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B0102051156yasavaggo (honor)

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English

56. The Chapter on Yasa 1. The Apadāna of Thera Yasa 1. Having plunged into the great ocean, my dwelling was well-built; A well-built lotus pond, resounding with cakkavāka birds. 2. Covered with Mandāra flowers, and with lotuses and water lilies; And a river flows there, with beautiful, pleasant banks. 3. Teeming with fish and turtles, strewn with various birds; Resounding with peacocks and cranes, and melodious cuckoos and others. 4. Pigeons, sun-geese, cakkavāka birds that roam the river; Partridges, mynahs are here, and junglefowl, and jīvaṃjīvaka birds. 5. Resounding with geese and cranes, many owls and tawny owls; Endowed with seven kinds of jewels, with gems, pearls, and coral. 6. All the trees are made of gold, adorned with various branches; They illuminate day and night, the dwelling at all times. 7. Sixty thousand musical instruments, play in the evening and morning; Sixteen thousand women, always attend upon me. 8. Having come forth from my dwelling, I approached Sumedha, the world-leader; With a serene and joyful mind, I worshipped that glorious one. 9. Having saluted the Buddha, I invited him with the Saṅgha; That wise one, Sumedha, the world-leader, accepted the invitation. 10. Having delivered a discourse to me, the Great Sage departed; Having saluted the Buddha, I returned to my dwelling. 11. I addressed my attendants, all gathered then; ‘In the forenoon, the Buddha, will come to my dwelling.’ 12. ‘Our gains are well-obtained, we who dwell with you; We too will honor, the supreme Buddha, the Teacher.’ 13. Having prepared food and drink, I announced the time; With a hundred thousand ascetics, the world-leader arrived. 14. With five-part music, I went forth to meet him; On a seat all made of gold, the foremost of men sat down. 15. There was a canopy above, all made of gold then; Fans waved, for the supreme Saṅgha of bhikkhus. 16. With abundant With food and drink, I satisfied the Sangha of bhikkhus; And I gave a pair of robes to the Sangha of bhikkhus. 17. What that wise one said, the receiver of offerings; Seated in the Sangha of bhikkhus, he spoke these verses. 18. "He who with food and drink satisfied all these; Him I shall praise, listen to my words. 19. For eighteen hundred aeons, he will rejoice in the deva-world; A thousand times, this king will be a Wheel-turning Monarch. 20. Whatever birth he attains, divine or human; For him, a canopy of pure gold will be held. 21. In thirty thousand aeons, born in the Okkāka clan; Gotama by name and lineage, the Teacher will arise in the world. 22. An heir to his Dhamma, a true son born of Dhamma; Having fully understood all defilements, he will attain Nibbāna, taintless. 23. Seated in the Sangha of bhikkhus, he will roar a lion's roar"; They hold a parasol over the pyre, and he burns beneath the parasol. 24. Monkhood has been attained by me, my defilements are burnt away; In a pavilion or at the root of a tree, no fear is found in me. 25. In thirty thousand aeons, the gift I gave then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of all giving. 26. My defilements are burnt away, all existences are uprooted; Like an elephant breaking its bonds, I dwell taintless. 27. Welcome indeed it was for me, in the presence of my Buddha; The three knowledges are attained, the Buddha's teaching is done. 28. The four analytical knowledges, and these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, the Buddha's teaching is done." Thus indeed, the Elder Yasa Thera spoke these verses. The first Apadāna of Elder Yasa. 2. The Apadāna of Elder Nadīkassapa 29. To the Blessed One Padumuttara, the foremost of the world, the steadfast one; As he was going for alms, from my turn, with excellent fame; I took the best fruit, and gave it to the Teacher. 30. By that deed, the lord of devas, the foremost of the world, the lord of men O! I have reached the unmoving state, Having abandoned victory and defeat. 31. A hundred thousand aeons ago, The fruit I gave then; I know no suffering, This is the fruit of the supreme gift. 32. My defilements are burnt... I dwell without taints. 33. Welcome indeed it was for me... The Buddha's teaching has been done. 34. The four analytical knowledges... The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Nadīkassapa spoke these verses. The second Apadāna of the Elder Nadīkassapa. 3. The Apadāna of the Elder Gayākassapa 35. Wearing a deer-skin garment, Carrying a burden of salt then; Having carried the salt, I brought a jujube fruit to the hermitage. 36. The Blessed One at that time, The unique, peerless conqueror; Approached my hermitage, Shining forth at all times. 37. Having gladdened my own mind, And saluted the virtuous one; Taking it with both hands, I gave the jujube fruit to the Buddha. 38. Thirty-one aeons ago from this, The fruit I gave then; I know no suffering, This is the fruit of the jujube gift. 39. My defilements are burnt... I dwell without taints. 