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B0102051154kaccāyanavaggo (kaccayana)

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he will not be reborn in a bad destination. 77. ‘Among gods, the splendor of a god, among humans, greatness; Having experienced these in residue, he will attain Nibbāna. 78. ‘In the hundred thousandth eon from now, born in the Okkāka clan; There will be a Teacher in the world, named Gotama by clan. 79. ‘A rightful heir to his teachings, born of the Dhamma; Named Kappina, he will be a disciple of the Teacher.’ 80. Then I, having done good deeds in the teaching of the Conqueror; Having abandoned the human body, went to Tusita. 81. Having ruled over divine and human kingdoms hundreds of times; Near Bārāṇasī, I was born into the Keniya caste. 82. With a thousand attendants, I, with my wife; Attended five hundred Paccekabuddhas. 83. Having fed them for three months, afterwards we gave them the triple robe; Then, having passed away, all of us went to the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. 84. Again, all of us, having passed away from there, attained human existence; Born in the city of Kukkuṭa, facing the Himālaya mountains. 85. I was Kappina, a prince of great fame; The remaining ones were born in the minister's family, and surrounded me. 86. Having attained the happiness of a great kingdom, fulfilled in all desires; I heard from merchants of the arising of the Buddha. 87. ‘A Buddha has arisen in the world, unequaled, a unique person; He proclaims the True Dhamma, the deathless, supreme happiness. 88. ‘His disciples are well-practiced, and well-freed, without defilements’; Having heard their good words and honored the merchants. 89. “Having abandoned the kingdom with my ministers, I went forth, a devotee of the Buddha; I saw the great Canda river, full and level with its banks. 90. “Without support, without a foothold, difficult to cross, swiftly flowing; Recalling the Buddha’s virtue, I crossed safely. 91. “‘If the Buddha has crossed the stream of existence, the knower, the end-goer of the world; By this truth, may my journey succeed. 92. “‘If the path to peace is, and liberation is ultimate happiness; By this truth, may my journey succeed. 93. “‘If the Sangha has crossed the wilderness, the unsurpassed field of merit; By this truth, may my journey succeed.’ 94. “As soon as the vows of truth were made, the water receded from the path; Then I crossed happily, to the delightful river bank. 95. “I saw the Buddha seated, like the rising sun; Like a blazing golden mountain, like a shining lamp-tree. 96. “Like the moon with its stars, surrounded by disciples; Like Vāsava raining, from the cloud-mass of his teaching. 97. “Having bowed with my ministers, I sat down to one side; Then, knowing our intention, the Buddha taught the Dhamma. 98. “Having heard the pure Dhamma, we said to the Conqueror; ‘Ordain us, Great Hero, we are disgusted with existence.’ 99. “‘Well-proclaimed, monks, is the Dhamma, for making an end to suffering for you; Practice the holy life,’ thus said the best of sages. 100. “With that word, all of us, wearing the robes of monks; Became fully ordained, and stream-enterers in the Dispensation. 101. “Then going to Jetavana, the Leader instructed; Instructed by the Conqueror, I attained arahantship. 102. “Then I instructed thousands of monks, at that time; Following my instruction, they too became taintless. 103. “The Conqueror, in that virtue…” And pleased, he placed me at the forefront; Foremost among those who advise monks, as Kappina, among the great people. The deed done a hundred thousand (kalpas ago), its fruit it showed me here; Released like an arrow's speed, I burned up my defilements. My defilements are burned... I dwell without taints. Welcome indeed it was for me... the Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the venerable Elder Mahākappina recited these verses. The third Apadāna of Elder Mahākappina. The Apadāna of Elder Dabbamallaputta. A Victor named Padumuttara, a sage knowing all worlds; A hundred thousand kalpas from now, the Seer arose. An instructor, an enlightener, a savior of all beings; The Buddha, skilled in teaching, saved many people. Compassionate, merciful, benevolent to all beings; All heretics who came, he established in the five precepts. Thus it was undisturbed, empty of heretics; Adorned with Arahants, those masters, such ones. Fifty-eight cubits, that great sage was tall; Resembling a golden pillar, endowed with thirty-two excellent marks. A hundred thousand years, his lifespan was; Remaining for that long, he saved many people. Then I, in Haṃsavatī, a wealthy merchant's son, greatly renowned; Approaching the light of the world, I heard the Dharma teaching. Arranging lodgings for monks, with his disciples; Hearing his words of praise, I was delighted. Having done service for his Sangha, for that great sage; Bowing my head at his feet, I aspired to that position. Then that great hero said, proclaiming my deed; ‘He who fed the leader of the world with his Sangha for seven days. ‘He, with eyes like lotus petals, shoulders like a lion, skin like gold; At my feet n falls, desiring the highest state. 