English
The Chapter of Sereyya 1. The Story of Elder Sereyyaka 1. A reciter, a mantra-holder, Master of the three Vedas; Standing in the open air, I saw the leader of the world. 2. Like a lion roaming the forest, Like a fearless tiger king; Like an elephant in rut, The great sage, like a great elephant. 3. Taking a Sereyya flower, I threw it up into the sky; By the power of the Buddha, They surrounded him on all sides. 4. The Great Hero resolved, The Omniscient, leader of the world; From all sides, flower coverings, Covered the bull among men. 5. Then that flower-robe, With stalk inside, facing outwards; Having made a covering for seven days, Then it disappeared. 6. And seeing that wonder, That amazing, hair-raising thing; I made my mind clear towards the Buddha, Towards the Fortunate One, the leader of the world. 7. By that clarity of mind, Driven by that wholesome root; For a hundred thousand aeons, I did not fall into a bad destination. 8. In fifteen thousand, And twenty-five aeons; Being free from defilements, Powerful wheel-turning monarchs. 9. The four analytical knowledges, And these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Sereyyaka spoke these verses. The first, the Story of Elder Sereyyaka. 2. The Story of Elder Pupphathūpiya 10. Not far from the Himalayas, A mountain named Kukkura; In the middle of it lived, A brahmin, master of mantras. 11. Five thousand disciples, Always surrounded me; And they were early risers, And skilled in mantras. 12. A Buddha has arisen in the world, Does our master know this? He has eighty minor characteristics, And thirty-two major marks. 13. The Victorious One shines with a fathom-wide aura, He shines like the sun; Hearing the words of the disciples, The brahmin, master of mantras. 14. Having left the hermitage, He asked the disciples about the direction. Where the great hero, the leader of the world, dwells. 15. That direction I shall revere, the Conqueror, the unequalled person; With a joyful mind, a happy heart, I worshipped that Tathāgata. 16. "Come, disciples, let us go, we shall see the Tathāgata; Having worshipped the Teacher's feet, we shall hear the Conqueror's teaching." 17. One day, having gone forth, I contracted a disease; Afflicted by the disease, I went to stay in a hall. 18. Having gathered all my disciples, I asked them about the Tathāgata; "What kind of qualities does the World's Protector, the Supreme Buddha, possess?" 19. They, being asked by me, explained, just as they had seen; Respectfully, that best of Buddhas they described before me. 20. Having heard their words, I purified my mind; Having made a stūpa of flowers, there I passed away. 21. They, having cremated my body, went to the Buddha's presence; Having raised their joined hands, they saluted the Teacher. 22. Having made a stūpa of flowers, for the Well-gone One, the Great Seer; For a hundred thousand aeons, I did not fall into a bad destination. 23. In the forty-thousandth aeon, sixteen khattiyas; Named Aggisama, powerful Wheel-turning monarchs. 24. In the twenty-thousandth aeon, Wheel-turning kings; Named Ghatāsanasama, thirty-eight rulers. 25. The four analytical knowledges... and so on... the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Pupphathūpiya recited these verses. The second Apadāna of Elder Pupphathūpiya. 3. The Apadāna of Elder Pāyasadāyaka 26. The golden-hued Sambuddha, with thirty-two excellent marks; Having come forth from the forest, preceded by the community of bhikkhus. 27. With a large bronze bowl, having served rice-milk, I; Desiring to offer a sacrifice, I presented it with strength. I was. 28. At that time, the Blessed One, The foremost of the world, the bull among men, Was walking on a well-prepared promenade, In the sky, in the windless air. 29. Having seen that wondrous, Astonishing, hair-raising sight, I put down the bronze bowl, And saluted Vipassī. 30. "You are a god, the Omniscient One, Among gods and humans; Out of compassion, Please accept, Great Sage." 31. The Blessed One accepted, The Omniscient One, the leader of the world; Knowing my intention, The Teacher, the Great Sage in the world. 32. Ninety-one aeons ago, The gift I then gave; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of the milk-rice. 33. Forty-one aeons ago, There was a king named Buddha; Endowed with seven treasures, A powerful Wheel-turning Monarch. 34. The four analytical knowledges...etc... The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Elder Pāyasadāyaka spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of the Elder Pāyasadāyaka. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Gandhodakiya 35. Sitting in a splendid palace, I saw Vipassī, the Conqueror; Shining like a Kakudha tree, The Omniscient, the Destroyer of defilements. 