223. Dverataniya (THA-AP225)

I was a deer-hunter back then,
within a grove in the forest.
I saw the Buddha, Stainless One,
Sacrificial Recipient.

I then gave a piece of meat to
Vipassi Buddha, the Great Sage.
I exercised overlordship
in the world including its gods.

Because of giving meat back then,
gems came into being for me.
I had two jewels in this world
for attainment of worldly things.

I am enjoying everything
as the profit of a meat-gift.
I have a body which is soft
and wisdom, a sharp intellect.

In the ninety-one aeons since
I gave him that meat at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of giving meat.

And in the fourth aeon ago
there was one lord of the people.
He was named Mahārohita,
a wheel-turning king with great strength.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Dverataniya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Dverataniya 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.