Thi Ap 27Bhaddā-Kāpilāni

– Therīpadāna

– The Legends of the Therīs

27. Bhaddā-Kāpilāni

Walt 882 The Victor Padumuttara

was One With Eyes for everything.

That Leader of the World was born

one hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 883 There was then in Haṁsavatī,

a leader known as Videha,

a millionaire with many gems;

I was the wife of him back then . Verse 2

Walt 884 Once, accompanied by servants,

he went up to the Human Sun,

and listened to Buddha’s Teaching,

causing all suffering to end. Verse 3

Walt 885 The Leader praised the follower

who was top in austerities;

hearing, he gave alms for a week

to the Buddha, the Neutral One. Verse 4

Walt 886 Bowing his head at Buddha’s feet,

he aspired to that foremost place,

causing his retinue to smile.

Right then that Bull Among People Verse 5

Walt 887 having pitied the millionaire,

spoke these verses aloud to him :

“You will attain the wished-for state;

o son you’ll achieve nirvana. Verse 6

Walt 888 In one hundred thousand aeons,

arising in Okkāka’s clan,

the one whose name is Gotama

will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 7

Walt 889 Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,

Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,

the one whose name is Kassapa

will be the Teacher’s follower.” Verse 8

Walt 890 Gladdened after having heard that,

as long as he lived he then served

with requisites the Victor, Guide,

with a heart that was full of love. Verse 9

Walt 891 Lighting up the Dispensation,

Crushing the Dirty Heretics,

Instructing those who Could be Taught,

he passed on with his followers. Verse 10

Walt 892 When that World-Chief reached nirvana,

assembling his kinsmen and friends

to do pūjā to the Teacher,

with them he then had constructed Verse 11

Walt 893 a stupa which was made of gems,

rising up seven leagues in height,

which blazed forth just as does the sun;

like a regal sal tree in bloom. Verse 12

Walt 894 There at the stupa, he had made

seven hundred thousand fine bowls,

with the seven types of gemstone,

they shined brightly like reeds on fire. Verse 13

Walt 895 After that he had lamps lit there,

having filled them with perfumed oil

to do pūjā to the Great Sage,

who pitied every living being. Verse 14

Walt 896 He had seven hundred thousand

“pots of plenty” constructed there ,

which were all filled up with gemstones

to do pūjā to the Great Seer. Verse 15

Walt 897 A gold festoon work was raised up,

surrounded by sixty-four jars;

it shined brilliantly with color,

like the day-maker in autumn. Verse 16

Walt 898 Arches constructed of gemstones

at the four gateways are splendid.

Planks that are made out of gemstones,

raised up beautiful, are splendid. Verse 17

Walt 899 Ornaments, exquisitely made,

encircle that stupa, shining.

Banners are raised up in the sky ;

fashioned out of gemstones, they shine. Verse 18

Walt 900 That very red shrine made of gems,

well-built and variegated,

shined excessively with color,

like the sun does in the evening. Verse 19

Walt 901 The stupa had three terraces;

one he filled with yellow ointment,

one with red-colored arsenic,

one with black collyrium paste. Verse 20

Walt 902 Having performed pūjā like that,

lovely, for the Excellent One,

he gave the monks’ community

alms, much as he could, his whole life. Verse 21

Walt 903 Along with that millionaire I,

as long as I lived also did

those merit-filled deeds thoroughly;

and with him I had good rebirths. Verse 22

Walt 904 Experiencing happiness,

both as a human and a god,

I was reborn along with him,

like a shadow with the body. Verse 23

Walt 905 The Leader known as Vipassi

arose ninety-one aeons ago,

Buddha, Delightful to the Eye,

One With Insight into All Things. Verse 24

Walt 906 Then he lived in Bandhumatī,

a brahmin known for excellence,

rich in scripture and religion,

but very poor in terms of wealth. Verse 25

Walt 907 And at that time, of the same mind,

I was his brahmin woman wife .

Once that excellent twice-born man

met with the Sage who was So Great, Verse 26

Walt 908 seated ‘midst the population,

preaching the state of deathlessness.

Hearing the Dhamma, overjoyed,

he gave his own cloak to that Sage . Verse 27

Walt 909 Going home in a single cloth,

he spoke these words to me just then :

“Take joy in this great good karma,

the cloak given to the Buddha.” Verse 28

Walt 910 Then clasping hands together I,

well-satisfied, did take delight:

“Husband, this cloak is gifted well

to the Best Buddha, Neutral One.” Verse 29

Walt 911 Being happy and well- prepared,

transmigrating from birth to birth

he was the king, lord of the earth,

in lovely Benares city. Verse 30

Walt 912 I was the chief queen of that king ,

supreme in his troupe of women.

I was extremely dear to him,

due to past love for my husband. Verse 31

Walt 913 Having seen eight Lonely Leaders

going about on their alms-rounds,

he, having become overjoyed,

gave very costly alms to them. Verse 32

Walt 914-915 Again having invited them,

having made a gem pavilion,

gathering bowls made by gold- smiths,

as too a tray of solid gold,

he then offered to all of them,

who’d gotten up on golden seats,

an almsgiving most opulent,

feeling well- pleased by his own hands. Verse 33-34

Walt 916 I gave that very almsgiving

with the Kāsi king way back then.

