18. Raṭṭhapāla (THA-AP20)

A rare elephant, fit for kings,
with chariot-pole tusks was given by me
to Blessed Padumuttara,
the World’s Best One, the Neutral One.

It included all the trappings,
white umbrella and a mahout;
taking the value of all that
I had a monastery built.

The palaces that I built there
numbered fifty-four thousand then;
holding a massive almsgiving
I gave it to the Sage So Great.

The Great Sage gave thanks to me then,
the Self-Become One, Best Person,
then he preached the path beyond death
to all of the smiling people.

Then Buddha, named for the lotus
made this prophesy about me;
seated in the monks’ Assembly
he uttered these verses aloud:

“I’ll relate the karmic results
of this one who constructed here
fifty-four thousand palaces;
all of you listen to my words:

Eighteen thousand huts with gables
will come into being upon
his superb heavenly mansion;
they all will be made out of gold.

Fifty times as the king of gods
he will exercise divine rule.
And fifty-eight times he will be
a king who turns the wheel of law.

In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.

Falling down from the world of gods,
incited by his wholesome roots,
every time he will be reborn
in a rich clan with lots of food.

He afterwards leaving the world,
incited by his wholesome roots,
will be the Teacher’s follower,
known by the name Raṭṭhapāla.

Being one bent on exertion,
calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth,
knowing well all the defilements,
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”

Rising up, having left the world,
abandoning abundant food,
like one for whom almsfood is phlegm
I have no taste for any food.

My effort bearing the burden
brought me release from attachments.
Now I’m bearing my last body
in the Buddha’s dispensation.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Raṭṭhapāla Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Raṭṭhapāla 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.