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14. The Chapter of Sobhita 1. The Apadāna of Elder Sobhita 1. Padumuttara by name, the Conqueror, foremost in the world, a bull among men; To a great multitude of people, he taught the deathless state. 2. Having heard his words, spoken by the bull of speech; Raising my joined hands, I was then one-pointed. 3. Just as the ocean is the foremost of waters, Meru the best of mountains, a peak of rock; Even so, those who act according to their minds, do not attain a fraction of the Buddha's knowledge. 4. Having established the method of Dhamma, the compassionate Buddha, the sage; Seated in the assembly of monks, spoke these verses. 5. ‘He who proclaimed knowledge, in the Buddha, the world's leader; For a hundred thousand aeons, will not go to a bad destination. 6. ‘Having burnt up defilements, one-pointed and well-composed; Sobhita by name, he will be a disciple of the Teacher.’ 7. In fifty thousand aeons, there were seven exalted by fame; Endowed with the seven jewels, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 8. My defilements are burnt up, all existences are uprooted; The three knowledges are attained, the Buddha's teaching is done. 9. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, the Buddha's teaching is done.” Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Sobhita spoke these verses. The first Apadāna of Elder Sobhita. 2. The Apadāna of Elder Sudassana 10. On the bank of the Vinata river, a fig tree was in fruit; Searching for that tree, I saw the world's leader. 11. Seeing a blooming Ketaka flower, I then cut its stalk; I offered it to the Buddha, Sikhī, the kinsman of the world. 12. By which knowledge you attained, the unshakeable, deathless state; That knowledge I venerate, O foremost Buddha, great sage. 13. Having made an offering to knowledge, I saw the fig tree; I gained that wisdom... ...that merit, this is the fruit of wisdom-worship. 14. Thirty-one aeons ago from now, when I offered flowers, I know no suffering; this is the fruit of wisdom-worship. 15. Thirteen aeons ago from now, twelve arose, bearing fruit, endowed with seven jewels, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 16. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Sudassana Thera spoke these verses. The second Apadāna of Sudassana Thera. 3. The Apadāna of Candanapūjanaka Thera 17. On the bank of the Candabhāgā river, I was a kinnara then; and I was a flower-eater, and also clothed in flowers. 18. But the Blessed One, Atthadassī, chief of the world, bull among men, went forth through the forest-peak, like a king of swans in the sky. 19. Homage to you, noble man, your mind is well-purified; your facial complexion is serene, your facial faculties are perfectly clear. 20. Descending from the sky, the greatly wise, the sagacious one, having spread out his outer robe, sat down cross-legged. 21. Taking melted sandalwood, I went to the Victor; with a serene mind, joyful, I offered it to the Buddha. 22. Having saluted the Fully Awakened One, chief of the world, bull among men, having generated joy, I departed, facing north. 23. Eighteen hundred aeons ago, when I worshipped with sandalwood, I know no suffering; this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 24. Fourteen hundred aeons ago, from then, there were three by the name Rohaṇī, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 25. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Candanapūjanaka Thera spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of Candanapūjanaka Thera. The Eighth Recitation Section. 4. The Apadāna of Pupphacchadaniya Thera 26. By the name Sunanda, a brahmin, master of mantras, a reciter, skilled in supplication, performed the Vājapeyya sacrifice. Padumuttara, knower of worlds, Foremost, compassionate sage; Pitying the people, Walked in the sky then. Having walked, the Fully Awakened One, Omniscient, leader of the world; Spread loving-kindness to beings, Immeasurable, without attachment. Having cut the flowers from their stalks, The brahmin, master of mantras; Assembled all his disciples, And had them thrown into the sky. As far as the city extended, There was a covering of flowers then; By the Buddha's power, For seven days it did not disappear. By that root of merit, Having experienced prosperity; Having fully understood all defilements, I crossed over the world's entanglement. In one hundred and eleven aeons, Thirty-five khattiyas; Named Ambaramsasa, Were powerful Wheel-turning monarchs. The four analytical knowledges... ...The Buddha's teaching was done. Not far from the Himalayas, Was a mountain named Vasabha; At the foot of that mountain, An hermitage was built. Three thousand disciples, I taught as a brahmin then; Having gathered those disciples, I sat down to one side. Having sat down to one side, The brahmin, master of mantras; Seeking