Again I was reborn in a

village outside the Kāsi gates. Verse 35

Walt 917 He was happy with his brothers,

in a wealthy clan of fam’lies.

I was the eldest brother’s wife,

a woman who fulfilled her vows. Verse 36

Walt 918 Having seen a Lonely Buddha,

he who was my youngest brother,

gave his portion to that Buddha ;

when he arrived I told him that. Verse 37

Walt 919 He did not praise that almsgiving,

so having taken back that food

from Buddha, I gave it to him;

again he gave him it himself . Verse 38

Walt 920 Then having thrown away that food,

enraged, I took back Buddha’s bowl

a second time, filled it with mud,

and gave it to that Neutral One. Verse 39

Walt 921 And right when he received those alms,

rotten and lacking purity,

his mind was equally happy;

seeing that, I was very moved. Verse 40

Walt 922 Again I took that bowl from him ,

and cleaned it with scented perfume.

With my mind then full of pleasure,

I gave him ghee respectfully. Verse 41

Walt 923 In whichever place I’m reborn,

because I gave alms, I’m gorgeous;

through giving Buddha tasteless food,

my breath has a horrible stench. Verse 42

Walt 924 Again when Buddha Kassapa’s

stupa was being completed,

delighted, I then gave for it

an excellent tile made of gold. Verse 43

Walt 925 Through four lifetimes having applied

scented substances to that tile,

every one of my limbs was freed

from the defect of bad odor. Verse 44

Walt 926 Having made seven thousand bowls,

each adorned with the seven gems

and filled with clarified butter,

placing in them a thousand wicks, Verse 45

Walt 927 with a mind that was very pleased,

I proceeded to light them all,

and laid them out in seven rows,

to do pūjā to the World’s Lord Verse 46

Walt 928 and at that time especially

I had the share in that merit.

Again among the Kāsians

he was Sumitta, well-known sage. Verse 47

Walt 929 I was the Sage Sumitta’s wife,

happy, joyful and much beloved.

And then he gave some Lonely Ones

a massive cloak to use for robes . Verse 48

Walt 930 I also shared in that merit,

approving of that great alms gift.

Again in the Kāsi country

he was reborn, a Koliyan. Verse 49

Walt 931 And then, along with five hundred

of the sons of the Koliyans,

he attended upon Lonely

Buddhas, five hundred in number . Verse 50

Walt 932 Satisfying them for three months

he gave those Buddhas the three robes.

I was then the Koliyan’s wife,

following his path of merit. Verse 51

Walt 933 Fallen from there he then became

the famous king known as Nanda.

I was that King Nanda’s chief queen;

my every desire was fulfilled. Verse 52

Walt 934-935 Fallen from there, having become

Brahmadatta, lord of the earth,

for as long as his life lasted,

he then did attend upon all

the five hundred Lonely Sages

who were Padumavatīs sons.

Dwelling in the royal garden,

I too worshipped those Gone-Out Ones. Verse 53-54

Walt 936 Both of us having built stupas,

going forth renouncing the world,

experienced the boundless states,

and then we went to Brahma’s world. Verse 55

Walt 937 Fallen down to Mahātittha

he’s well-born Pipphalāyana.

Mother: Sumanadevī and

father: brahmin Kosigotta. Verse 56

Walt 938 In the Madda country I, was

daughter of brahmin Kapila;

mother was Sucīmatī in

Sāgalā the best of cities. Verse 57

Walt 939 My father having adorned me

with a thick golden ornament,

gave me to the wise Kassapa,

who’d avoided desire for me. Verse 58

Walt 940 One time that compassionate man,

gone forth wishing for karma’s end,

was moved at seeing some creatures

devoured by crows and such-like birds . Verse 59

Walt 941 Then I too in the house was moved,

seeing worms that had been born in

sesame then baked by sun-heat,

being eaten up by some crows. Verse 60

Walt 942 When wise Kassapa had renounced,

I followed him in renouncing.

For five years I resided then

along the path of renouncers. Verse 61

Walt 943 When Gotamī, the Victor’s nurse,

had gone forth as a renouncer,

then come together with Buddha,

I too received his instruction. Verse 62

Walt 944 After not a very long time,

I achieved the arahant-state.

O! Being the “beautiful friend”

of the resplendent Kassapa! Verse 63

Walt 945 The Buddha’s legitimate son,

very attentive, Kassapa,

is one who knows previous births,

and he sees the heavens and hells. Verse 64

Walt 946 Then birth’s destruction he attained;

special knowledges perfected;

a sage with the three knowledges,

that brahmin’s a triple-knower. Verse 65

Walt 947 Just so Bhaddā-Kāpilāni,

triple-knower who’s conquered death.

She’s one who wears her last body,

defeating Māra and his mount. Verse 66

Walt 948 Seeing the dangers in the world,

we both went forth as renouncers.

We are now free of defilements;

tamed, cooled off, gone to nirvana. Verse 67

Walt 949 My defilements are now burnt up;

all new existence is destroyed.

Like elephants with broken chains,

I am living without constraint. Verse 68

Walt 950 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 69

Walt 951 The four analytical modes,

and these eight deliverances,

six special knowledges mastered,

I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 70

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Bhaddā-Kāpilāni spoke these verses.

The legend of Bhaddā-Kāpilāni Therī 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