305. Phaladāyaka (THA-AP307)

On Bhāgīrathī River’s bank,
there was a hermitage back then.
I went to that hermitage once,
expectantly, fruit in my hands.

I saw Vipassi Buddha there,
bright but cool like a rayless sun.
I donated to the Teacher
all of the fruit I had in hand.

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

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

Thus indeed Venerable Phaladāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Phaladāyaka 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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