77. Sūcidāyaka (THA-AP79)

Thirty thousand aeons ago
the Sambuddha, the World-Leader,
Bearing the Thirty-Two Great Marks,
was the Buddha named Sumedha.

Five needles were given by me
to the One of Golden Color,
the Biped-Lord, the Neutral One,
so that Buddha could stitch his robes.

Because of just that needle-gift,
knowledge did then arise in me
with clever meanings and insights,
sharp and quick and comfortable.

I have burnt up my defilements;
all existence is now destroyed.
I am bearing my last body
in the Supreme Buddha’s teaching.

There were four kings all with the name
Dipadādhipati back then,
wheel-turners who had great power,
possessors of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Sūcidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sūcidāyaka 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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.