English
When the last existence was reached, I was a brahmin named Vāseṭṭha. 233. “Eighty crores of wealth, I was his son; Sela was my name, I had attained perfection in the six limbs. 234. “Wandering on foot, surrounded by my disciples; The ascetic named Keṇiya, burdened with matted hair. 235. “Prepared Seeing the offering, I spoke these words: ‘Is it a wedding or a marriage? Or is the king invited by you?’ ‘‘I wish to make an offering, O brahmin, revered by the gods; I do not invite the king, No such offering is mine. ‘‘Nor is there a wedding for me, No marriage is found for me; The bringer of joy to the Sakyas, The best in the world with its gods. ‘‘For the welfare of all the world, Bringing happiness to all beings; He is invited by me today, This is the preparation for him. ‘‘With the color of a Timbarūsaka fruit, Immeasurable, incomparable; The Buddha, unequalled in form, Is invited for tomorrow. ‘‘Like a blazing torch, Like glowing acacia charcoal; The Great Hero, like lightning, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Like a flame on a mountain peak, Like the moon on a full moon night; Resembling the color of a reed-fire, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Undaunted, gone beyond fear, The sage who ends existence; The Great Hero, like a lion, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Skilled in the Buddha-Dhammas, Unconquerable by others; The Great Hero, like an elephant, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Skilled in the conduct of the True Dhamma, The unequalled Buddha-elephant; The Great Hero, like a bull, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Of endless glory, of immeasurable fame, Adorned with all wondrous marks; The Great Hero, like Sakka, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Masterful, a leader, majestic, And glorious, unapproachable; The Great Hero, like Brahmā, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘One who has attained Dhamma, with ten powers, Gone beyond all powers; The Great Hero, like the earth, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Filled with waves of virtue, Stirred by the consciousness of Dhamma; The Great Hero, like the ocean, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Unapproachable, unconquerable, Unmoving, lofty, immense; The Great Hero, like Mount Meru, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘Of endless knowledge, unequalled, Incomparable, gone to the highest; The Great Hero, like the sky, That Buddha is invited by me. ‘‘A refuge for those who are afraid, Refuge for those who seek refuge; The Great Hero, the comforter, that Buddha is invited by me. 252. The abode of the wise, the field of merit for those seeking happiness; The Great Hero, a mine of jewels, that Buddha is invited by me. 253. The comforter, the knower, the giver of the fruits of recluseship; The Great Hero, like a cloud, that Buddha is invited by me. 254. The eye of the world, of great splendor, dispelling all darkness; The Great Hero, like the sun, that Buddha is invited by me. 255. The sage who sees the true nature in objects and liberation; The Great Hero, like the moon, that Buddha is invited by me. 256. The Buddha, exalted in the world, adorned with marks; The Great Hero, immeasurable, that Buddha is invited by me. 257. Whose knowledge is immeasurable, whose virtue is incomparable; Whose liberation is unequaled, that Buddha is invited by me. 258. Whose wisdom is unequaled, whose strength is inconceivable; Whose effort is supreme, that Buddha is invited by me. 259. Greed, hatred, and delusion, all poisons are uprooted; The Great Hero, like an antidote, that Buddha is invited by me. 260. Dispelling all darkness of defilement-sickness and much suffering; The Great Hero, like a physician, that Buddha is invited by me. 261. "Buddha," sir, what you say, that sound is very rare; Hearing "Buddha, Buddha," joy arose in me. 262. Unable to contain it within, my joy overflowed outside; So I, filled with joy, spoke these words. 263. "Where, then, is that Blessed One, the world's foremost, the bull among men? Going there, I would pay homage to the giver of the fruits of recluseship." 264. Raising his right arm, filled with emotion, with clasped hands; He told me about the King of Dhamma, the dispeller of the dart of sorrow. 265. "Like a great cloud rising, dark, like collyrium; Appearing like an ocean, behold that great forest. 266. "There dwells that Buddha, the tamer of the untamed, the sage; Disciplining those to be disciplined, enlightening those inclined to awakening. 267. "Like one thirsty, having like water, like food to the hungry. As a cow yearns for its calf, so did I seek the Jina. 268. “‘Knowing the proper conduct and manners, the restraint fitting the Dhamma, I instruct my own disciples, who go to the Jina’s presence. 269. “‘The Bhagavants are hard to approach, like lions, solitary wanderers; Placing foot after foot, you should come, young men. 270. “‘As a venomous snake is terrible, as a lion is king of beasts, as a rutting elephant is mighty, so are the Buddhas hard to approach. 