297. Desakittiya (THA-AP299)

Back then I was a brahmin man
whose name was Upasālaka.
Seeing the World’s Best One, Man-Bull,
Getting the World’s Sacrifices,
plunged into the woods, the forest,
I worshipped the Buddha’s feet there.
Discerning my mental pleasure,
the Buddha disappeared right there.

Having come out of the forest,
I called to mind the Best Buddha.
Proclaiming that to the region,
I joyed an aeon in heaven.

In the ninety-two aeons since
I proclaimed that to the region,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of proclaiming.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Desakittiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Desakittiya 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.