5. Puṇṇa-Mantāniputta (THA-AP7)

I was a learned mantra-knower
who had mastered the three Vedas.
Heading up my group of students
I approached him, the Best of Men.

Padumuttara, World-Knower,
Sacrificial Recipient,
the Great Sage then proclaimed to me
karma, with the explanation.

After having heard the Teaching,
and having worshipped the Teacher
I held my hands up pressed together
then departed facing the south.

Having heard the explanation
I then preached with more expansion.
All the students were delighted
to have listened to my words then.

Quitting my own philosophy
my heart was pleased in the Buddha.
Then I preached with explanation
and with the further expansion.

A knower of Abhidhamma
clear about the Kathāvatthu,
providing instruction to all,
I’m living without defilements.

Five hundred aeons after that
I was lord of four continents,
the clever Suppakāsaka
possessor 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 Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta 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.