91. Sudhāpiṇḍiya (THA-AP93)

No one can count the good karma—
even, “for this, it is that much”—
of one who performs pūjā for
those who are worthy of pūjā,
like Buddhas and their followers,
who have crossed over tears for grief
and moved beyond ties to rebirth,
reaching nirvana, fearing naught.

He who would exercise lordship
here over the four continents
would not be worth one sixteenth-part
of one who performs such pūjā.

When Siddhattha the Top Person’s
shrine had become broken open,
I donated balls of plaster
with a mind that was very clear.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I did that good karma back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of renovation.

In the thirtieth aeon ago
there were thirteen wheel-turning kings,
all known as Paṭisamkhāra,
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 Sudhāpiṇḍiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sudhāpiṇḍiya 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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