36. Not far from the palace, The leader of the world walked; His radiance streamed forth, Like the sun with a hundred rays. 37. Taking scented water, I sprinkled the best of Buddhas; With that clarity of mind, I passed away there. 38. Ninety-one aeons ago, When I sprinkled scented water; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 39. Thirty-one aeons from now, There was a king named Sugandha; Endowed with seven treasures, A powerful Wheel-turning Monarch. 40. The four analytical knowledges...etc... The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Elder Gandhodakiya spoke these verses. The fourth Apadāna of the Elder Gandhodakiya. 5. The Apadāna of the Elder Sammukhāthavika The Verses 41. When Vipassī was being born, I declared the sign: ‘He will extinguish (suffering for) the people, a Buddha will arise in the world. 42. ‘When he was being born, the ten-thousandfold world system trembled; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 43. ‘When he was being born, a vast light appeared; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 44. ‘When he was being born, the rivers did not flow; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 45. ‘When he was being born, the Avīci fire did not blaze; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 46. ‘When he was being born, the flocks of birds did not move; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 47. ‘When he was being born, the mass of wind did not blow; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 48. ‘When he was being born, all jewels shone; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 49. ‘When he was being born, there were seven steps; Now that Blessed One, the Teacher, the Seer, teaches the Dhamma. 50. ‘And the Fully Awakened One, as soon as born, surveyed all directions; He uttered the supreme word: “This is the way of the Buddhas.”’ 51. Having stirred the people, having praised the world's leader; Having saluted the Fully Awakened One, I departed facing east. 52. In the ninety-first eon, when I praised the Buddha; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that praise. 53. From this, in the ninetieth eon, one named Sammukhāthavika; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 54. One named Pathavīdundubhi, in the eighty-ninth (eon); Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 55. In the eighty-eighth eon, a warrior named Obhāsa; Endowed with seven treasures endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 56. In the eighty-seventh eon, named Saritacchedana (Cutter of Rivers); Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 57. Named Agginibbāpana (Extinguisher of Fire), in the eighty-sixth eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 58. Named Gatipacchedana (Cutter of Destinies), in the eighty-fifth eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 59. A king named Vātasama (Equal to Wind), in the eighty-fourth eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 60. Named Ratanapajjala (Blazing Jewel), in the eighty-third eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 61. Named Padavikkamana (Striding Foot), in the eighty-second eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 62. A king named Vilokana (Observer), in the eighty-first eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 63. A warrior named Girasāra (Essence of Speech), in the eightieth eon; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 64. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Sammukhāthavika spoke these verses. The Fifth Apadāna of the Elder Sammukhāthavika. 6. The Apadāna of the Elder Kusumāsaniya. 65. In the city of Dhaññavatī, I was a brahmin then; In marks and history, with glossaries and etymologies. 66. I was a reciter, a grammarian, skilled in omens; I taught mantras to disciples, a master of the three Vedas. 67. Five lotus flowers, were placed on my back; I desired to offer an oblation, at the gathering of fathers and mothers. 68. Then the Blessed One Vipassī, preceded by the Sangha of monks; Illuminating all directions, the chief of men came. 69. Having prepared a seat, and invited the Great Sage; Having spread those flowers, I led him to my house. 70. Whatever food I had, ready in my own house; That I gave to the Buddha, delighted, with my own hands. 71. Having eaten, knowing the time, p I gave a handful of flowers. The Omniscient One, having approved, departed facing north. 72. “Ninety-one aeons ago, when I gave that flower; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the flower-offering. 73. “In the aeon after this one, I was a king named Varadassana; endowed with seven jewels, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 74. “The four analytical knowledges… (and so on)… the Buddha’s teaching has been done.”