63. Paccāgamanīya (THA-AP65)

I was a ruddy goose back then
along the Indus River’s bank,
subsisting only on white moss,
and well-restrained in terms of sins.

I saw the Buddha, Stainless One,
traveling across the sky there.
Taking a sal blossom with my beak
I honored Buddha Vipassi.

He with faith in the Thus-Gone-One,
unshaking and well-established,
through feeling pleasure in his heart
will not go on to bad rebirth.

Being in Best Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
Good seeds have been planted by me
when I was a bird way back then.

In the ninety-one aeons since
I presented him that flower,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

There were eight men who had one name
which was Sucarudassana.
They were wheel-turners with great strength
full seventeen aeons ago.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Paccāgamanīya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Paccāgamanīya 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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