2. Mahā-Moggallāna (THA-AP4)

Anomadassi, Blessed One,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
was living in the Himalayas,
Honored by the Gods’ Assembly.

I was then a king of snake-gods,
known by the name of Varuṇa.
Taking on the form of Cupid
I was dwelling in the ocean.

Being in a musical group,
I provided the percussion.
After serving the Sambuddha,
the divine nymphs then sang their songs.

When the drums were being beaten
the gods then also beat on drums.
Upon hearing the sound of both,
the Buddha himself then listened.

Having invited Sambuddha
that he come over to my house,
providing an appointed seat.
I announced that it was now time.

With one thousand flawless arahants
following behind, that World-Chief,
shining light in all directions
did come over to my house then.

I satisfied with food and drink
the Great Hero who had arrived,
the God of Gods, the Bull of Men
along with the monks’ Assembly.

The Great Hero was delighted,
the Self-Existent, Top Human;
seated in the monks’ Assembly
he spoke these verses about me:

“He who worshipped the assembly
and also the Buddha, World-Chief,
due to the pleasure in his heart,
will go into the world of gods.

He will exercise divine rule
seventy-seven different times.
He will reside upon the earth,
and have eight hundred earthly reigns.

And he’ll be a wheel-turning king
five and fifty different times.
All the time they will bring for him
uncountable amounts of wealth.

Aeons beyond measure from now,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.

After having come out of hell
he will go to a human state.
Known by the name of Kolita
he’ll be a kinsman of Brahma.

He’ll afterwards go forth, renouncing,
incited by his wholesome roots.
He’ll be second chief-follower
of the Blessed One, Gotama.

Resolved, with strenuous effort,
he’ll excel in superpowers.
Knowing well all the defilements
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”

Depending on some evil friends,
overpowered by lust and anger,
being cruel-minded I slew
my mother and my father too.

In whichever womb I’m reborn
in hell or else among humans
since I possess that bad karma
I get murdered, head split open.

This is the final time for me;
my last rebirth is proceeding.
And also here, like that, for me
a time for getting killed will be.

Binding myself to solitude,
fond of samādhi-meditation,
knowing well all the defilements,
I am now living, undefiled.

Excelling in superpowers
I shake with only my left thumb
this very earth which is so deep,
thick and difficult to destroy.

I don’t feel the pride of “I am;”
no pride at all exists in me.
Even regarding novices
I act with reverence in my heart.

I brought forward the karma done
in an aeon so long ago.
That I has now attained the earth;
I’ve reached the end of defilements.

My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.

Being in Best Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught!

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

Thus indeed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahāmoggallāna 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.