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B0102051006bījanivaggo (seed chapter)

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English

6. The Chapter on Seeds 1. The Apadāna of Thera Vidhūpanadāyaka 1. To the Buddha Padumuttara, the Lord of the world, the steadfast; A fan was given by me, to the Lord of bipeds, the steadfast. 2. Having gladdened my own mind, having raised my hands in reverence; Having saluted the Fully Awakened One, I departed facing north. 3. Having taken the fan, the Teacher, the world's foremost leader; Standing in the assembly of monks, spoke these verses. 4. "By this gift of a fan, and by the aspirations of the mind; For a hundred thousand aeons, he will not go to a state of woe." 5. With aroused energy, resolute, with mind concentrated; At seven years of age, I attained Arahantship. 6. In the sixty thousandth aeon, named Bījamānasa; There were sixteen kings, wheel-turners of great power. 7. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Thera Vidhūpanadāyaka spoke these verses. The first, the Apadāna of Thera Vidhūpanadāyaka. 2. The Apadāna of Thera Sataraṃsi 8. Having climbed a high rock, the Best of Men sat down; Not far from the mountain, a brahmin, master of mantras. 9. To the Great Hero seated, the God of gods, the Bull of men; Having raised my hands in reverence, I praised the Leader of the world. 10. "This Buddha, the Great Hero, the proclaimer of the excellent Dhamma; Shines like a mass of fire, attended by the assembly of monks. 11. Unagitated like the great ocean, impassable like the deep sea; Fearless like a lion, the Seer teaches the Dhamma." 12. Knowing my intention, the Leader Padumuttara; The Teacher, standing in the assembly of monks, spoke these verses. 13. "By whom this reverence was given, and the best of Buddhas praised; For thirty thousand aeons, he will rule as a king of devas. 14. Ka In a thousand aeons, a Buddha named Aṅgīrasa, with the veil removed, will arise right then. 15. “‘Of his teachings, an heir, a true son, born of the Dhamma, named Sataraṃsī, that Arahant will be.’ 16. At seven years of age, I went forth into homelessness; by the name Sataraṃsī, my radiance shines forth. 17. In a pavilion or at the foot of a tree, meditating, devoted to meditation, I am; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Perfectly Enlightened One. 18. In sixty thousand aeons, four named Rāma; endowed with seven jewels, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 19. The four analytical knowledges…etc… the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Sataraṃsī spoke these verses. The Apadāna of the Elder Sataraṃsī, the second. 3. The Apadāna of the Elder Sayanadāyaka 20. To Padumuttara Buddha, who had compassion for all the world; I gave a couch, with a mind serene. 21. By that gift of a couch, a seed-wealth in good soil; riches are produced for him, this is the fruit of the couch. 22. I make my bed in the sky, I sustain this earth; I have power over beings, this is the fruit of the couch. 23. In five thousand aeons, there were eight of great splendor; in three hundred and thirty-four aeons, there were four of great might. 24. The four analytical knowledges…etc… the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Sayanadāyaka spoke these verses. The Apadāna of the Elder Sayanadāyaka, the third. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Gandhodakiya 25. Of Padumuttara Buddha, there was a great Bodhi festival; taking a variegated pot, I gave scented water. 26. At the time of bathing the Bodhi, a great cloud rained down; there was a great roar, of thunderbolts striking. 27. By that very force of the thunderbolt, I passed away there; abiding in the deva world, these verses… he spoke. 28. “‘Oh, the Buddha! Oh, the Dhamma! Oh, the accomplishment of our Teacher! My body has fallen, I shall delight in the divine world. 29. “‘My mansion is lofty, Rising a hundred stories high; Hundreds of thousands of maidens Always surround me. 30. “‘No ailments are found in me, No sorrow is found in me; I see no burning, This is the fruit of meritorious deeds. 31. “‘Twenty-eight hundred aeons ago, I was a king; Endowed with seven treasures, A mighty Wheel-turning Monarch.’ 32. “The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching was done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Gandhodakiya spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Elder Gandhodakiya, the fourth. 5. The Apadāna of Elder Opavaya 33. “To the Buddha Padumuttara, I gave a noble steed; Having offered it to the Fully Awakened One, I went to my own home. 34. “Devala by name, The chief disciple of the Teacher; An heir to the supreme Dhamma, Came to me. 35. “The Blessed One, burdened with a load, A noble steed is not suitable; Knowing your intention, The All-seeing One consented. 