286. Upaṭṭhāyaka (THA-AP288)

After I had invited him—
the World’s Best, the Bull of Men,
the Best Biped, Great Elephant,
Sacrificial Recipient,
who had entered onto the road—
service was provided by me
to Siddhattha Buddha, Great Sage,
the Well-Wisher of Every World.

Accepting it, the Sambuddha,
the Greatest Sage, then rose up from
that seat prepared for serving him
and set forth, his face to the west.

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

In the fifty-seventh aeon
hence, lived he named Balasena,
a wheel-turning king with great strength,
possessor of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Upaṭṭhāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Upaṭṭhāyaka 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.