha Ap 536Dabbamalla

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

531. {534.} Dabbamalla

Walt 5769 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the Sage, Knower of Every World,

the One who had Five Eyes, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 5770 The Admonisher, Instructor,

Crosser-Over of all that breathe,

Skilled at Preaching, he , the Buddha,

caused many folks to cross the flood . Verse 2

Walt 5771 Merciful, Compassionate One,

Well-Wisher of all that breathe, he

established in the five precepts

all the rivals who had arrived. Verse 3

Walt 5772 In this way he was Unconfused

and Very Well-Known by rivals,

Ornamented by arahants

who were masters and neutral ones. Verse 4

Walt 5773 The body of the Sage So Great

rose up fifty-eight cubits tall ;

he was Valuable Like Gold,

Bearing the Thirty-Two Great Marks. Verse 5

Walt 5774 People’s lifespan at that time was

fully one hundred thousand years.

Remaining in the world so long,

he ferried many folks across. Verse 6

Walt 5775 I was then a millionaire’s son

in Haṁsavatī, of great fame.

Approaching the Lamp of the World,

I heard the preaching of Dhamma . Verse 7

Walt 5776 I was happy after hearing

the words of the Buddha praising

his follower, the monk who was

appointing lodgings for the monks. Verse 8

Walt 5777 My head bowed at the feet of the

Great Sage, I aspired to attain

that place, foremost among those who

do the Assembly's management. Verse 9

Walt 5778 At that time the Great Hero spoke;

he praised my karma in this way :

“Who fed the Leader of the World,

with the Assembly, for a week, Verse 10

Walt 5779 whose eyes are just like lotus leaves,

lion-shouldered, with golden skin;

fallen down in front of my feet,

he has wished for that foremost place. Verse 11

Walt 5780 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 12

Walt 5781 That Buddha’s follower will be

well-known by the name of Dabba.

This one is going to be the top

assigner of the lodgings then.” Verse 13

Walt 5782 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 14

Walt 5783 Three hundred times the lord of gods,

I exercised divine rule there ,

and then five hundred times I was

a king who turns the wheel of law . Verse 15

Walt 5784 There was also much local rule,

innumerable by counting.

Through the power of that karma,

I was happy in every place. Verse 16

Walt 5785 The Leader known as Vipassi,

with Insight into Everything,

Charming-Eyed One, arose in the

world, ninety-one aeons ago. Verse 17

Walt 5786 Evil-minded, I reproached a

follower of that Neutral One

who had destroyed all defilements,

despite having known, “he is pure.” Verse 18

Walt 5787 Having provided meal-tickets,

I offered rice well-cooked in milk

to great sages, the followers

of that very Hero of Men. Verse 19

Walt 5788 During this auspicious aeon

Brahmā’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,

named Kassapa through his lineage,

Best Debater, Buddha, arose. Verse 20

Walt 5789 Lighting up the dispensation,

overcoming evil rivals,

instructing the instruct-able, he

reached nirvana, with followers. Verse 21

Walt 5790 Hair-loosened, teary-faced, the gods,

were moved and they wept when the Lord

and students reached nirvana, his

dispensation reaching its goal: Verse 22

Walt 5791 “Alas! We have little merit.

The Dhamma -Eye passes away.

We’ll not see the compliant ones,

we will not hear the great Teaching.” Verse 23

Walt 5792 Just then the whole of this great earth,

which is unshaking, shook with shakes,

and the ocean, as though in grief,

was crying a piteous song. Verse 24

Walt 5793 And drums in all four directions,

were played by non-human beings;

lightening burst out from everywhere,

frightening beings who were there . Verse 25

Walt 5794 Meteors fell down from the sky,

and he whose flag is smoke was seen.

The wild beasts roared piteously,

and all the creatures born on earth. Verse 26

Walt 5795 Seeing fierce omens marking the

setting of the dispensation,

moved, we monks who still remained there,

then thought about it in this way : Verse 27

Walt 5796 “ Now , without our dispensation,

enough with life itself for us .

Entering the forest we’ll strive

in the Victor’s dispensation.” Verse 28

Walt 5797 We saw a tall, superb mountain

there in the forest at that time.

Ascending by a flight of stairs,

we fell down on the flight of stairs. Verse 29

Walt 5798-5799 Then an elder admonished us:

“A Buddha’s rising’s hard to get;

well-got for you is getting faith,

the dispensation’s small remnant.

Fallen down they’re missing their chance,

in the endless suffering-sea.

Therefore strong effort should be made

while the Sage’s thought remains.” Verse 30-31

Walt 5800 That elder was an arahant,

a non-returner followed him.

Fixed in good morality, the

rest of us went to the gods’ world. Verse 32

Walt 5801-5802 In the pure abode that one monk

reached nirvana, crossed existence;

but I and Pukkusāti too ,

Sabhiya, likewise Bāhiya,

so too Kumāra-Kassapa,

reborn here and there we are now

freed from the bonds of existence,

pitied by Gotama Buddha . Verse 33-34

Walt 5803 Born a Kusināran Malla,

even in the womb I’m conscious.

Dead mother raised up on a pyre;

I was one who fell out from that. Verse 35

Walt 5804 I landed on a pile of wood;

therefore I was known as “Dabba.”

Through the strength of holy living,

I was freed, just seven years old. Verse 36

Walt 5805 Due to the fruit of the milk-rice,

I’m endowed with the five fine traits;

due to reproaching the pure monk,

I was urged by many bad folks. Verse 37

Walt 5806 Now I am one who’s passed beyond

both merit and evil karma .

Attaining supreme peacefulness,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 38

Walt 5807 Making the compliant ones laugh,

I appointed lodgings for them .

The Victor, pleased by that virtue,

then placed me in that foremost place. Verse 39

Walt 5808 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 40

Walt 5809 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 41

Walt 5810 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 42

Thus indeed Venerable Dabbamallaputta Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Dabbamallaputta 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