27. Puḷinapūjaka (THA-AP29)

Digging out the sand which was old
I scattered pure clean sand about
the superb tree, the Bodhi Tree,
of Vipassi the Blessed One.

In the ninety-one aeons since
I donated that sand back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;
that is the fruit of giving sand.

Three and fifty aeons ago
I was King Mahāpuḷina,
a conqueror of the people,
a wheel-turner, with great power.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Puḷinapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Puḷinapūjaka 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.