English
The Great Retinue Chapter 1. The Aapadāna of Thera Mahāparivāraka 1. The Blessed One named Vipassī, foremost in the world, a bull among men; with sixty-eight thousand (monks), entered Bandhumā then. 2. Having left the city, I went to the lamp-shrine; I saw the Stainless Buddha, receiver of offerings. 3. Eighty-four thousand yakkhas, are near me; they attend respectfully, like groups of devas to Indra. 4. Having left my dwelling, I took a cloth then; I saluted with my head, and gave it to the Great Seer. 5. Oh, the Buddha! Oh, the Dhamma! Oh, the Teacher's attainment for us! By the power of the Buddha, the earth trembled. 6. Having seen that wonder, that amazing, hair-raising event; I made my mind clear in the Buddha, in the Steadfast Lord of bipeds. 7. So I, having made my mind clear, and having given the cloth to the Teacher; went for refuge, with my ministers and retinue. 8. Ninety-one aeons ago, the deed I did then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 9. Fifteen aeons from now, there were sixteen Suvāhanas; endowed with seven jewels, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 10. 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 Mahāparivāraka spoke these verses. The first, the Aapadāna of Thera Mahāparivāraka. 2. The Aapadāna of Thera Sumaṅgala 11. The Victorious One, Atthadassī, foremost in the world, a bull among men; having left the monastery, approached a pond. 12. Having bathed and drunk, the Fully Awakened One, with a single robe, ascended; the Blessed One stood there, looking in every direction. 13. I, seated in my dwelling, saw the leader of the world; joyful with a joyful mind, I clapped my hands then. 14. Shining like the sun, glowing like gold... [to be in front of him]; I was devoted to dancing and singing, and to the five-instrument orchestra. 15. “Whatever womb I am reborn into, be it divine or human; I overcome all beings, and my fame is widespread [and this verse is suitable to be placed immediately after the verse of comprehension]. 16. “Homage to you, noble man, homage to you, supreme man; Having satisfied yourself, you, sage, satisfied others. 17. “Having sat down in a group, having made merriment, O virtuous one; Having attended the Fully Enlightened One, I was reborn in Tusita heaven. 18. “For sixteen hundred aeons, with two nines and one thought; Endowed with seven treasures, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 19. “The four analytical knowledges… (etc.)… the Buddha’s teaching was done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Sumaṅgala Thera spoke these verses. The Aapadāna of Elder Sumaṅgala, the second. 3. The Aapadāna of Elder Saraṇagamaniya 20. “A battle arose, arrayed, Between the two kings of devas; a great roar resounded. 21. “Padumuttara, the knower of worlds, receiver of offerings; The Teacher stood in the sky, rousing the great multitude. 22. “All the devas, joyful, with armor and weapons laid aside; Having saluted the Fully Enlightened One, became one-pointed immediately. 23. “Knowing my intention, he uttered a noble speech; The compassionate knower of worlds, calmed the great multitude. 24. “A man with a corrupted mind, harming a single living being; By that corruption of mind, he is reborn in a lower realm. 25. “Like an elephant at the head of a battle, harming many beings; Calm your own mind, do not be slain again and again. 26. “The army of both yakka kings was astonished; And they took refuge in the foremost of the world, the well-taught, and so on. 27. “Having admonished the people, he raised his foot the Eye-Possessor; As if watched by devas, he departed facing north. 28. “First I went for refuge, to the steadfast leader of bipeds; For a hundred thousand aeons, I did not fall into a bad destination. 29. “There were sixteen chariot-chiefs, named Mahādundubhi; In thirty thousand aeons, they were Wheel-turning kings. 30. “The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Saraṇagamaniya spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of the Elder Saraṇagamaniya. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Ekāsaniya 31. “I was then a king of devas, named Varuṇa; I attended the Fully Awakened One, with my chariots, army, and vehicles. 32. “When the World-Protector, the supreme among men, Attadassī, was extinguished; Taking all musical instruments, I went to the supreme Bodhi. 33. “With playing and dancing, with well-struck rhythms; As if before the Fully Awakened One, I attended the supreme Bodhi. 34. “Having attended that Bodhi, the tree that grows from the earth; Having sat cross-legged, I passed away there. 35. “Delighted in my own action, I was pleased with the supreme Bodhi; By that mental clarity, I was reborn in a celestial mansion. 36. “Sixty thousand musical instruments, always surround me; Among humans and devas, existing in existence after existence. 