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51. The Chapter on Kaṇikāra Flowers 1. The Story of Thera Tikaṇikārapupphiya 1. The Fully Awakened One named Sumedha, Endowed with thirty-two excellent marks; Desiring solitude, the Fully Awakened One, Went to the Himalayas. 2. Having entered the Himalayas, The foremost, compassionate sage; Having sat cross-legged, The best of men sat down. 3. I was then a Vidyādhara, A sky-walker; Taking a well-made trident, I was going through the sky then. 4. Like fire on a mountain peak, Like the moon on a full moon night; The Buddha shone in the forest, Like a blossomed Sāla king. 5. Coming out from the edge of the forest, The Buddha's rays spread; Resembling the color of a flame at the tip of a reed, Seeing them, my mind became clear. 6. I found a flower, A divine-scented Kaṇikāra; Taking three flowers, I worshipped the best of Buddhas. 7. By the power of the Buddha, My three flowers then; With stems upwards, petals downwards, Made a shade for the Teacher. 8. By that well-done deed, And by my aspirations; Leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 9. There, my well-made mansion, Is known as Kaṇikārī; Sixty yojanas high, Thirty yojanas wide. 10. A thousand sections, a hundred domes, Adorned with green flags; A hundred thousand pinnacles, Appeared in my mansion. 11. Made of gold, made of gems, And also made of coral; And crystal couches, As desired, as wished. 12. And a very precious bed, With a soft mattress; With upward-pointing hairs on one side, With a pillow. 13. Coming out from the mansion, Wandering as a god; When I wish to go, Surrounded by a host of gods. 14. I stand beneath a flower, It is my canopy; A hundred yojanas all around, Covered with Kaṇikāra flowers. 15. Sixty thousand musical instruments, Served me morning and evening; They always surround me, day and night, unwearied. 16. There, with dances, with songs, with clappings, and with music; I delight in sport and play, I rejoice, desiring pleasures. 17. There, having eaten and drunk, I then rejoice among the gods; accompanied by throngs of women, I rejoice in the excellent mansion. 18. Five hundred times, I ruled as king of gods; Three hundred times, I was a Wheel-turning Monarch; extensive regional rule, beyond count, innumerable. 19. Wandering through existences, I obtain great wealth; there is no lack in my enjoyments, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 20. I wander in two existences, in divinity and then in humanity; I know no other destination, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 21. I am born in two families, in warrior and also in brahmin; I am not born in a low family, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 22. Elephant-vehicles, horse-vehicles, palanquins, and chariots; I obtain all of these, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 23. Throngs of female servants, throngs of male servants, women adorned; I obtain all of these, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 24. Silk and woolen cloths, and linen and cotton; I obtain all of these, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 25. New clothes, new fruits, new, excellent, delicious food; I obtain all of these, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 26. "Eat this, enjoy this," "sleep on this couch"; I obtain all of these, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 27. I am honored everywhere, my fame is exalted; I am always of great following, my retinue is always unbroken; I am supreme among my relatives, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 28. I know no cold or heat, there is no feverish burning; also mental suffering, does not exist in my heart. 29. Having a golden complexion, I wander through existences; I know no disfigurement, this is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 30. Having passed away from the deva-world, impelled by wholesome roots; I was born in the city of Savatthi, in a very wealthy great family. 31. The five strands of sensual pleasure having gone, I went forth into homelessness; By birth seven years old, I attained arahantship. 32. The Buddha, the Seer, knowing my qualities, ordained me; Though young, I am worthy of veneration; this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 33. My divine eye is purified, I am skilled in concentration; I have reached the perfection of supernormal powers; this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 34. I have attained the analytical knowledges, skilled in the bases of psychic power; I have reached the perfection in the Dhamma; this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 35. Thirty thousand aeons ago, when I worshipped the Buddha; I know no bad destination; this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 36. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell without taints. 