Tha Ap 545Sīvali

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

540. {543.} Sīvali

Walt 6076 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the One with Eyes for everything,

the Leader of the World, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6077 His morals could not be measured,

meditative states like lightening,

vast knowledge could not be measured,

and freedom unlike anything. Verse 2

Walt 6078 The Leader preached the Dhamma to

the men, the gods, the snake-gods and

the Brahmās all come together,

mixed with Buddhist monks and brahmins. Verse 3

Walt 6079 Confident among Multitudes,

the Buddha placed a merit-filled,

much-receiving and gift-worthy

follower in that foremost place. Verse 4

Walt 6080 I was a kṣatriyan back then,

in the city named “Haṁsa;”

hearing the Victor’s words about

the follower’s virtuousness, Verse 5

Walt 6081 inviting Buddha , for a week

I fed him with his followers.

Giving a massive alms-giving,

I aspired to attain that place. Verse 6

Walt 6082 Then he , the Bull Among People,

seeing me bowing at his feet,

the Great Hero, in his good voice,

uttered these words concerning me : Verse 7

Walt 6083-6085 Then the multitude, desiring

to hear the words of the Victor,

the gods, titans, musical nymphs,

the greatly powerful Brahmās,

and the Buddhist monks, and brahmins,

praised him with hands pressed together:

“Praise to you, O Well-Bred Person!

Praise to you, Ultimate Person!

For a week this kṣatriyan gave

a massive alms-giving to you.

We wish to hear the fruit for him;

prophesy that , O Sage So Great.” Verse 8-10

Walt 6086-6087 After that, the Blessed One said,

“ All of you listen to my words:

Who can tell the fruit of the gift

well-established for the Buddha

or Assembly, beyond measure?

It will bear fruit beyond measure.

This rich man is truly wishing

to attain that ultimate place. Verse 11-12

Walt 6088 He’ll be a getter of huge wealth,

just like the monk Sudassana,

and also just like me as well ;

he’ll receive that in the future. Verse 13

Walt 6089 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 14

Walt 6090 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one whose name is Sīvali

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 15

Walt 6091 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 16

Walt 6092 Then ninety-one aeons ago,

the World-Leader named Vipassi

arose, the One with Lovely Eyes,

with Insight into Everything. Verse 17

Walt 6093 Then I lived in Bandhumatī,

a member of a certain clan;

I was pitied and sought after,

one intent on ending karma. Verse 18

Walt 6094 Then a certain corporation

constructed a monastic school

for the Great Sage named Vipassi,

which was large and widely renowned. Verse 19

Walt 6095 Searching for new curds and honey

to give along with solid food

at the end of the great alms-gift,

they did not find any to give . Verse 20

Walt 6096 Then having taken some of that,

new curds and also honey too,

I went to the overseer’s house,

and seeking that they saw me. Verse 21

Walt 6097-6098 Even offering a thousand,

they did not obtain those two things .

I thought about it then like this:

“That price would not be too little.

As far as all these people are

honoring him , the Thus-Gone-One,

I too will do a pious deed,

for the World-Lord with Assembly.” Verse 22-23

Walt 6099 Then having thought it out like that,

mixing together the curds and

the honey, I gave them to the

Lord of the World with Assembly. Verse 24

Walt 6100 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 25

Walt 6101 Again, in Benares, being

a king who was very famous,

enraged at an enemy then,

I caused the gateway to be blocked. Verse 26

Walt 6102 Then, obstructing ascetics too ,

it was guarded thus for a week.

Therefore, as the result of that

karma, I fell hard into hell. Verse 27

Walt 6103-6104 And now in my final rebirth,

due to the kṣatriyan’s good deeds,

I’m born in Koliya city;

my mother was Suppavāsā,

father Mahāli Licchavi.

Because of obstructing the gate,

I gestated for seven years,

suffering in my mother’s womb. Verse 28-29

Walt 6105 One week breached in the birth canal,

I’m endowed with great suffering.

Because she gave approval then ,

my mother suffered greatly now . Verse 30

Walt 6106 Departing from Śrāvasti, I

was pitied by him , the Buddha;

on the very day I set out,

I went forth into homelessness. Verse 31

Walt 6107 My preceptor: Sāriputta;

powerful Moggallāna, the

wise, instructed me as teacher

while he was removing my hair. Verse 32

Walt 6108 While my hair was being cut off,

I attained my arahantship.

Gods, snake-gods and human beings

are bringing me the requisites. Verse 33

Walt 6109 Because, delighted, I worshipped

Buddha named Padumuttara

and the Guide, Vipassi Buddha ,

I’m distinguished with requisites. Verse 34

Walt 6110 Due to the distinction of those

deeds, I’m receiving everywhere

enormous and ultimate wealth,

in woods, village, water and land. Verse 35

Walt 6111-6113 When the Guide is traveling for

the sake of seeing Revata,

the World’s Chief Leader together

with thirty times a thousand monks,

the Great Wise One, the Great Hero,

the World’s Chief Leader with the monks,

the Buddha’s then served by me with

requisites the gods bring for me;

having gone he saw Revata,

then going to Jetavana,

he placed me in that foremost place. Verse 36-38

Walt 6114 The Teacher, Friend of Every World,

praised me amidst the multitude:

“O monks, Sīvali’s the foremost

receiver among my students.” Verse 39

Walt 6115 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 40

Walt 6116 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 6117 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 42

Thus indeed Venerable Sīvali Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sīvali 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