14. Culla-Panthaka (THA-AP16)

The Victor Padumuttara,
Sacrificial Recipient,
leaving the group of followers,
dwelt in the Himalayas then.

I too was in Himalaya,
dwelling in an ashram back then.
I went up to the World-Leader,
the Great Hero, who’d just arrived.

Taking a floral umbrella,
I went up to the Bull of Men
practicing his meditation;
I caused him no interruption.

Holding it up with both my hands
I gave the floral umbrella.
Padumuttara the Great Sage,
the Blessed One then received it.

All the gods, who were delighted,
then approached the Himalayas.
They let out their cheers of “Sādhu,”
“the Eyeful One will give him thanks.”

After saying this then those gods
approached him, the Best among Men.
They were carrying in the sky
his superb lotus-umbrella.

“Hoisting a lotus-umbrella,
this ascetic gave it to me.
I shall relate details of him;
all of you listen to my words:

He will exercise divine rule
for five and twenty full aeons.
Thirty-four times he’s going to be
a king who turns the wheel of law.

In whichever womb he’s reborn,
whether it’s human or divine,
he’s going to carry that lotus
arrayed out in the open air.

In one hundred thousands aeons
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.

When Buddha’s words have been proclaimed
he will attain the human state.
In the mind-created body
he will be ranked as ultimate.

There will be a pair of brothers;
they will both be known as Pantha.
Enjoying the ultimate goal
they’ll light up the dispensation.”

I went forth into homelessness
but even after eighteen years
I’d not gained any distinction
in the Śākyan dispensation.

I was in a dumb position;
I was despised in the city.
Even my brother dismissed me:
“It’s now time for you to go home.”

Being one who was thus dismissed,
I stood there with my mind depressed,
in the monastery’s storage room,
desiring to be a true monk.

Then to that place the Teacher came
and touching my head with his hand
then taking me by my own hand
he made me come inside again.

Teacher, with compassion for me,
gave a cloth for wiping the feet.
In this way he did purify me
as I stood off to one side.

Having taken him by the hands—
he who was like a red lotus—
right there my mind was liberated
and I became an arahant.

In my mind-created bodies
I attained thorough excellence.
Knowing well all the defilements,
without defilements I now live.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Cullapanthaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Cullapanthaka 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.