161. Supāricariya (THA-AP163)

The one whose name was Paduma,
the Bull of Men, the Biped-Lord,
Eyeful One, setting out from the
forest, was then preaching Dhamma.

There was a spirit-multitude
staying close to the Sage so Great.
Whatever work they’d arrived for
they looked after all of the time.

Understanding the Buddha’s words
and preaching of the deathless state,
with a pleased heart and happy mind,
snapping my fingers I served him.

Look at the fruit of good practice,
of service for the great Teacher:
in thirty thousand aeons thence,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth.

In the twenty-nine-hundredth aeon,
one man named Samalaṅkata,
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 Supāricariya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Supāricariya 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.