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The Lotus Chapter 1. The Apadāna of Thera Kumudamāliya 1. On the Himavanta mountain, there was a great natural lake; Born there, I was a demon, fearsome in form, very powerful. 2. Kumuda flowers bloomed there, as large as wheels they grew; I gathered those flowers, for a powerful assembly then. 3. But the Blessed One Atthadassī, chief of bipeds, bull among men; Seeing the gathered flowers, came to my presence. 4. To the Fully Awakened One who had come, god of gods, bull among men; Taking all the flowers, I offered them to the Buddha. 5. As far as the Himavanta's end, that assembly was then; So covered (with flowers), the Tathāgata went. 6. Eighteen hundred aeons ago, when I offered the flowers; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 7. In the fifteenth aeon from now, there were seven rulers of men; Named Sahassaratha, they were universal monarchs, very powerful. 8. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Thera Kumudamāliya spoke these verses. The first Apadāna, that of Thera Kumudamāliya. 2. The Apadāna of Thera Nisseṇidāyaka 9. For the Blessed One Koṇḍañña, foremost in the world, the steadfast one; For ascending the palace, a ladder was made by me. 10. By that clarity of mind, having experienced prosperity; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Perfectly Self-Awakened One. 11. In the thirty-first thousand aeons, there were three; Kings named Sambahulā, universal monarchs, very powerful. 12. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Thera Nisseṇidāyaka spoke these verses. The second Apadāna, that of Thera Nisseṇidāyaka. 3. The Apadāna of Thera Rattipupphiya 13. Formerly I was a hunter, in the forest In the forest I; Saw Vipassī the Buddha, god of gods, chief of men. 14. "Seeing the night-flowering, Kuṭaja plant in bloom; Taking it with its roots, I offered it to the Great Seer. 15. "Ninety-one aeons ago, When I offered that flower; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of the flower-offering. 16. "And eight aeons from now, Named Suppasanna; Endowed with seven jewels, I was a mighty king. 17. "The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done." 18. "For Vipassī the Blessed One, A well was made by me; And having given almsfood, I dedicated it then. 19. "Ninety-one aeons ago, The deed that I did then; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of the well-offering. 20. "The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done." 21. "When the Lord of the World, The leader Padumuttara, had attained Nibbāna; With a clear and joyful mind, I gave a lion-throne. 22. "With many perfumes and garlands, Bringing happiness in this very life; Having made offerings there, Many people found peace. 23. "With a clear and joyful mind, Having worshipped the supreme Bodhi; For a hundred thousand aeons, I did not go to a bad destination. 24. "In the fifteenth thousand, Of aeons, there were eight; Named Siluccaya, Wheel-turning kings. 25. "The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done." 26. "Anomadassī the Blessed One, Lord of bipeds O, bull among men; For the sake of happiness in this very life, I walked in the open air. 27. With uplifted feet, flowers stood beautifully on my head; With a clear mind, joyful, having worshipped, I scattered flowers. 28. Twenty thousand aeons ago, there were five people; Named Pupphacchadaniya, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 29. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Maggadattika recited these verses. The Sixth Apadāna of Elder Maggadattika. 7. The Apadāna of Elder Ekadīpiya. 30. To the sage Padumuttara, at the supreme Bodhi tree of the sāla; With a clear mind, joyful, I offered a single lamp. 31. As I was reborn in existence, with accumulated merit reborn; I knew no suffering, this is the fruit of the lamp offering. 32. Sixteen thousand aeons ago, there were four people; Named Candābhā, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 33. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Ekadīpiya recited these verses. The Seventh Apadāna of Elder Ekadīpiya. The Ninth Recitation Section. 8. The Apadāna of Elder Maṇipūjaka. 34. Below the Himalayas, a river flowed; And in its nearby region, the Self-Existent One dwelt then. 35. Taking a jewel, a beautiful seat, with a good mind, delightful; With a clear mind, joyful, I offered it to the Buddha. 36. Ninety-four aeons ago, when I offered the jewel; I knew no suffering, this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 37. And twelve aeons ago from now, there were those named Sataraṃsī; Eight of them were kings, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. 38. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Maṇipūjaka recited these verses. The Eighth Apadāna of Elder Maṇipūjaka. 9. The Apadāna of Elder Tikicchaka. 39. In the city of Bandhumatī, I was a well-trained physician; Always to the sick... a well, bringing happiness to many people. Seeing a sick monk, virtuous, greatly radiant; With a clear and cheerful mind, I then gave medicine. By that, the monk became free from illness, with restrained faculties; Asoka by name, attendant of Vipassī. Ninety-one aeons ago, the medicine I gave; I have not known a bad destination, this is the fruit of that medicine. And from this, in the eighth aeon, one named "All-Medicine"; Endowed with seven jewels, a greatly powerful Wheel-turning Monarch. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled. Thus indeed the venerable Elder Tikicchaka spoke these verses. The Legend of Elder Tikicchaka, the ninth. The Legend of Elder Saṅghupaṭṭhaka When the Blessed One Vessabhū (was alive), I was a park-keeper; With a clear and cheerful mind, I attended the supreme Saṅgha. Thirty-one aeons ago from this, the deed I did then; I have not known a bad destination, this is the fruit of that attendance. From this, in the seventh aeon, there were seven united (kings); Endowed with seven jewels, greatly powerful Wheel-turning Monarchs. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled. Thus indeed the venerable Elder Saṅghupaṭṭhaka spoke these verses. The Legend of Elder Saṅghupaṭṭhaka, the tenth. The Kumuda Chapter, the eighteenth. Its summary – Kumuda, then Nisseṇī, Rattika, Udapānado; Sīhāsanī, Maggadado, Ekadīpī, Maṇippado; Tikicchaka, Upaṭṭhāka, fifty-one verses.