142. Thambāropaka (THA-AP144)

When the World’s Lord reached nirvana,
Dhammadassi, the Bull of Men,
I placed a pillar with banners
at the Best Buddha’s stupa then.

After constructing a stairway
I climbed up that best stupa there.
Taking a white jasmine flower
I placed it on that pillar then.

O! the Buddha! O! the Teaching!
O! our Teacher’s great achievement!
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of stupa-pūjā.

In the ninety-fourth aeon hence
there were sixteen different monarchs
known by the name Thūpasikha,
wheel-turning kings with great power.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Thambāropaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Thambāropaka 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.