Tha Ap 548Kāḷudāyi

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

543. {546.} Kāḷudāyi

Walt 6187 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the One with Eyes for everything,

the Leader of the World, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6188 The Teacher, Best among Leaders,

Victor, Knower of Right from Wrong,

Grateful, Mindful of Benefits,

urges on those at the crossing. Verse 2

Walt 6189 Home of Kindness, examining

things with his omniscient knowledge,

the Limitless Heap of Virtue

is preaching his superb Dhamma . Verse 3

Walt 6190 At one time he, the Great Hero,

assembled with limitless folks,

is preaching the honeyed Dhamma ,

along with the Four Noble Truths. Verse 4

Walt 6191 Having heard the superb Teaching,

pure in beginning, middle, end,

there was Dhamma -penetration

for one hundred thousand beings. Verse 5

Walt 6192 At that time the earth sounded forth

and the clouds began their growling;

the gods, Brahmā, men and titans

continued saying “Excellent!” Verse 6

Walt 6193 “O! The Compassionate Teacher!

O! Preaching of the great Dhamma !

O! The Victor lifts up those sunk

in the ocean of existence.” Verse 7

Walt 6194 When Brahmā with the gods and men

were thus stirred up with emotion,

the Victor praised a follower,

foremost of pleasers of the clans. Verse 8

Walt 6195 I then lived in Haṁsavatī,

born in a clan of ministers.

Comfortable and good-looking,

I was rich, with abundant wealth. Verse 9

Walt 6196 Having approached Swan Hermitage,

worshipping him, the Thus-Gone-One,

hearing his honey -sweet Dhamma ,

having served the Neutral One, Verse 10

Walt 6197 Walt 6198a-b bowing down before his feet, I

spoke these words to him at that time :

“O Sage, he who was praised by you,

foremost of the pleasers of clans,

I will be like him, O Hero,

in a Buddha’s dispensation.” Verse 11

Walt 6198c-d Walt 6199 Then the Great Compassionate One

said to me as though sprinkling me

with ambrosia, “Son, striving one,

you’ll attain that beautiful place .

Doing a deed for the Victor,

how could it then be without fruit? Verse 12

Walt 6200 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 13

Walt 6201 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma ,

Dhamma ’s legitimate offspring,

the one whose name is Udāyi

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 14

Walt 6202 After hearing that I was thrilled,

and then for as long as I lived,

loving-hearted, I served the Guide,

the Victor, with the requisites. Verse 15

Walt 6203 Due to that karma done very well,

with intention and firm resolve,

discarding my human body,

I went to Tāvatiṁsa then . Verse 16

Walt 6204 And now in my final rebirth,

in lovely Kapilavastu,

I’m born in a minister’s clan,

with Suddhodana as our king. Verse 17

Walt 6205 When in lovely Lumbini grove,

Siddhartha, the Bull among Men,

was born for the well-being and

the happiness of every world, Verse 18

Walt 6206 on that same day, I too was born,

and I grew up along with him,

beloved, friendly, and held dear,

confident and skilled in the law. Verse 19

Walt 6207 At the age of twenty-nine years,

departing from there he went forth.

Contorting himself for six years,

he then was the Buddha, the Guide. Verse 20

Walt 6208 Conquering Death and his army,

casting out all the defilements,

crossing the flood of existence,

he then was Buddha in the world. Verse 21

Walt 6209 Going to the place named Isi

he instructed the group of five;

then the Blessed One instructed

folks , going, going here and there. Verse 22

Walt 6210 Instructing those who could be led,

assisting the world with its gods,

approaching Maṅgalā mountain,

the Victor then dwelt in that place . Verse 23

Walt 6211 Then sent by Suddhodana, the

earth’s protector, going, seeing

the Ten-Powered One, going forth,

I too became an arahant. Verse 24

Walt 6212 Then asking it of the Great Sage,

I brought him back to Kapila.

Then having gone back there again

I’m bringing the great clan pleasure. Verse 25

Walt 6213 The Victor, glad at that virtue,

the Bull of People spoke to me.

The Guide appointed me foremost

among the pleasers of the clans. Verse 26

Walt 6214 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 27

Walt 6215 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 28

Walt 6216 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 29

Thus indeed Venerable Kāḷudāyi Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Kāḷudāyi Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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