the knowledge of the Buddha, I purified my mind in wisdom. Having purified my mind there, I sat on a bed of leaves; Having folded my legs in a cross-legged posture, I passed away there. In the thirty-first aeon from now, The perception I gained then; I do not know a bad destination, This is the fruit of that perception of knowledge. In the twenty-seventh aeon, There was a king named Siridhara; Endowed with seven jewels, A powerful Wheel-turning monarch. The four analytical knowledges... ...The Buddha's teaching was done. 6. The Apadāna of Thera Campakapupphiya 41. Shining like a Kanikara flower, seated in the mountain's midst; illuminating all directions, like a star, a luminous herb. 42. Three young men there were, well-trained in their own craft; taking a load on a pole, they followed after me. 43. Seven flowers in a basket, placed by an ascetic; taking them with wisdom, I offered them to Vessabhū. 44. Thirty-one aeons ago from here, when I offered that flower; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of the wisdom-offering. 45. In the twenty-ninth aeon, by the name Vipulābha; endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 46. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Thera Campakapupphiya spoke these verses; The sixth Apadāna of Thera Campakapupphiya. 7. The Apadāna of Thera Atthasandassaka 47. Seated in a spacious hall, I saw the world's leader; with defilements destroyed, attained to power, honored by the Sangha of monks. 48. A hundred thousand with triple knowledge, with six supernormal powers, of great might; surrounded the Fully Awakened One, who, seeing, would not be delighted? 49. He whose knowledge has no equal, in the world with its gods; the Fully Awakened One of infinite knowledge, who, seeing, would not be delighted? 50. Illuminating the Dhamma-body, a complete mine of jewels; they cannot conceive it, who, seeing, would not be delighted? 51. With these three verses, Narada, the affectionate one; having praised Padumuttara, the unconquered Fully Awakened One. 52. By that clarity of mind, and by the praise of the Buddha; for a hundred thousand aeons, I did not fall into a bad destination. 53. From here, three hundred aeons ago, a khattiya named Sumitta; endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 54. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. The Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable elder Atthasandassaka spoke these verses. The seventh Apadāna of the elder Atthasandassaka. 8. The Apadāna of the Elder Ekapasādaniya 55. "Nārada is my name, Kesava they knew me as; Seeking good and bad, I went to the Buddha's presence. 56. The Great Sage, with a mind of loving-kindness, compassionate, seeing the goal; Comforting beings, that Seer taught the Dhamma. 57. Having gladdened my own mind, and placed my hands together at my head; Having saluted the Teacher, I departed facing east. 58. In seventeen hundred aeons, there was a king, a lord of the earth; Named Amittatāpana, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 59. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable elder Ekapasādaniya spoke these verses. The eighth Apadāna of the elder Ekapasādaniya. 9. The Apadāna of the Elder Sālapupphadāyaka 60. "I was then a king of beasts, a well-born lion; Searching a mountain stronghold, I saw the Leader of the World. 61. 'Surely this Great Hero brings peace to many people; Why don't I attend upon the God of gods, the Bull among men?' 62. Having broken a branch of a sala tree, I brought a flower with its calyx; Approaching the Fully Awakened One, I offered the excellent flower. 63. In the ninety-first aeon, when I offered that flower; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that flower-offering. 64. And from this, in the ninth aeon, named Virocana; There were three kings, mighty Wheel-turning Monarchs. 65. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable elder Sālapupphadāyaka spoke these verses. The ninth Apadāna of the elder Sālapupphadāyaka. 10. The Apadāna of the Elder Piyālaphaladāyaka 66. "I was then a pigeon, not harming others; Pabbh I make my bed nearby, Not far from the Teacher, the Flame. 67. In the evening and morning I see The Buddha, the world's foremost leader; But I have no offering For the Lord of bipeds, the steadfast one. 68. Taking a piyāla fruit, I went to the Buddha's presence; The Blessed One accepted it, The world's eldest, the bull among men. 69. Thereafter, taking it up, I served the Guide; With that clarity of mind, I passed away there. 70. Thirty-one aeons ago from here, The fruit I gave; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of that fruit-giving. 71. Fifteen aeons ago from here, There were three Piyālins; Endowed with seven treasures, Mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 72. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done.