115. Suvaṇṇapupphiya (THA-AP117)

The Blessed One named Vipassi,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
sitting down, preached the deathless state
to the body of people there.

After having heard theTeaching
of that Biped-Lord, Neutral One,
I then offered to the Buddha
four flowers made out of fine gold.

There was a canopy of gold
stretched over the whole crowd back then.
From the Buddha’s light and the gold’s
there was a vast effulgence there.

Happy, with rapture in my heart,
thrilled, with my hands pressed together,
with joy produced for those who heard,
conveying pleasure to the world,

having invited the Buddha,
worshipping the Compliant One,
experiencing great delight
I then returned to my own house.

Having entered my residence,
I called to mind the Best Buddha.
Due to that pleasure in my heart,
I was reborn in Tusitā.

In the ninety-one aeons since
I offered that flower to him,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

There were sixteen different kings then,
all known as Nemisammata,
in the forty-third aeon hence,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength.

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!

Thus indeed Venerable Suvaṇṇapupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Suvaṇṇapupphiya Thera is finished.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

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