Tha Ap 82Tīṇipadumiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

80. Tīṇipadumiya

Walt 1470 The Victor Padumuttara,

the One Who Surpassed Everything,

the Tame One, with Tamed Retinue,

Victor, departed the city. Verse 1

Walt 1471 I was a garland-maker then

in the city, Haṁsavatī.

I picked up three flower-blossoms

which were the foremost flowers there. Verse 2

Walt 1472 I saw Buddha, Stainless One,

on the road inside the bazaar,

and having seen the Sambuddha

I thought in this way at that time: Verse 3

Walt 1473 “What use are these flowers to me

even if gifted to a king?

I might receive a village or

maybe a thousand village fields. Verse 4

Walt 1474 Doing pūjā to the World’s Lord

the Untamed-Tamer, the Wise One,

Who Conveys Bliss to All Beings,

I will receive boundless riches.” Verse 5

Walt 1475 After reflecting in this way

I brought pleasure to my own heart.

Picking up three red-colored ones

I threw those flowers in the air. Verse 6

Walt 1476 At the height to which I’d thrown them

they were well-spread-out in the sky

and held up over Buddha’s head,

stalks pointing up, with blossoms down. Verse 7

Walt 1477 Whatever people saw them there

then kept them thrown up in the air

and the lesser gods, in the sky,

let loose their cries of “Excellent!” Verse 8

Walt 1478 “A marvel’s produced in the world

because of him , the Best Buddha;

we all will hear the Teaching now

on account of these red flowers.” Verse 9

Walt 1479 Padumuttara, World-Knower,

Sacrificial Recipient,

the Teacher, standing on the road,

spoke these verses about me then : Verse 10

Walt 1480 “I shall relate details of him

who with red -colored lotuses

did this Buddha- pūjā just now;

all of you listen to my words: Verse 11

Walt 1481 He’ll delight in the world of gods.

for thirty thousand aeons hence .

For thirty aeons king of gods

he will exercise divine rule. Verse 12

Walt 1482 He will always have a mansion

that’s called Mahāvitthārikam,

three hundred leagues raised up in height ;

one hundred and fifty leagues wide. Verse 13

Walt 1483 And it will have well-fashioned doors

fully forty lakhs in number .

It will have many gabled cells

containing large and perfect beds. Verse 14

Walt 1484 One trillion celestial nymphs

skilled in dancing and singing too

and well-trained in musical arts

will always encircle him there . Verse 15

Walt 1485 In a mansion such as this one

full of companies of women

there will be a rain of flowers

always, divine red-colored ones. Verse 16

Walt 1486 Red flowers of the size of wheels

are hanging there all of the time

on wall pegs and on clothes hooks too,

on door-bolts as well as arches. Verse 17

Walt 1487 On the inside of the mansion

spreading out then wrapping up in

floral blankets made of petals

they will snuggle here all the time. Verse 18

Walt 1488 Those pure flowers , red in color,

will perfume with their divine scents

a hundred leagues on every side

of that heavenly residence. Verse 19

Walt 1489 Five hundred times he’s going to be

a king who turns the wheel of law ,

and he will have much local rule

innumerable by counting. Verse 20

Walt 1490 Having enjoyed the two-fold bliss,

unharmed by illegality,

at the conclusion of that bliss

nirvana will be seen by him ” Verse 21

Walt 1491 Seeing Buddha was good for me;

my business was put to good use.

Doing pūjā with three flowers

I then enjoyed a three-fold bliss. Verse 22

Walt 1492 Today I’ve attained the Teaching

and I am now totally free;

blooming red flowers are carried

over the top of my own head. Verse 23

Walt 1493 When Teacher Padumuttara

was speaking of my karma then,

Dhamma-penetration occurred

for seven thousand living beings. Verse 24

Walt 1494 In the hundred thousand aeons

since I did that Buddha- pūjā ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of three lotuses. Verse 25

Walt 1495 I have burnt up my defilements;

all existence is destroyed.

All defilements are exhausted;

now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 26

Walt 1496 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 27

Thus indeed Venerable Tīṇipadumiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Tīṇipadumiya Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Samāla and Padasaññī

Susañña, Āluvadāyaka,

Ekasaññī, Tiṇidada,

Sūcī, Pāṭalipupphiya,

Ṭhitañjalī, Tipadumī:

five and seventy verses.

The Nāgasamāla Chapter, the Eighth.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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