Back to the library

B0102051154kaccāyanavaggo (kaccayana)

English

“A hundred thousand aeons from now, born into the Okkāka clan; A teacher named Gotama will appear in the world. 160. “A true heir to his Dhamma, born of the Dhamma; Named Kumārakassapa, will be a disciple of the Teacher. 161. “By virtue of various flowers and cloths, and jewels; He will attain pre-eminence among eloquent speakers.” 162. By that well-done deed, and by my aspirations; Having abandoned the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 163. Wandering through existences, like an actor on a stage; Having become the offspring of a monkey, I entered the womb of a female monkey. 164. Then, when I was in the womb, the time for execution attended; My mother, Sakha, bore me four times, and took refuge in the banyan tree. 165. By that king of deer, she was saved from death; Sacrificing her own life, she then advised me thus: 166. ‘You should only serve the banyan, do not dwell with the branch; It is better to die in the banyan, than to live in the branch.’ 167. Instructed by that chief of deer, my mother and I, and others too, Came to the delightful abode of Tusita, and went to our own home, as it were. 168. Again, when the teaching of the hero Kassapa was setting, I ascended a mountain peak, and practiced the teaching of the Jina. 169. Now, in Rājagaha, I was born into a merchant family; My mother, being pregnant, went forth into homelessness. 170. Knowing her to be pregnant, they brought her to Devadatta; He said, ‘Destroy this wicked nun.’ 171. Now too, by the Lord of Sages, the Jina, I was pitied; My mother gave birth happily in the nunnery. 172. Knowing this, the king, Kosala, raised me; With the care of a prince, and my name was Kassapa. 173. Coming to Mahākassapa, I, Kumārakassapa, Heard the body likened to an anthill, taught by the Buddha. 174. Then my mind was liberated, without any clinging whatsoever; I departed, having tamed myself, and attained this foremost rank. 175. My defilements are burnt away… I dwell without taints. 176. Welcome indeed was it for me… the Buddha’s teaching has been done. 177. The four analytical knowledges… the Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed did the Elder Kumārakassapa speak these verses. The fifth Apadāna is that of the Elder Kumārakassapa. The twenty-fourth recitation section. 6. The Apadāna of the Elder Bāhiya 178. A hundred thousand aeons from now, the Leader arose; Greatly radiant, foremost in the three worlds, named Padumuttara. 179. To a monk of swift supernormal knowledge, Praising the qualities of the Sage; Hearing, with a joyful heart, I paid homage to the Great Seer. 180. "Having given a seven-day offering, to the Sage with his disciples, I; having saluted the Fully Awakened One, aspired to that state then. 181. "Then the Buddha declared to me, 'See this brahmin; fallen at my feet, reflecting on his conduct. 182. 'Whose limbs are nourished by golden offerings, with a pure, bright skin; with lips like a hanging bimba fruit, a brahmin like a white, sharp blade. 183. 'Abounding in strength of virtue, with hairs standing on end; become an abode of floods of virtue, with a face blooming with joy. 184. 'He aspires to the state of a monk with swift supernormal knowledge; in the future, a Great Hero, named Gotama, will arise. 185. 'A true heir in his teachings, born of the Dhamma; named Bāhiya by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.' 186. "Then indeed, delighted, having risen, for as long as I lived, to the Great Sage; having paid homage, departed to heaven, as if to my own abode. 187. "Being a deva or a human, happy by that kamma; flowing through existences, I experienced prosperity. 188. "Again, when the teaching of the Hero Kassapa was declining; having ascended a mountain peak, having practiced the teaching of the Victor. 189. "Of pure virtue, endowed with wisdom, a doer of the Victor's teaching; thence departed, five persons, we went to the deva world. 190. "Then I was born as Bāhiya, in the excellent city of Bhārukaccha; thence, having embarked on a ship, into the ocean for success. 191. "Then the ship broke apart, having gone for a few days; then into a dreadful, terrifying, abode of sea monsters I fell. 192. "Then I, having striven, having swum across the great ocean; reached the excellent port of Suppāra, with slow understanding. Wearing a bark-garment, I entered the village for alms; Then the people, delighted, said, "An Arahant has come here!" "By honoring him with food and drink, with clothes and lodging, and with medicine, we shall be happy." Then, receiving requisites, honored and revered by them; The thought, "I am an Arahant," arose in me improperly. Then, knowing my mind, a former deity admonished me: "You do not know the path to the goal, how can you be an Arahant?" Admonished by her, I was agitated, then I asked her: "Who are these, and where in the world, are these supreme Arahant men?" "In