{557.} Apara Uttara (THA-AP559)

When the World’s Lord reached nirvana,
Siddhattha, Leader of the World,
having summoned my relatives,
I worshipped that Buddha’s relics.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I worshipped those relics back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of relic-worship.

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 Apara Uttara Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Apara Uttara Thera, the seventh.

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.