37. “My three fires are extinguished, all existences are uprooted; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Perfectly Self-Awakened One. 38. “There were thirty-four khattiyas, named Subāhu; Endowed with the seven jewels, five hundred aeons ago from now. 39. “The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Ekāsaniya spoke these verses. The fourth Apadāna of the Elder Ekāsaniya. 5. The Apadāna of the Elder Suvaṇṇapupphiya 40. “The Blessed One Vipassī, chief of the world, bull among men; Seated among the multitude, taught the deathless Having heard the Dhamma from him, the Steadfast Lord of bipeds; Four golden flowers, I offered to the Buddha. A golden canopy there was, as far as the assembly then; The Buddha's radiance was golden, a great light arose. With uplifted mind, joyful, filled with rapture, with joined palms; Generating delight for them, bringing happiness in this very life. Having requested the Fully Awakened One, and paid homage to the virtuous one; Having generated joy, I returned to my own dwelling. Seated in my dwelling, I recollected the Foremost Buddha; By that clarity of mind, I was reborn in Tusita. Ninety-one aeons ago, when I offered the flower; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. Sixteen kings there were, named Nemisammata; Forty-three aeons from now, powerful Wheel-turning monarchs. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Elder Suvaṇṇapupphiya spoke these verses. The fifth Apadāna of Elder Suvaṇṇapupphiya. I dwelt in the royal palace, with ministers and retinue; When the Blessed One, Sikhī, the kinsman of the world, had attained final Nibbāna. With a clear and joyful mind, I went to the pyre; Playing music there, I scattered perfumes and garlands. Having made an offering at the pyre, and paid homage to the pyre; With a clear and joyful mind, I returned to my own dwelling. Seated in my dwelling, I recollected the pyre offering; By that deed, O Lord of bipeds, Foremost of the world, Best of men. Having experienced prosperity, among gods and humans; I have attained the unshakeable state, having abandoned victory and defeat. Thirty-one aeons ago, when I offered the flower; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the pyre offering. In the twenty-ninth aeon from now, sixteen kings; Named Uggatā, powerful Wheel-turning monarchs. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... the Buddha's teaching was done. the Teaching of the Dhamma.” Thus indeed, the Elder Citakapūjaka spoke these verses. The Sixth Apadāna of the Elder Citakapūjaka. 7. The Apadāna of the Elder Buddhasaññaka 57. When Vipassī, the foremost of the world, relinquished the life-formation; The earth trembled, the land with its water-girdle. 58. My dwelling, covered and spread out, with its beautiful ornaments, also trembled at the end of the Buddha’s life-span. 59. Fear arose in me when the dwelling trembled; For what purpose was this occurrence? A great light appeared. 60. Vessavaṇa came here and calmed the great multitude; “There is no fear for living beings, be one-pointed and restrained.” 61. Oh, the Buddha! Oh, the Dhamma! Oh, the attainment of our Teacher! At whose arising the earth trembles. 62. Having praised the Buddha’s power, I rejoiced in heaven for an eon; In the remaining eons, good deeds were done by me. 63. Ninety-one eons ago, the perception I then obtained; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of the perception of the Buddha. 64. Fourteen eons from now, I was a powerful king; Named Samita, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 65. The four analytical knowledges…etc… the Teaching of the Buddha was done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Buddhasaññaka spoke these verses. The Seventh Apadāna of the Elder Buddhasaññaka. 8. The Apadāna of the Elder Maggasaññaka 66. The disciples of Padumuttara Buddha, forest-dwellers, were lost in the great forest, groping like the blind. 67. Remembering the Fully Awakened One, the leader Padumuttara; Those sons of the Sage were lost in the great forest. 68. Descending from my dwelling, I went to the bhikkhus; And showed them the way. I offered food. 69. By that deed, O lord of bipeds, foremost of the world, bull among men; When I was seven years old, I attained Arahantship. 70. Twelve Wheel-turning monarchs, named Sacakkhu, Endowed with seven treasures, [arose] five hundred aeons from now. 71. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Maggasaññaka Thera spoke these verses. The Aṭṭhama (Eighth) Apadāna of Maggasaññaka Thera. 9. The Apadāna of Paccupaṭṭhānasaññaka Thera 72. When the Fortunate One Atthadassī had just attained Nibbāna; I was reborn in the realm of Yakkhas, and I attained fame then. 73. Ill-gotten indeed it was for me, an ill-dawn, an ill-rising; That while I had possessions,