130. Padumapūjaka (THA-AP132)

In the Himalayan region,
there’s a mountain named Gotama.
It’s covered with various trees,
and the lair of a great group of ghosts.

In the middle of that mountain
an ashram had been constructed.
Surrounded by my own students,
I lived in that ashram back then.

“Let the student-group come to me;
let them bring me a pink lotus;
let us do a Buddha-pūjā
for the Biped-Lord, Neutral One.”

Having assented, “yes, sir, let’s”
they brought a pink lotus flower.
Making an occasion for it,
I offered it to the Buddha.

Then, assembling the students,
I thus advised them thoroughly:
“Don’t you ever be neglectful;
be diligent, bring happiness.”

Having thus advised those students
who were patient about my words,
and bound to diligent virtue,
I passed away there at that time.

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 fifty-first aeon hence
there was a king, Jaluttama,
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 Padumapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Padumapūjaka Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Sereyyaka, Pupphathūpī,
Pāyās-Odaki-Thomaka,
Āsanī-Phala and Saññī,
Gandha and Padumapupphiya.
Five more than a hundred verses
preached by knowers of the meaning.

The Sereyyaka Chapter, the Thirteenth.

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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.