318. Tiraṁsiya (THA-AP320)

On a mountainside, Siddhattha,
like a lion which is well-born,
had lit up all the directions,
like a fire-mass on the mountain.

Having seen Buddha’s effulgence,
like the effulgence of the sun,
and like the moon’s effulgence too,
great happiness arose for me.

Seeing the three effulgences,
seeing the Ultimate Hearer,
placing deer-hide on one shoulder,
I praised the Leader of the World.

The three makers of effulgence
dispelling darkness in the world,
are the moon, and also the sun,
and Buddha, Leader of the World.

Illustrating these similes,
I spoke praises of the Great Sage.
Having extolled Buddha’s virtues,
I joyed an aeon in heaven.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I extolled the Buddha back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of extolling.

In the sixty-first aeon hence
there was one man, Ñāṇadhara,
a wheel-turning king with great strength,
possessor 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 Tiraṁsiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Tiraṁsiya 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.

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