37. Welcome indeed it was for me, in the presence of my Buddha; The three knowledges are attained, the Buddha's teaching is done. 38. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, the Buddha's teaching is done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Tikaṇikārapupphiya Thera spoke these verses. The first Apadāna is that of Tikaṇikārapupphiya Thera. 2. The Apadāna of Ekapattadāyaka Thera 39. In the city of Haṃsavatī, I was a potter; I saw the stainless Buddha, who had crossed the flood, taintless. 40. A well-made clay bowl, I gave to the foremost Buddha; Having given the bowl to the Blessed One, who was upright and steadfast. 41. Being reborn in existence, I obtained golden plates; And silver, and golden, and jeweled dishes. 42. I enjoy these bowls, this is the fruit of meritorious action; And of fame and wealth, I am the foremost. 43. Just as in a good field, even a small seed sown; When the rain falls properly, satisfies the farmer with fruit. 44. So too this gift of a bowl, sown in the field of the Buddha; When streams of joy fall, will satisfy me with fruit. 45. As far as fields exist ...and the Sanghas and the groups; There is no equal to the Buddha-field, giver of happiness to all beings. 46. Homage to you, noble man, homage to you, supreme man; Having given a single leaf, I have attained the unmoving state. 47. In the ninety-first eon, when I gave that leaf; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the leaf-offering. 48. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell without defilements. 49. Indeed, it was a good coming for me, in the presence of the Supreme Buddha; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 50. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six super-knowledges realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Ekapattadāyaka spoke these verses. The second Apadāna of the Elder Ekapattadāyaka. 3. The Apadāna of the Elder Kāsumāraphaliya 51. Shining like a Kaṇikāra tree, seated in a mountain cave; I saw the stainless Buddha, chief of the world, a bull among men. 52. With a clear and joyful mind, having placed my hands in homage on my head; Taking a Kāsumārika fruit, I gave it to the Supreme Buddha. 53. In the thirty-first eon from now, when I gave that fruit; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the fruit-offering. 54. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell without defilements. 55. Indeed, it was a good coming for me, in the presence of the Supreme Buddha; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 56. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six super-knowledges realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Kāsumāraphaliya spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of the Elder Kāsumāraphaliya. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Avaṭaphaliya 57. The Fortunate One, with a thousand rays, self-existent, unconquered; Having arisen from seclusion, went forth for alms. 58. I, with fruit in hand, having seen him, approached the bull among men; With a clear and joyful mind, I gave an Avaṭa fruit. 59. In the ninety-fourth eon, when I gave that fruit; I know no bad destination, this is the fruit of the fruit-offering. 60. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell without defilements. 61. Indeed, it was a good coming for me, in the presence of the Supreme Buddha; The three knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 62. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six super-knowledges realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges...pe... the Buddha's teaching is done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Avaṭaphaliya spoke these verses. The fourth Apadāna of Elder Avaṭaphaliya. 5. The Apadāna of Elder Pādaphaliya 63. To the Fully Awakened One, golden-hued, receiver of offerings; As he was walking on the road, I gave a foot-fruit. 64. Ninety-one aeons ago, when I gave that fruit; I do not know misfortune, this is the fruit of giving fruit. 65. My defilements are burnt away...pe... I dwell without taints. 66. Welcome indeed it was for me...pe... the Buddha's teaching is done. 67. The four analytical knowledges...pe... the Buddha's teaching is done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Pādaphaliya spoke these verses. The fifth Apadāna of Elder Pādaphaliya. 6. The Apadāna of Elder Mātuluṅgaphala-dāyaka 68. Like a blazing Kaṇikāra tree, like the moon on a full moon night; Like a shining lamp-tree, I saw the world's leader. 69. Taking a lime fruit, I gave it to the Teacher; To the worthy hero, pleased with my own hands. 70. Thirty-one aeons ago, when I gave that fruit; I do not know misfortune, this is the fruit of giving fruit. 71. My defilements are burnt away...pe... I dwell without taints. 72. Welcome indeed it was for me...pe... the Buddha's teaching is done. 73. The four analytical knowledges...pe... the Buddha's teaching is done.