127. Phaladāyaka (THA-AP129)

I was a learned mantra-knower
who had mastered the three Vedas.
I lived in an ashram back then,
not far from the Himalayas.

I had offerings for the fire
and some white-lotus-fruits as well;
having placed these in a bag, I’d
hung them on the top of a tree.

Padumuttara, World-Knower,
Sacrificial Recipient,
with a wish for my upliftment,
came up to me while begging alms.

Happy, and with a happy heart,
producing supreme joyfulness,
conveying pleasure to the world,
I gave the Buddha my fruit.

The Golden-Colored Sambuddha,
Sacrificial Recipient,
the Teacher, standing in the sky,
then uttered this verse \[about me:

“Because of this gift of some fruit
with intention and firm resolve,
for one hundred thousand aeons
he’ll come to know no bad rebirth.”

By means of just those wholesome roots,
I did experience happiness.
I’ve attained the unshaking state
beyond all conquest and defeat.

In the seventh aeon ago
I was the king, Sumaṅgala,
a wheel-turner with great power,
possessor of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Phaladāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Phaladāyaka 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.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

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Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.