261. Ākāsukkhipiya (THA-AP263)

Taking two water-born flowers,
I approached the Bull Among Men,
Siddhattha, gold-colored Buddha,
traveling around the bazaar.

I placed one flower down at the
two feet of the Best of Buddhas.
And taking the other flower
I threw it up into the sky.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I offered that flower to him,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of giving flowers.

In the thirty-second aeon
ago lived one lord of the earth
known as Antalikkhacara,
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 Ākāsukkhipiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ākāsukkhipiya 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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