296. Padapūjaka (THA-AP298)

On a Himalayan mountain,
I was a kinnara back then.
I saw the Buddha, Stainless One,
bright but cool like a rayless sun
who had approached me at that time,
Vipassi Buddha, World-Leader.
And then I rubbed upon his feet
sandalwood and also incense.

In the ninety-one aeons since
I performed pūjā to those feet,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of doing foot-pūjā.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Padapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Padapūjaka 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.