Tha Ap 543Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Bhaddiya Chapter, the Fifty-Fifth

538. {541.} Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya

Walt 6023 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the One with Eyes for everything,

the One who had Five Eyes, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6024 I then lived in Haṁsavatī,

a millionaire’s son, very rich.

While wandering about on foot,

I went to the monks’ hermitage. Verse 2

Walt 6025 At that time, the Torch for the World,

the Leader was preaching Dhamma .

He heaped praised on a follower,

distinguished among the sweet-voiced. Verse 3

Walt 6026 After hearing that, being thrilled,

I did a deed for the Great Sage.

Having worshipped the Teacher’s feet,

I aspired to attain that place. Verse 4

Walt 6027 Then amidst the monks’ Assembly,

the Buddha, the Guide, prophesied:

“Very far into the future,

he’ll receive that delightful place . Verse 5

Walt 6028 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 6

Walt 6029 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one whose name is Bhaddiya

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 7

Walt 6030 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 8

Walt 6031 Then ninety-two aeons ago,

the Leader named Phussa arose,

Hard to Approach, Hard to Subdue,

Supreme in All Worlds, the Victor. Verse 9

Walt 6032 He was Endowed with Good Conduct,

Lofty, Upright and Majestic,

Wishing Well for every being,

he freed many folks from bondage. Verse 10

Walt 6033 I was then a speckled cuckoo,

in his fine hermitage, “Nanda.”

I’m living in a mango tree,

near Phussa Buddha’s perfumed hut. Verse 11

Walt 6034 Having seen the Supreme Victor,

Worthy of Gifts, going for alms,

bringing pleasure to my own heart,

I cried out with a sweet tone then. Verse 12

Walt 6035 Then going to the royal park,

taking a cluster of mangoes,

very ripe, with gold -colored skin,

I brought them to the Sambuddha. Verse 13

Walt 6036 Then knowing my heart, the Victor,

with Great Compassion, the Leader,

took his bowl for accepting alms

from the hand of his attendant. Verse 14

Walt 6037-6038 “Happy-hearted I’m giving the

Great Sage a mango-cluster placed

in the bowl with both my wings pressed

in praise,” I cried with a sweet tone,

a sound delightful to the ears ,

worth hearing, very beautiful,

for the sake of Buddha- pūjā ,

then going to my nest laid down. Verse 15-16

Walt 6039 Then a hawk with an evil mind,

after flying up slaughtered me,

loving-kindness in my heart, my

wishes turned to love of Buddha. Verse 17

Walt 6040 Fallen from there, in Tusitā,

having enjoyed great happiness,

I came into a human womb ,

through the power of that karma. Verse 18

Walt 6041 In this present lucky aeon

Brahmā’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,

named Kassapa through his lineage,

Best Debater, Buddha, arose. Verse 19

Walt 6042 Lighting up the dispensation,

overcoming evil rivals,

instructing the instruct-able, he

reached nirvana, with followers. Verse 20

Walt 6043 When the World-Chief reached nirvana,

a numerous multitude, pleased,

are building the Teacher’s stupa,

in order to worship Buddha. Verse 21

Walt 6044 They counseled one another thus:

“Let’s build for him , the Sage So Great,

a stupa that’s seven leagues tall ,

adorned with all the seven gems.” Verse 22

Walt 6045 As the leader of the army

of the king of Kāsi, Kiki,

I spoke of a trifling measure,

as the measure of the stupa. Verse 23

Walt 6046 At that time, because of my word,

they built a stupa one league tall

for him the Hero among Men,

which was adorned with varied gems. Verse 24

Walt 6047 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 25

Walt 6048 And now, in my final rebirth,

I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,

rich, prosperous, very wealthy,

in the great city, Śrāvasti. Verse 26

Walt 6049 At the city’s entrance seeing

the Buddha, my mind astonished,

going forth, in not a long time,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 27

Walt 6050 Due to the karma of making

the stupa’s measure smaller ,

I’m born with a dwarfish body,

which is worthy of disrespect. Verse 28

Walt 6051 Having worshipped the Seventh Sage

with a sound which was honey -sweet ,

I attained the top place among

the monks with voices that are sweet. Verse 29

Walt 6052 Due to giving the Buddha fruit,

and my conforming with virtue,

endowed with the fruit of monkhood,

I am now living, undefiled. Verse 30

Walt 6053 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 31

Walt 6054 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 32

Walt 6055 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 33

Thus indeed Venerable Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya 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