Tha Ap 544Kaṅkha-Revata

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

539. {542.} Kaṅkha-Revata

Walt 6056 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the One with Eyes for everything,

the Leader of the World, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6057 Lion-Jawed and Brahmā-Voiced, his

sound was like a swan’s or a drum’s;

gait heroic like a tusker’s,

very bright like the moon or sun, Verse 2

Walt 6058 Very Wise, the Great Hero, the

Great Meditator, the Great Friend,

Greatly Compassionate, the Lord,

Dispeller of the Great Darkness, Verse 3

Walt 6059 the Three Worlds’ Chief, the Sambuddha,

Sage, Knower of Beings’ Wishes,

leading many who can be led

whenever he preaches Dhamma , Verse 4

Walt 6060 the Victor delighted people,

praising amidst his retinue

a hero, meditator, calm

and undisturbed trance-loving monk . Verse 5

Walt 6061 I then lived in Haṁsavatī,

brahmin master of the Vedas.

Hearing the Teaching, being thrilled,

I aspired to attain that place. Verse 6

Walt 6062 Then the Victor prophesied, the

Leader, amidst the Assembly,

“O brahmin, you should be thrilled, for

you’ll attain that delightful place . Verse 7

Walt 6063 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 8

Walt 6064 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one whose name is Revata

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 9

Walt 6065 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 10

Walt 6066 And now, in my final rebirth,

I’m born in Koliya city,

in a well-off kṣatriyan clan,

rich, prosperous, very wealthy. Verse 11

Walt 6067 When the Buddha preached the Dhamma

in Kapilavastu city ,

being pleased in the Well-Gone-One,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 12

Walt 6068 I had lots of doubts, here and there,

what is proper, what’s improper;

while preaching the supreme Dhamma ,

the Buddha resolved all of that. Verse 13

Walt 6069 After that I crossed existence,

then fond of the pleasure in trance

I lived. At that time, seeing me,

the Buddha said this about me : Verse 14

Walt 6070 “Which doubts exist in this world or the other,

whether known by oneself or else known by another,

those who are meditators give up all that,

living the holy life, energetically.” Verse 15

Walt 6071 Karma done a hundred thousand

aeons hence showed me its fruit here:

well-liberated, arrow-quick,

I have destroyed my defilements. Verse 16

Walt 6072 Then the World-Surpasser, the Sage,

after seeing my love of trance,

the Great Sage then appointed me:

“foremost of monks who meditate.” Verse 17

Walt 6073 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 18

Walt 6074 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 19

Walt 6075 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 20

Thus indeed Venerable Kaṅkha-Revata Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Kaṅkha-Revata 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