13. Nanda (THA-AP15)

Padumuttara’s khoma cloth
I gave to the Self-Become One,
the Sage So Great, the Blessed One,
the Best in the World, Neutral One.

Then Buddha, named for the lotus
made this prophesy about me:
“due to giving this piece of cloth
you will have the color of gold.

Experiencing two-fold bliss
incited by your wholesome roots
you will be the younger brother
of Gotama the Blessed One.

Happy by nature but lustful,
you will be greedy for pleasures.
Being incited by Buddha
you will then go forth, renouncing.

After you’ve renounced the world there,
incited by your wholesome roots,
knowing well all the defilements.
you’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”

In the seven-thousandth aeon
there were four with the name Cela;
sixty thousand aeons ago
there were four named Upacela;

in the five-thousandth aeon ago
there were four people named Cela;
they were rulers of the four continents
possessors 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 Nanda Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Nanda 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.