28. Uttiya (THA-AP30)

On Candabhāgā River’s bank
I was a crocodile back then.
Being engaged in getting food
I went up to the river bank.

At that time the Self-Become One,
Siddhattha, the Best among Men,
approached a ford on that river
wishing to cross the river there.

When the Sambuddha had arrived
I also approached that same place.
Having approached I then uttered
these kind words to the Sambuddha:

“Climb aboard me, O Great Hero,
I’ll take you across the river.
This is the sphere of my fathers;
please have pity, O Sage So Great.”

Having heard me growling loudly
the Great Sage then climbed up on me.
Smiling with a heart of laughter
I ferried the World-Chief across.

Then that World-Chief named Siddhattha
gone to the other river bank
gave consolation to me there:
“you will achieve the deathless state.”

After falling from that body
I went on to the world of gods.
Surrounded by celestial nymphs
I enjoyed much divine pleasure.

Seven times as the king of gods
I exercised divine rule there.
Three times as a wheel-turning king
I was the lord of the whole earth.

Binding myself to solitude,
I am clever and self-controlled.
I’m now bearing my last body,
in the Sambuddha’s great teaching.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I thus ferried the Bull of Men
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;
that is the fruit of ferrying.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Uttiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Uttiya 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.