271. “‘Coughing and spitting, overlooking these, young men, placing foot after foot, approach the Buddha’s presence. 272. “‘Respectful of solitude, quiet, hard to approach, the Buddhas are difficult to draw near, revered by gods and men. 273. “‘When I ask a question, or exchange greetings, be quiet then, stand as if you were sages. 274. “‘That which the Fully Awakened One teaches, the good Dhamma for attaining peace, Nibbāna; Listen to that meaning alone, listening to the good Dhamma is happiness.’ 275. Approaching the Fully Awakened One, I exchanged greetings with the sage; Having finished that conversation, I examined the marks. 276. I doubted two marks, though I saw thirty marks; The sage showed the private parts enclosed in a sheath, by psychic power. 277. Extending his tongue, to his ear-holes and nostrils, he touched his forehead, the Jina covered it completely. 278. Seeing his marks, complete and with all characteristics, I came to the conclusion that he was a Buddha, and went forth with my disciples. 279. Accompanied by three hundred, I went forth into homelessness; Before half a month had passed, all of us attained Nibbāna. 280. Having performed deeds together, in the unsurpassed field of merit; Having wandered together, they ceased together. 281. Having given roof-rafters, I dwelt in the community of the Sangha; By that well-done deed, I obtained eight benefits. 282. I am honored in all directions, and my possessions are immeasurable; I am a support for all, fear does not exist for me. 283. Diseases do not exist for me, And I maintain a long life; I become one with delicate skin, I dwell in desired dwellings. 284. Having given eight rafters, I lived in the Dhamma of the Pūga; The attainment of analytical knowledge, This is my further achievement. 285. All accomplished, Done with tasks, without defilements; Aṭṭhagopānasī by name, Your son, Great Sage. 286. Having given five pillars, I lived in the Dhamma of the Pūga; By that well-done deed, I obtain five causes. 287. I become unshakeable in loving-kindness, I become one with complete limbs; I become one whose word is acceptable, I do not destroy as I am. 288. My mind is undisturbed, I am not attached to anyone; By that well-done deed, I become pure in the Dispensation. 289. Respectful, reverent, Done with tasks, without defilements; Your disciple, Great Hero, The monk, the sage, salutes you. 290. Having made a well-made couch, I arranged it in the hall; By that well-done deed, I obtain five causes. 291. Born in a high family, I become one with great wealth; I become one with all accomplishments, No stinginess exists for me. 292. When I desire to go, A couch appears; With that excellent couch, I go to my desired place. 293. By that gift of a couch, I dispelled all darkness; Attained to the power of all supernormal knowledge, The elder salutes you, O sage. 294. The tasks of others and my own tasks, All tasks I accomplished; By that well-done deed, I entered the city of fearlessness. 295. In a completed hall, I gave a gift of use; By that well-done deed, I attained pre-eminence. 296. Whoever are tamers in the world, Who tame elephants and horses; Having performed various tortures, They tame them with harshness. 297. Not so, Great Hero, Do you tame men and women; Without rod, without weapon, You tame with the highest taming. 298. Extolling the praise of giving, The sage skilled in teaching; One question... Having come forth, He enlightened three hundred sages. 299. We are tamed by the Charioteer, Well-liberated, without defilements; Having attained all supernormal powers, Extinguished at the destruction of substrata. 300. A hundred thousand aeons ago, The gift I gave then; All fears are overcome, This is the fruit of the gift of rice. 301. My defilements are burnt... ...I dwell without defilements. 302. Truly, it was a good welcome for me... ...The Buddha's teaching has been done. 303. The four analytical knowledges... ...The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the venerable Sela, with his company, spoke these verses in the presence of the Blessed One. The second Apadāna of Thera Sela. 3. The Apadāna of Thera Sabbakittika. 304. Like a blazing Kaṇikāra tree, Like a shining lamp-tree; Like a shining medicinal herb, Like lightning in the sky. 305. Fearless, undaunted, Like a lion, king of beasts; Proclaiming the light of knowledge, Crushing the hordes of sectarians. 306. Uplifting this world, Cutting off all doubts; Like a roaring king of beasts, I saw the world-leader. 307. I was a wearer of matted hair and deerskin, Great, upright, glorious; Taking a bark-garment, I spread it at his feet. 308. Taking black sandalwood, I anointed the Tathāgata; Having anointed the Fully Awakened One, I praised the world-leader. 309. You uplift this world, O great sage, crossed the flood; You illuminate with the light of knowledge, The supreme knowledge, a ship. 310. You set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma,