129. Gandhapupphiya (THA-AP131)

The Golden-Colored Sambuddha
Vipassi, Worthy of Respect,
Honored by all his followers,
set out from the monastery.

Having seen the Best of Buddhas
the Omniscient One, Undefiled,
I did scented-flower-pūjā,
happy, and with a happy heart.

Due to that pleasure in my heart
for the Biped-Lord, Neutral One,
again I worshipped the Thus-Gone-One,
happy, and with a happy heart.

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.

In the forty-first aeon hence
the kṣatriyan named Varaṇa
was a wheel-turner with great strength,
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 Gandhapupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Gandhapupphiya 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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