Tha Ap 86Adhopupphiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

84. Adhopupphiya

Walt 1518 The chief follower of Sikhi

was the monk known as Abhibhū,

with vast powers, a three-fold knower,

he went to the Himalayas. Verse 1

Walt 1519 Back then I too was living in

the Himalayas, as a sage,

master of boundless magic power,

in a delightful ashram there . Verse 2

Walt 1520 Flying like a bird in the sky,

I felt drawn to a mountain -side .

Picking some flower s down below

I then came up to the mountain. Verse 3

Walt 1521 Taking seven flowers I placed them

on the top of Abhibhū’s head.

When the hero then looked forward

I departed facing the east. Verse 4

Walt 1522 Having arrived at my ashram

I went up to my dwelling there .

Taking ascetics’ provisions

I returned to that mountain -side . Verse 5

Walt 1523 A python with a frightful form,

and very strong, attacked me then .

Remembering my former deed

I passed away right on the spot. Verse 6

Walt 1524 In the thirty-one aeons since

I offered those flowers to him ,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of flower- pūjā . Verse 7

Walt 1525 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 8

Thus indeed Venerable Adhopupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Adhopupphiya 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.

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