184. Pañcahatthiya (THA-AP186)

The Blessed One known as Tissa
was the World’s Best, the Bull of Men;
Honored by the monks’ Assembly,
he went out onto the highway.

Wishing to give an offering
to achieve my vow, I picked up
five handfuls of lotus blossoms
and four more handfuls placed by me.

Delighted by the Buddha’s rays,
I gave them to the Best Biped,
the Golden-Colored Sambuddha
who was walking through the bazaar.

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

In the thirtieth aeon hence
there were five Subhāsammatās,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength,
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 Pañcahatthiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pañcahatthiya 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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