181. Kuṭajapupphiya (THA-AP183)

I saw the golden Sambuddha,
like the risen hundred-rayed sun,
surveying all the directions,
while he traveled up in the sky.

Noticing some winter cherry,
well spread out and blossoming there,
plucking a flower from that tree,
I then offered it to Phussa.

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

In the seventeenth aeon hence
there were three men named Pupphita,
wheel-turning kings with great power,
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 Kuṭajapupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Kuṭajapupphiya 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.

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