17. Upasena Vaṅgantaputta (THA-AP19)

I approached the Ultimate Man
the Blessed Padumuttara
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
as he sat on a mountain slope.

Seeing a dinner-plate in bloom
I plucked several stalks from it
and, adorning an umbrella,
I raised it over the Buddha.

And then I gave an almsgiving
of milk-rice, delicious to eat.
I fed eight monks who were there then
with the Buddha as the ninth one.

The Great Hero gave thanks to me
the Self-Become-One, Best Person:
“Because of this umbrella gift
there will be showers of milk-rice.

He will enjoy great happiness
due to that pleasure in his heart.
Thirty times as the king of gods
he will exercise divine rule.

And twenty different times he’ll be
a king who turns the wheel of law,
and he will have much local rule
innumerable by counting.

The one whom they call Sumedha
greatly wise, wise as is the earth,
is going to become the Buddha
in one hundred thousand aeons.

When the dispensation’s shining
he will go to a human state.
With Upasena as his name
he’ll be the Teacher’s follower.

This is the last time I’ll exist;
now all being has been cancelled.
Conquering Death with his legions
I am bearing my last body.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Upasena Vaṅgantaputta Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Upasena Vaṅgantaputta Thera is finished.

The Third Recitation Portion 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.