English
35. The Chapter of Ekapadumiya 1. The Apadāna of Elder Ekapadumiya 1. Padumuttara by name, the Victor, gone to the far shore of all phenomena; Illuminating existence and non-existence, he saved many people. 2. At that time I was a king of swans, the best of birds; Entering the Jātassara lake, I played the swan's game. 3. Padumuttara, the knower of the world, recipient of offerings; Above the Jātassara lake, the Victor came at that very moment. 4. Seeing the god of gods, the self-existent, leader of the world; Cutting a delightful hundred-petalled lotus from its stalk. 5. Holding it with my beak, pleased with the leader of the world; Tossing it into the sky, I worshipped the foremost Buddha. 6. Padumuttara, the knower of the world, recipient of offerings; The Teacher, standing in the air, gave me his approval. 7. ‘By this one lotus, and by the aspirations of your will; For a hundred thousand aeons, you will not go to a state of woe.’ 8. Having said this, the Fully Awakened One, named the foremost of lotuses; Having praised my deed, went where he wished. 9. A hundred thousand aeons ago, the deed I did then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 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 Ekapadumiya Thera spoke these verses. The first Apadāna of the Elder Ekapadumiya. 2. The Apadāna of Elder Tīṇuppalamāliya 11. On the bank of the Candabhāgā river, I was a monkey at that time; I saw the Stainless Buddha, seated in a mountain cave. 12. Illuminating all directions, like a blooming Sāla king tree; Endowed with marks and signs, seeing him, I was delighted. 13. With an uplifted mind, joyful, my heart thrilled with rapture; Three lotus flowers, I placed on his head. 14. Having placed the flowers, on Vipassī, the great sage; Having become respectful, I went, facing north. 15. Going, with a stooped body, with a purified mind; Having fallen between rocks, I reached the end of life. 16. By that well-done deed, and by the aspirations of my will; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 17. And three hundred times, I ruled as king of devas; And five hundred times, I was a Wheel-turning Monarch. 18. In the ninety-first eon, when I offered flowers; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 19. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Tīṇuppalamāliya spoke these verses. The Apadāna of the Elder Tīṇuppalamāliya, the second. 3. The Apadāna of the Elder Dhajadāyaka 20. There was a Teacher named Tissa, foremost in the world, a bull among men; Seeing the destruction of his defilements, a flag was raised by me. 21. By that well-done deed, and by the aspirations of my will; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 22. And three hundred times, I ruled as king of devas; And five hundred times, I was a Wheel-turning Monarch. 23. Vast regional kingships, countless in number; I experience my own karma, that which was well-done by myself formerly. 24. In the ninety-second eon from now, the deed I did then; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the flag-offering. 25. And if I wished today, with its forests and mountains; I could cover it with linen cloth, such was the fruit of what I did then. 26. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Dhajadāyaka spoke these verses. The Apadāna of the Elder Dhajadāyaka, the third. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Tikiṅkaṇipūjaka 27. Not far from the Himalayas, there is a mountain named Bhūtagaṇa; There I saw a rag, stuck on a tree-top. 28. "Three kiṅkaṇi flowers, having gathered them then; Joyful with a joyful mind, I worshipped the rag. 29. "Thirty-one aeons ago, the deed I did then; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the three flowers. 30. "The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Tikiṅkaṇipūjaka recited these verses. The fourth Apadāna of the Elder Tikiṅkaṇipūjaka. 5. The Apadāna of the Elder Naḷāgārika 31. "Not far from the Himalayas, was a mountain named Hārita; The Self-existent Nārada, dwelt then at its root. 32. "Having made a reed-house, I roofed it with grass; Having cleaned the walking path, I gave it to the Self-existent one. 33. "For fourteen aeons, I delighted in the deva-world; And seventy-four times, I ruled as king of devas. 34. "And seventy-four times, I was a universal monarch; Vast regional rule, innumerable by count. 35. "My dwelling was lofty, risen like Indra's pillar; A thousand-pillared, incomparable, a radiant mansion. 