65. Bhisadāyaka (THA-AP67)

The Sambuddha named Vessabhu,
the third Sage born in that aeon,
plunging into a forest grove
lived there, the Ultimate Person.

Taking some lotus roots and stems,
I went into Buddha’s presence
and gave that food to the Buddha
feeling well- pleased by my own hands.

And feeling the touch of the hand
of Vessabhu the One Most Wise,
I was happy beyond compare;
could anything ever top that?

My final life is taking place;
all existence is now destroyed.
When I was an elephant king
I planted wholesome seeds back then.

In the thirty-one aeons since
I did that good karma back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a lotus root.

In the thirteenth aeon ago
there were sixteen lords of people,
kings all known as Samodhāna
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Bhisadāyaka 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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Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.