Tha Ap 93Sudhāpiṇḍiya

– Therāpadāna

– The Legends of the Theras

– Sudhā Chapter, the Tenth

91. Sudhāpiṇḍiya

Walt 1553-1554 No one can count the good karma—

even, “for this, it is that much”—

of one who performs pūjā for

those who are worthy of pūjā ,

like Buddhas and their followers,

who have crossed over tears for grief

and moved beyond ties to rebirth,

reaching nirvana, fearing naught. Verse 1-2

Walt 1555 He who would exercise lordship

here over the four continents

would not be worth one sixteenth-part

of one who performs such pūjā . Verse 3

Walt 1556 When Siddhattha the Top Person’s

shrine had become broken open,

I donated balls of plaster

with a mind that was very clear. Verse 4

Walt 1557 In the ninety-four aeons since

I did that good karma back then,

I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:

that’s the fruit of renovation. Verse 5

Walt 1558 In the thirtieth aeon ago

there were thirteen wheel-turning kings,

all known as Paṭisamkhāra,

possessors of the seven gems. Verse 6

Walt 1559 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 7

Thus indeed Venerable Sudhāpiṇḍiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sudhāpiṇḍiya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters .

Whitman College, 2017

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