552. Nadī-Kassapa (THA-AP554)

When Padumuttara Buddha,
the World’s Best One, the Neutral One,
was wandering about for alms,
maintaining superlative fame,
taking the best fruit of some sort,
I gave it to him, the Teacher,

The Biped-Lord, the World’s Best One,
Bull of Men. Due to that karma,
I’ve attained the unshaking state
beyond all conquest and defeat.

In the hundred thousand aeons
since I gave that donation then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of giving the best.

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 Nadīkassapa Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Nadīkassapa Thera, the second.

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.