247. Dhātupūjaka (THA-AP249)

When Siddhattha, the Best of Men,
the World’s Lord, reached nirvana,
I received a single relic
of the Biped Lord, Neutral One.

I, having taken that relic
of the Buddha, the Sun’s Kinsman,
did then worship it for five years
as though the Best of Men stood there.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I worshipped that relic back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of caring for relics.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Dhātupūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Dhātupūjaka 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.