Sāvatthī, in the Kosalan palace, the Conqueror, of abundant wisdom, of excellent and vast intellect; That Sakyan son, an Arahant, free from defilements, teaches the Dhamma for the attainment of Arahantship." "Hearing his words, greatly pleased, like a poor man finding a treasure, I was amazed; With uplifted heart, to see the supreme Arahantship, the well-seen, the infinite range." Then, having departed from there, for the Teacher, I would always see the Conqueror with a pure face; Approaching the delightful forest called Vijita, I asked the birds, 'Where is the world's delight?'" "Then they said, 'The one revered by gods and men, has entered the city for alms; That very one, quickly, eager to see the Sage, approach and venerate that supreme person.'" Then I quickly went, to Sāvatthī, the excellent city; I saw him wandering, for alms, without attachment. With bowl in hand, with ungreedy eyes, making clear a source of joy; Resembling a dwelling of glory, with a face dispelling the sun's brilliance. Having met him, I prostrated, and spoke these words: "To one lost on a wrong path, be a refuge, Gotama." "For the sake of saving lives, wandering for alms..." Wanderer; Not for you is the time for a Dhamma talk, thus said the foremost sage. Then again and again the Buddha, I implored, longing for Dhamma; He taught me the Dhamma, the profound word of emptiness. Having heard his Dhamma, I attained the destruction of defilements; Though my life was nearly exhausted, oh, how compassionate was the Teacher! My defilements are burnt… …I dwell without defilements. Welcome indeed was my coming… …the Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus declared the elder, Bāhiya the bark-clad; Fallen on a heap of rubbish, by a cow possessed by a spirit. Having extolled his former conduct, the great wise one; That elder attained final Nibbāna, in Sāvatthī, the foremost city. As he was leaving the city, the foremost sage saw him; Bāhiya, the wise one wearing bark-strips, who had put away the scriptures. Fallen on the ground, self-controlled, like a fallen Indra's banner; His life gone, his defilements dried up, one who had done the Conqueror's teaching. Then the Teacher addressed his disciples, devoted to the teaching; ‘Take and carry, then cremate, the body of your fellow ascetic. ‘Make a stupa and venerate him, that great wise one is extinguished; Foremost among those of swift direct knowledge, my disciple, obedient to my word. ‘Though there be a thousand verses, composed of meaningless words; Better is one verse, hearing which one becomes tranquil. ‘Where water and earth, fire and wind find no footing; There no stars shine, the sun does not illuminate. ‘There the moon does not shine, darkness is not found there; And when a brahmin knows this by himself, through the sage's silence. ‘Then from forms and formless states, from pleasure and pain he is freed’; Thus spoke the Lord, the sage, refuge of the three worlds. Thus indeed, the venerable elder Bāhiya spoke these verses. The chapter on Elder Bāhiya. The Sixth Gift. 7. The Aapadāna of Thera Mahākoṭṭhika 221. There was a Victor named Padumuttara, A sage knowing all worlds, the Eye-possessor; He arose in a kappa A hundred thousand from now. 222. An instructor, an explainer, A rescuer of all beings; The Buddha, skilled in teaching, Rescued many people. 223. Compassionate, merciful, Beneficent to all beings; He established all the heretics Who had arrived, in the five precepts. 224. Thus it was undisturbed, Empty of heretics; Adorned with Arahants, Masters, such as they were. 225. Fifty-eight ratanas high, That great sage arose; Like a golden pillar, With thirty-two excellent marks. 226. A hundred thousand years Was his lifespan then; Abiding for that long, He rescued many people. 227. Then I, a brahmin in Haṃsavatī, Skilled in the Vedas; Approached the foremost of all worlds, And heard the Dhamma teaching. 228. Then that hero placed a disciple, Whose wisdom was profound, Skilled in meaning, Dhamma, language, And spontaneous exposition. 229. He placed him in that foremost position; Hearing that, I was delighted; I fed the supreme Victor With his disciples for seven days then. 230. Having covered the ocean of wisdom With his disciples with fine cloths; Having prostrated at his feet, I aspired to that position. 231. Then the foremost of the world said, “Behold this best of the twice-born; Humbly at my feet, Resplendent like the heart of a lotus. 232. “He aspires to the position Of a bhikkhu, the best of Buddhas; By that faith and generosity, And by hearing the true Dhamma. 233. “Having been happy everywhere, Having wandered through existences; In the future time, You will obtain that wish. 234. “A hundred thousand kappas from now, Born in the Okkāka clan; A teacher named Gotama Will appear in the world. 235. “You will be an heir to his Dhammas, A true son, a built by the Dhamma; Koṭṭhika by name, will be the Master’s disciple.’ 236.