281. Paṇṇadāyaka (THA-AP283)

Sitting in a room made of leaves,
I am feeding on leaves as food.
Siddhattha Buddha, the World’s Torch,
the Physician for Every World,
the Greatest Sage then did approach
me seated in that room of leaves.
I gave leaves to him when he was
sitting on a mat made of leaves.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave those leaves to him back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of giving leaves.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Paṇṇadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Paṇṇadāyaka 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.

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Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.