178. Maṇipūjaka (THA-AP180)

A small Himalayan river
flowed smoothly then along its bank.
Back then the Self-Become-One dwelt
in a field close to that river.

With a pleased heart and happy mind,
I gave to the Buddha right then
a couch made by taking gemstones,
superb, delightful, and diverse.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I offered those gemstones to him,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

And in the twelfth aeon ago
there were eight different kings back then,
all were known as Sataraṁsi,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Maṇipūjaka Thera spoke these Verses.

The legend of Maṇipūjaka 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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