197. Tindukadāyaka (THA-AP199)

Traveling a bad mountain road,
I was a monkey, strong and fast.
Seeing wild mangosteen in fruit,
I called to mind the Best Buddha.

Going forth for several days,
cheerful, with pleasure in my heart
I sought the Leader of the World,
Siddhattha, the Three-Worlds-Ender.

Realizing that thought of mine,
the Teacher, Supreme in the World,
came into my vicinity
with one thousand free of outflows.

Generating great delight then,
I approached him with fruit in hand.
The Blessed One accepted it,
the Omniscient, Best Debater.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave him that fruit at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a gift of fruit.

In the fifty-seventh aeon
there was one named Upananda,
a wheel-turning king 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 Tindukadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Tindukadāyaka 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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