291. Citapūjaka (THA-AP293)

At that time I was a brahmin,
known by the name of Ajita.
Wishing to do a sacrifice,
I’d gathered various flowers.

After seeing the burning pyre,
of Sikhi, Kinsman of the World,
gathering those flowers again
I strew them on that burning pyre.

In the thirty-one 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 twenty-seventh aeon
hence, there were seven lords of men.
They were named Supajjalita,
wheel-turning kings 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 Citapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Citapūjaka 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.