329. Pupphacchattiya (THA-AP331)

Bringing water-born lotuses,
hundred-leafed, delighting the mind,
and making it, I offered a
floral umbrella to Buddha,
the Blessed One, Siddhattha,
the World’s Best One, the Neutral One,
when he was declaring the truth,
giving living beings succor.

And Siddhattha, World-Knower,
Sacrificial Recipient,
standing in the monks’ Assembly,
the Teacher spoke this verse for me:

“This one who pleased his heart in me
and made a floral umbrella,
due to that mental pleasure he
will not go to a bad rebirth.”

Having said this, the Sambuddha,
Siddhattha, Leader of the World,
taking leave of his retinue
rose up into the sky, the sky!

When the Man-God had risen up
the white umbrella also rose.
That unexcelled umbrella then
went in front of the Best Buddha.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I offered him that umbrella,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
fruit of a floral umbrella.

In the seventy-fourth aeon
there were eight named Jalasikha,
wheel-turning monarchs with great power,
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 Pupphacchattiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pupphacchattiya 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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