Tha Ap 549Abhaya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

544. {547.} Abhaya

Walt 6217 The Victor, Padumuttara,

the One with Eyes for everything,

the Leader of the World, arose

a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6218 The Thus-Gone-One exhorts someone

in the going for refuge, and

he exhorts someone in morals,

in the supreme ten ways to act. Verse 2

Walt 6219 The Hero gives to somebody

the ultimate fruit of monkhood,

and likewise the eight attainments;

he bestows the three knowledges. Verse 3

Walt 6220 Supreme Man urges some being

in the six special knowledges,

and the Lord gives to somebody

the four analytical modes. Verse 4

Walt 6221 Seeing folks to be awakened,

across leagues that can’t be counted,

in no time having approached them ,

the Charioteer of Men exhorts. Verse 5

Walt 6222-6223 I then lived in Haṁsavatī;

I was the son of a brahmin,

a master of all the Vedas,

revered as a grammarian,

skillful in etymology,

confident in definitions,

verse-knower, ritual-knower,

also clever at prosody. Verse 6-7

Walt 6224 While wandering about on foot,

having approached Swan Hermitage,

I saw him , the Best Debater,

Honored by the Great Populace, Verse 8

Walt 6225 preaching the Dhamma without stain.

I, with contrary ideas,

after having gone up to him ,

after hearing his stainless words, Verse 9

Walt 6226 looking for a word of the Sage

which was incorrect, repeated,

or thrown-off or without meaning,

I saw none; therefore I went forth. Verse 10

Walt 6227 After not a long time, being

confident among all teachers,

I am taken as an expert

in the subtle words of Buddha. Verse 11

Walt 6228 After having put together

four well-written verses for him ,

praising the Chief of the Three Worlds,

I had them preached from day to day. Verse 12

Walt 6229 “In this frightful existence you

are Free from Passion, Great Hero;

out of compassion, you don’t die,

thus you’re ‘the Compassionate Sage.’ Verse 13

Walt 6230 Someone who’s a common person

not overwhelmed by defilements,

would be attentive and mindful;

thus Buddha’s inconceivable. Verse 14

Walt 6231 These are not destroyed by themselves,

even someone’s weak defilements,

consumed in the fire of knowledge.

It would be a marvel if so . Verse 15

Walt 6232 He who’s the Teacher of All Worlds:

for him the world’s thus a teacher;

he’s thus known as ‘the World-Teacher’

and the world is following him.” Verse 16

Walt 6233 With fine verses like those, I praised

the Sambuddha, Dhamma -preacher;

doing so as long as I lived,

after death I went to heaven. Verse 17

Walt 6234 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I praised the Buddha like that ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of praising Buddha . Verse 18

Walt 6235 I experienced a lot of

great kingship in the world of gods,

and local kingship here on earth,

and wheel-turning kingship as well . Verse 19

Walt 6236 I transmigrate in just two states:

that of a god, or of a man.

I do not know other rebirths;

that’s the fruit of praising Buddha . Verse 20

Walt 6237 When human I‘m born in two clans:

the kṣatriyan or the brahmin.

I don’t get born in lesser clans:

that’s the fruit of praising Buddha . Verse 21

Walt 6238 Now, in my final existence,

in Rajgir, ultimate city,

I am King Bimbisāra’s son,

and my given name’s Abhaya. Verse 22

Walt 6239 Influenced by an evil friend,

I was bewildered by a Jain.

Sent by the leader of the Jains,

I approached the Best of Buddhas. Verse 23

Walt 6240 Having asked a subtle question,

hearing Buddha’s supreme response,

going forth, in not a long time,

I attained my arahantship. Verse 24

Walt 6241 After praising the Best Victor,

I myself am praised all the time.

With good-scented body and mouth,

I am endowed with happiness. Verse 25

Walt 6242 Thus indeed I am greatly wise,

with sharp, clever and quick wisdom,

and I speak with varied discourse,

through the power of that karma. Verse 26

Walt 6243 With pleasure in my heart, praising the Worthy,

the Unmatched, Self-Become Padumuttara,

as the fruit of that, to a place full of woe,

for a whole lakh of aeons, I did not go. Verse 27

Walt 6244 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 28

Walt 6245 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 29

Walt 6246 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 30

Thus indeed Venerable Abhaya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Abhaya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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