36. "Having experienced two attainments, urged by the root of merit; In the teaching of the Blessed Gotama, I went forth. 37. "My mind is intent on exertion, calm, without defilements; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell without taints. 38. "The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Naḷāgārika recited these verses. The fifth Apadāna of the Elder Naḷāgārika. 6. The Apadāna of the Elder Campakapupphiya 39. "Not far from the Himalayas, was a mountain named Jāpala; The Buddha named Sudassana, dwelt between the mountains. 40. "Taking a golden flower, I was going through the air; I saw the dustless Buddha, who had crossed the flood Bowing to the taintless one. 41. Seven campaka flowers, having placed on my head then; I offered to the Buddha, the Self-existent, the Great Seer. 42. In the thirty-first eon from now, when I offered the flowers; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 43. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Campakapupphiya, spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Elder Campakapupphiya, the sixth. 7. The Apadāna of Elder Padumapūjaka 44. Not far from the Himalayas, was a mountain named Romasa; and the Buddha named Sambhava, dwelt in the open air then. 45. Having come out of my dwelling, I held a lotus; having held it for one day, I returned to my dwelling again. 46. In the ninety-first eon from now, when I offered the flowers; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 47. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Padumapūjaka, spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Elder Padumapūjaka, the seventh. The thirteenth recitation section. 8. The Apadāna of Elder Tiṇamuṭṭhidāyaka 48. Not far from the Himalayas, was a mountain named Lambaka; and the Fully Enlightened One named Upatissa, was walking in the open air. 49. I was then a hunter, in the forest, in the wilderness; having seen that god of gods, the Self-existent, the unconquered one. 50. With a mind greatly purified, then to that Great Seer; for the Buddha to sit, I gave a handful of grass. 51. Having given to the god of gods, I further purified my mind; having saluted the Fully Enlightened One, I departed facing north. 52. Not long after I had gone, a lion struck me; struck by the lion, I died there. 53. My deed was done nearby, to the supreme Buddha, the taintless one; like an arrow swiftly released, I went to the world of devas. 54. There was a beautiful sacrificial post there, due to meritorious deeds... unmade; A thousand branches, a hundred stems, a banner of green. 55. "Its light streamed forth, like the risen sun with a hundred rays; Filled with divine maidens, I delighted in my desires. 56. "Having fallen from the deva-world, impelled by wholesome roots; Having come to human existence, I have attained the destruction of defilements. 57. "Ninety-four aeons ago, I gave a seat; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that handful of grass. 58. "The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the Elder Tiṇamuṭṭhidāyaka spoke these verses. The eighth Apadāna is that of the Elder Tiṇamuṭṭhidāyaka. 9. The Apadāna of the Elder Tindukaphaladāyaka 59. "Shining like a kaṇikāra tree, seated in the mountain's hollow; I saw the stainless Buddha, who had crossed the flood, free from defilements. 60. "Seeing a ripe tinduka fruit, breaking open its husk; With a serene and joyful mind, I gave it to the Self-Existent One. 61. "Ninety-one aeons ago, the fruit I gave then; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that fruit-offering. 62. "The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the Elder Tindukaphaladāyaka spoke these verses. The ninth Apadāna is that of the Elder Tindukaphaladāyaka. 10. The Apadāna of the Elder Ekañjaliya 63. "A Buddha named Romasa, dwelt by the river bank then; I saw the stainless Buddha, like the sun with golden rays. 64. "Like a torch struck, like glowing khadira charcoal; Shining like a medicinal herb, I made a single añjali (reverent gesture). 65. "Ninety-four aeons ago, the añjali I made; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of that añjali. 66. "The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the Elder Ekañjaliya spoke these verses. The tenth Apadāna is that of the Elder Ekañjaliya. Ekapadumiyava The thirty-fifth section. Its summary: Lotus-bearer, blue-lily-garlanded, Banner, bell, and reed; Champaka, lotus, fist, Tinduka, and cupped hands, likewise; Sixty and six verses, Counted by the discerning.