119. “‘A hundred thousand aeons ago, born into the Okkāka clan; Gotama by name, a Teacher will arise in the world. 120. “‘A disciple of that Buddha, Dabba by name, renowned; Arranger of lodgings, he will be foremost then.’ 121. By that well-done deed, and by the aspirations of my will; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 122. Three times a hundred, I ruled as king of devas; Five times a hundred, I was a Wheel-turning Monarch. 123. Extensive regional rule, countless in number; Everywhere I was happy, due to the fruit of that deed. 124. Ninety-one aeons ago, Vipassī by name, the leader; Arose, beautiful to behold, one who saw all phenomena. 125. With a malicious mind I slandered, a disciple of that Such-one; Though knowing him to be pure, one whose defilements were exhausted. 126. Of that hero among men, and of his great ascetic disciples; Having taken a ticket, I gave milk-rice. 127. In this auspicious aeon, a kinsman of Brahmā, greatly renowned; Kassapa by name, arose, best of speakers. 128. Having illuminated the Dispensation, having overcome false teachers; Having disciplined those to be disciplined, he attained Nibbāna with his disciples. 129. When the Lord with his disciples had attained Nibbāna, when the Dispensation was setting; The devas wept, agitated, with dishevelled hair and tearful faces. 130. The eye of Dhamma will be extinguished, we will not see the virtuous one; We will not hear the good Dhamma, alas, our lack of merit! 131. Then all this earth, though stable, shook and trembled; And the ocean, as if sorrowful, cried out with a mournful sound. 132. From the four directions, drums, not human, resounded; All around, terrifying thunderbolts, burst forth. 133. Meteors fell from the sky, and a comet was seen; With smoke and fiery whirls, The deer cried piteously. 134. Seeing dreadful portents, indicating the destruction of the Teaching; seven bhikkhus, agitated, we thought then. 135. Without the Teaching, for us, life is enough; entering the great forest, we shall practice the Victor's Teaching. 136. Then in that forest we saw a lofty, towering rock; ascending it by a ladder, we cast down the ladder. 137. Then the elder exhorted us, "The arising of a Buddha is very rare; faith is exceedingly hard to gain, and little of the Teaching remains." 138. Those who miss the moment fall into the endless ocean of suffering; therefore, effort must be made, as long as the Sage's teaching stands. 139. That elder was an Arahant; his follower, an Anāgāmī; the others, virtuous and diligent, we went to the deva-world. 140. One, freed from saṃsāra, attained Nibbāna, alone in the Pure Abodes; I, and Pakkusāti, and Sabhiya, and Bāhiya too. 141. And Kumārakassapa, we went there and there; freed from the bonds of saṃsāra, compassionated by Gotama. 142. Among the Mallas in Kusinārā, I was born, conscious in the womb; my mother died, placed on the pyre, from there I fell out. 143. I fell onto a heap of grass, therefore I was known as Dabba; by the power of the holy life, I was freed at seven years old. 144. By the power of milk-rice, I attained the five factors; by the slander of an Arahant, I was much accused of evil deeds. 145. Both merit and demerit, I have now transcended; having attained supreme peace, I dwell without defilements. 146. I arranged lodgings, gladdening the virtuous ones; the Victor, pleased with that quality, placed me at the foremost. 147. My defilements are burnt... I dwell without defilements. 148. Welcome indeed it was for me... the Buddha's teaching has been done. 149. The four analytical knowledges... the Buddha's teaching has been done. Finished. 5. The Apadāna of Thera Kumārakassapa 150. A hundred thousand aeons ago, the Leader arose; The hero, benefactor of all worlds, named Padumuttara. 151. Then I, a brahmin, renowned, a master of the Vedas; Wandering for a day's rest, saw the Leader of the world. 152. Proclaiming the Four Noble Truths, enlightening gods and humans; The foremost of eloquent speakers, praised by the great multitude. 153. Then, with a joyful mind, I invited the Tathāgata; And adorned the pavilion with various colored cloths. 154. With various jewel-lamps, I fed him there with the Saṅgha; Having fed them for seven days, with various excellent foods. 155. With various beautiful flowers, I worshipped him and his disciples; Prostrating at his feet, I aspired to that state. 156. Then the best of sages, whose sole essence was compassion, said: “Behold this excellent brahmin, with lotus-like eyes. 157. “Full of joy and delight, with hairs standing on end; With a smiling, broad gaze, eager for my teaching. 158. “Fallen at my feet, with a singularly devoted mind; He aspires to that state, of being an eloquent speaker. 159.