316. Āsanatthavika (THA-AP318)

Sikhi Buddha, Supreme Stupa,
was the Kinsman of the World then.
I was journeying in a dark
forest, a barren wilderness.

After exiting the forest,
I saw the Buddha’s lion throne.
Confidently pressing my hands,
I praised the Leader of the World.

Throughout the entire day I praised
the Buddha, the World’s Chief Leader.
Happy, and with a happy heart,
I uttered this speech at that time:

“Praise to you, O Well-Bred Person!
Praise to you, Ultimate Person!
You’re the Omniscient, Great Hero,
the World’s Best, the Bull among Men.”

After praising Sikhi like that,
after saluting his throne there,
led away by other concerns,
I departed facing north.

In the thirty-one aeons since
I praised the Best Debater then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of singing praises.

In the twenty-seventh aeon
ago were seven Atulyas,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength,
possessors of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Āsanatthavika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Āsanatthavika 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.