36. “Having valued the wind-swift, The swift-going Sindhu horse; To the Buddha Padumuttara, I gave it as a gift. 37. “Whatever birth I take, Whether divine or human; Wind-swift, pleasing steeds, Arise for me. 38. “Their gain is well-gained, Who obtain ordination; I would attend again, If a Buddha were in the world. 39. “Twenty-eight times, I was a mighty king; A conqueror of the four quarters, Lord of Jambusaṇḍa. 40. “This is my last, My final existence is ongoing; I have attained the unmoving state, Having abandoned victory and defeat.” In thirty-four thousand, you were a great powerful king; Endowed with a hundred jewels, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Opavayha spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Elder Opavayha, the fifth. 6. The Apadāna of Elder Saparivārāsana To Padumuttara the Buddha, I gave alms food; Having gone to a dirty place, surrounded by jasmine flowers. Seated on that seat, the Buddha, leader of the world; Praised the alms food, being upright and composed. Just as in a good field, even a little seed planted; When rain is properly given, satisfies the farmer with fruit. So too this alms food, planted by you in a good field; When arising in existence, will satisfy you with fruit. Having said this, the Fully Enlightened One, named "Supreme Lotus-born"; Having taken the alms food, departed facing north. Restrained in the Pātimokkha, and in the five faculties; Devoted to seclusion, I dwell without defilements. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Saparivārāsana spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Elder Saparivārāsana, the sixth. 7. The Apadāna of Elder Pañcadīpaka To Padumuttara the Buddha, compassionate to all beings; Having believed in the true Dhamma, I became of upright view. I gave a gift of lamps, having surrounded the Bodhi tree; Believing, I made lamps at that very moment. Whatever womb I am reborn in, whether divinity or humanity; They hold a torch in the sky, this is the fruit of the lamp-gift. Beyond walls, beyond rocks, overcoming mountains; All around for a hundred leagues, I experience vision. By that k By the remainder of my past deeds, I have attained the destruction of defilements; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Lord of bipeds. 55. ‘‘In thirty-four hundred aeons, named Satacakkhu; There were kings of great splendor, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 56. ‘‘The four analytical knowledges…the Buddha’s teaching has been done’’. Thus indeed, the Venerable Pañcadīpaka Thera spoke these verses. The seventh Apadāna of the Elder Pañcadīpaka. 8. The Apadāna of the Elder Dhajadāyaka. 57. ‘‘For the Buddha Padumuttara, at the supreme Bodhi tree; Joyful with a joyful mind, I raised a flag. 58. ‘‘Having gathered fallen leaves, I threw them outside; Pure within, pure without, liberated and undefiled. 59. ‘‘As if before the Fully Awakened One, I worshipped the supreme Bodhi; Padumuttara, knower of the world, receiver of offerings. 60. ‘‘The Teacher, standing in the assembly of monks, spoke these verses: ‘‘‘By this gift of a flag, and by both services. 61. ‘‘‘For a hundred thousand aeons, he will not go to a bad destination; Among gods, divine splendor, he will experience without end. 62. ‘‘‘And many hundreds of times, he will be king in the land; Named Uggata, he will be a Wheel-turning monarch. 63. ‘‘‘Having experienced prosperity, urged by the root of merit; In the teaching of the Blessed Gotama, he will delight’’. 64. ‘‘I am one who has striven with effort, peaceful, without defilements; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Perfectly Enlightened One. 65. ‘‘In fifty-one thousand, aeons, named Uggata; In fifty hundred thousand, khattiyas named Megha. 66. ‘‘The four analytical knowledges…the Buddha’s teaching has been done’’. Thus indeed, the Venerable Dhajadāyaka Thera spoke these verses. The eighth Apadāna of the Elder Dhajadāyaka. 9. The Apadāna of the Elder Paduma. 67. ‘‘Proclaiming the Four Noble Truths, establishing the excellent Dhamma; He rains down the deathless rain, extinguishing the great. naṃ. 68. Taking a lotus with a banner, I stood half a league away; Of the sage Padumuttara, Delighted, I tossed it into the sky. 69. As the lotus came down, A wonder arose immediately; Knowing my intention, The best of speakers received it. 70. Taking the excellent water-born flower With his supreme hand, The Teacher, standing in the assembly of monks, Spoke these verses: 71. ‘He who threw this lotus, To the Omniscient Leader; Him I shall praise, Listen to my words. 72. ‘For thirty eons, he will be king of devas, He will rule as king of devas; For seven hundred times, he will rule the earth, He will dwell on the earth. 73. ‘Counting the leaves there, He will become a Wheel-turning Monarch; Then a rain of flowers Will shower from the sky. 74. ‘In a hundred thousand eons, Born into the Okkāka clan; A Teacher named Gotama Will appear in the world. 75. ‘A rightful heir to his Dhamma, Born of the Dhamma; Having fully understood all defilements,

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