Tha Ap 7Puṇṇa-Mantāniputta

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

5. Puṇṇa-Mantāniputta

Walt 438 I was a learned mantra-knower

who had mastered the three Vedas.

Heading up my group of students

I approached him , the Best of Men. Verse 1

Walt 439 Padumuttara, World-Knower,

Sacrificial Recipient,

the Great Sage then proclaimed to me

karma, with the explanation. Verse 2

Walt 440 After having heard the Teaching,

and having worshipped the Teacher

I held my hands up pressed together

then departed facing the south. Verse 3

Walt 441 Having heard the explanation

I then preached with more expansion.

All the students were delighted

to have listened to my words then . Verse 4

Walt 442 Quitting my own philosophy

my heart was pleased in the Buddha.

Then I preached with explanation

and with the further expansion. Verse 5

Walt 443 A knower of Abhidhamma

clear about the Kathāvatthu ,

providing instruction to all,

I’m living without defilements. Verse 6

Walt 444 Five hundred aeons after that

I was lord of four continents,

the clever Suppakāsaka

possessor of the seven gems. Verse 7

Walt 445 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 8

Thus indeed Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta 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