40. Welcome indeed it was for me... The Buddha's teaching has been done. 41. The four analytical knowledges... The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Venerable Elder Gayākassapa spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of the Elder Gayākassapa. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Kimila 42. When Kakusandha, the brahmin, The one who had completed his spiritual life, had attained Nibbāna; Taking a garland of salala flowers, I made a pavilion. 43. Having gone to Tāvatiṃsa, I obtained a supreme mansion; I outshine other deities, This is the fruit of meritorious action. 44. By day or by night, Whether walking or standing; I am covered with salala flowers, This is the fruit of meritorious action. 45. In this very aeon, That I honored the Buddha; I know no suffering, This is the fruit of Buddha-worship. My defilements are burnt, All existences are uprooted; The cycle of rebirth is exhausted, There is no more renewed existence. All taints are destroyed, I have attained the ungraspable; I dwell without taints. Welcome indeed it was for me, In the presence of the Buddha; The three knowledges are attained, The Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges, And these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed the venerable elder Kimila spoke these verses. The fourth Apadāna is of Elder Kimila. 5. The Apadāna of Elder Vajjīputta The Blessed One, with a thousand rays, Self-existent, unconquered; Having arisen from solitude, Went forth for alms. I, with fruit in hand, having seen, Approached the bull among men; With a joyful mind, well-pleased, I gave a fruit with its stem. Ninety-four aeons ago, When I gave that fruit; I know no bad destination, This is the fruit of that fruit-giving. My defilements are burnt, All existences are uprooted; The cycle of rebirth is exhausted, There is no more renewed existence. All taints are destroyed, I have attained the ungraspable; I dwell without taints. Welcome indeed it was for me, In the presence of the Buddha; The three knowledges are attained, The Buddha's teaching has been done. The four analytical knowledges, And these eight liberations; The six supernormal powers are realized, The Buddha's teaching has been done. Thus indeed the venerable elder Vajjīputta spoke these verses. The fifth Apadāna is of Elder Vajjīputta. 6. The Apadāna of Elder Uttara A Fully Awakened One named Sumedha, Possessing the thirty-two excellent marks; The Blessed One, desirous of solitude, Approached the Himalayas. Having entered the Himalayas, The foremost compassionate sage; Having folded his legs into a cross-legged posture, The supreme man sat down. I was then a knowledge-holder, A sky-walker; Having taken an excellent trident, I went in the sky then. Like fire on a mountain peak, Like the moon on a full moon night; The Buddha illuminates the forest, Like a flowering royal sāla tree. Having emerged from the forest edge, The Buddha's rays spread out; Resembling the color of a reed-fire, Having seen, I gladdened my mind. I saw a flower, having searched, A Kanikāra, divinely fragrant; Taking three flowers, I worshipped the best of Buddhas. By the power of the Buddha, The three flowers... to me then; Stems upwards, leaves downwards, They make shade for the Teacher. 62. “By that well-done deed, And by aspirations and resolves; Leaving the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa. 63. “There my well-made mansion, Is known as Kaṇikāra; Sixty yojanas high, Thirty yojanas wide. 64. “A thousand branches, a hundred banners, Green flags; A hundred thousand pinnacles, Appeared in my mansion. 65. “Of gold, of jewels, And also of red coral; And crystal couches, As I wished, as I desired. 66. “And a very precious bed, With a soft mattress; With upward-pointing hair, And a pillow attached. 67. “Leaving the palace, Wandering on a divine journey; Wherever I wished to go, Surrounded by a host of deities. 68. “I stand beneath the flower, It is my canopy; Covered by Kaṇikāra flowers, A hundred yojanas all around. 69. “Sixty thousand musical instruments, Attended me morning and evening; They constantly surrounded me, Day and night, untiringly. 70. “There with dances and songs, With rhythms and instruments; I delighted in play and amusement, I rejoiced as I wished. 71. “There having eaten and drunk, I rejoiced among the gods then; Accompanied by a host of nymphs, I rejoiced in the excellent mansion. 72. “Five hundred times, I ruled as king of the gods; Three hundred times, I became a universal monarch; Vast regional rule, Innumerable by count. 73. “Wandering from existence to existence, I obtained great wealth; There was no lack in my wealth, This is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 74. “I wander in two existences, Among gods and among humans; I know no other destiny, This is the fruit of Buddha-worship. 75. “I am born in two families,

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