257. Mañjaripūjaka (THA-AP259)

Fashioning a bunch of flowers,
I went out onto the highway.
I saw the Monk, Bettered by None,
Honored by the Monks’ Assembly.

Happy, with pleasure in my heart,
and filled with supreme joyfulness,
taking it with both of my hands
I offered Buddha that bouquet.

In the ninety-two aeons since
I did pūjā with that flower,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

In the seventy-third aeon
there was one ruler of the earth,
known by the name of Jotiya,
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 Mañjaripūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mañjaripūjaka 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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