English
22. The Chapter on Elephants 1. The Apadāna of Thera Hatthidāyaka (The Giver of an Elephant) 1. To the Blessed One Siddhattha, the lord of bipeds, the steadfast one; A chief elephant was given by me, with tusks like a plough-pole, well-grown. 2. I experience the highest good, the unsurpassed state of peace; The gift of an elephant was given by me, to the benefactor of all the world. 3. Ninety-four aeons ago, when I gave that gift of an elephant; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of the gift of an elephant. 4. In the seventy-eighth aeon, there were sixteen kings; Named Samantapāsādika, wheel-turning monarchs of great power. 5. The four analytical knowledges, and the eight liberations; The six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Hatthidāyaka Thera spoke these verses. The first Apadāna is that of Thera Hatthidāyaka. 2. The Apadāna of Thera Pānadhidāyaka (The Giver of a Water-Jar) 6. To the hermit sage, who practiced asceticism for a long time; To the Buddha, whose mind was developed, I gave a water-jar. 7. By that deed, O lord of bipeds, chief of the world, bull among men; I experience divine vehicles, this is the fruit of past kamma. 8. Ninety-four aeons from now, when I did that deed; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of the water-jar. 9. In the seventy-seventh aeon, there were eight kings; Named Suyāna, wheel-turning monarchs of great power. 10. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Pānadhidāyaka Thera spoke these verses. The second Apadāna is that of Thera Pānadhidāyaka. 3. The Apadāna of Thera Saccasaññaka (The One with the Perception of Truth) 11. At that time Vessabhū, surrounded by the Sangha of bhikkhus; Taught the Noble Truths, cooling the great multitude. 12. I was filled with supreme compassion, I went to the assembly; Sitting there, I heard the Dhamma from the Teacher. 13. Of his Dhamma Hearing this, I went to the deva world; For thirty aeons, among devas, I dwelt there before. In the thirty-first aeon from now, the perception I gained then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of true perception. In the twenty-sixth aeon from now, I was one lord of men; Named Ekaphusita, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Saccasaññaka Thera spoke these verses. Seeing the Teacher's rag-robe, Stuck on a tree-top; Raising my joined hands, I paid homage to the rag-robe. In the thirty-first aeon from now, the perception I gained then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of honoring the Buddha. In the twenty-fifth aeon from now, I was one lord of men; Named Amitābha, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Ekasaññaka Thera spoke these verses. Like the rising sun with a hundred rays, Like the radiant one with golden rays; Like a noble tiger-bull, well-born among the mountains. That power of the Buddha, Shines among the mountains; Having gladdened my mind by the rays, for an aeon I rejoiced in heaven. In the remaining aeons, good deeds were done by me; By that gladdening of mind, and by recollection of the Buddha. Thirty thousand aeons from now, the perception I gained then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-perception. In the fifty-seventh aeon, I was one lord of men; Named Sujāta, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Raṃsisaññaka Thera He spoke these verses. The Fifth Apadāna: Raṃsisaññaka Thera. 6. The Apadāna of Sandhita Thera 27. In a green-shining Bodhi tree, a well-grown tree; I obtained a single perception of the Buddha, mindful, I gained it. 28. Thirty-one aeons ago, when I obtained that perception; By the power of that perception, the destruction of defilements was reached by me. 29. Thirteen aeons ago from now, there was a king named Dhaniṭṭha; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 30. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... The Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Sandhita Thera spoke these verses. The Sixth Apadāna: Sandhita Thera. 7. The Apadāna of Tālavaṇṭadāyaka Thera 31. A palm-leaf fan was given by me, to Tissa, kinsman of the sun; For the cooling in summer, for the calming of heat. 32. I extinguish the fire of lust, and the fire of hatred, furthermore; I extinguish also the fire of delusion, this is the fruit of the palm-leaf fan. 33. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; I bear my final body, in the teaching of the Perfectly Enlightened One. 34. Ninety-two aeons ago from now, when I performed that deed; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of the palm-leaf fan. 35. Sixty-three aeons ago from now, there was one named Mahānāma; Endowed with seven treasures, a mighty Wheel-turning Monarch. 36. The four analytical knowledges... (and so on)... The Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Tālavaṇṭadāyaka Thera spoke these verses. The Seventh Apadāna: Tālavaṇṭadāyaka Thera. 8. The Apadāna of Akkantasaññaka Thera 37. Taking a piece of grass, for my preceptor, formerly; And I was learning a mantra, for the attainment of freedom from knots. 38. I saw the dustless Buddha, receiver of offerings; A bull, supreme, foremost, Tissa the Buddha, chief of the assembly. 39. The piece of grass... the best of men, the Great Hero, who had arisen, the chief of the world, the bull among men. 40. Having seen that light of the world, pure, like the moon, I bowed at the Teacher's feet, with a mind greatly serene. 41. Ninety-four aeons ago, the grass mat I gave; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that grass mat. 42. Thirty-seven aeons from now, I was a ruler, named Sunanda, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. 43. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Elder Akkantasaññaka spoke these verses. The eighth Apadāna is that of the Elder Akkantasaññaka. 9. The Apadāna of the Elder Sappidāyaka 44. Seated in the best of palaces, surrounded by a retinue of women, seeing a sick ascetic, I brought him to my house. 45. The Great Hero, the God of gods, the bull among men, was seated; oil and ghee were given by me, to the Great Seer Siddhattha. 46. Having seen his calmed agitation, his face and faculties greatly serene, having bowed at the Teacher's feet, I announced it before. 47. Seeing me, greatly serene, having reached the perfection of psychic power, the wise one ascended into the sky, like a king of swans in the air. 48. Ninety-four aeons ago, the gift I then gave; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that oil and ghee. 49. Seventeen aeons from now, named Jutideva, endowed with seven jewels, a mighty Wheel-turning monarch. 50. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching was done. Thus indeed, the Elder Sappidāyaka spoke these verses. The ninth Apadāna is that of the Elder Sappidāyaka. 10. The Apadāna of the Elder Pāpanivāriya 51. For the Blessed One Piyadassī, I cleaned a walking path; covered with reeds, a shelter from wind and sun. 52. For the avoidance of evil, for the accomplishment of good; the defilements For abandoning it, I strove in the Teacher's Dispensation. 53. From here, in the eleventh eon, renowned as Aggideva; Endowed with the seven treasures, a Wheel-turning Monarch of great power. 54. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed the venerable Elder Pāpanivāriya (or Vātātapanivāriya) spoke these verses. The Tenth Apadāna of Elder Pāpanivāriya. The Twenty-second Chapter: The Elephant. Its Summary – Elephant, Pānadhi, and Sacca, and Ekasaññī, and Raṃsika; Sandhita, and Tālavaṇṭa, likewise Akkantasaññaka; Sappi, and Pāpanivārī, thus fifty-four verses.