553. Gayā-Kassapa (THA-AP555)

I was dressed in deer-leather then,
wearing a heavy shoulder-yoke.
Carrying a khāri load, I
brought jujubes to the ashram.

The Blessed One in that era
was alone with nobody else.
He then approached my hermitage,
shining brightly all of the time.

Bringing pleasure to my own heart,
worshipping the Compliant One,
taking them with both of my hands
I gave the Buddha jujubes.

In the thirty-one aeons since
I gave that fruit to him back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of giving jujubes.

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 Gayā-Kassapa Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Gayā-Kassapa Thera, the third.

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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