[12]
Going out from the gate of the monastery, Padumuttara, the Great Sage,
raining down the rain of the Deathless (amata), cooled the great multitude.
A hundred thousand [1] wise ones, possessed of the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā), of great psychic power,
surround the Fully Awakened One like a shadow that follows after.
I was mounted upon an elephant's shoulder, bearing the most excellent white parasol;
on seeing him who accorded with what I had heard, [2] rapture (pīti) arose in me.
Descending from the elephant's shoulder, I approached the Bull of Men;
I held my jewelled parasol over the supreme Buddha.
Knowing my intention, Padumuttara, the Great Seer,
setting that discourse aside, spoke these verses:
"He who held the parasol adorned with ornaments of gold —
him I shall proclaim; listen to my words.
Going hence, this man will dwell in Tusita;
he will enjoy prosperity, attended by celestial nymphs (accharā).
And thirty-four times he will exercise kingship among the gods;
as lord of men [3] he will dwell upon the earth a hundred and eight times.
And fifty-eight times he will be a universal monarch (cakkavatti);
he will wield vast regional kingship upon the earth.
A hundred thousand aeons hence, one arisen in the family of Okkāka,
Gotama by clan, will be the Teacher in the world.
He will be a kinsman and relation of the Banner of the Sakyans' clan —
Ānanda by name, the attendant of the Great Seer.
Ardent (ātāpī) and prudent, skilled in great learning (bāhusacca),
humble in conduct, not obdurate, he will be a reciter of all the texts.
Resolute in exertion (padhāna), calmed, free from acquisitions (nirūpadhi),
having fully understood all the taints (āsava), he will attain Nibbāna, taintless."
There are forest elephants, tuskers sixty years of age,
mātaṅgas with rut burst forth in three places, with tusks like chariot-poles, mighty of bulk;
and wise ones too, many hundreds of thousands, of great psychic power —
all of these bear no comparison [1] with the Buddha, the Nāga [among men].
In the first watch I pay homage, in the middle, and then in the last;
with a confident mind, glad at heart, I attended upon the supreme Buddha.
Ardent and prudent, clearly comprehending (sampajāno) and mindful (paṭissato),
I attained the fruit of stream-entry (sotāpattiphala), skilled in the planes of the trainees (sekhabhūmi).
The deed to which I aspired a hundred thousand aeons from now —
that plane have I reached: firmly established, [2] faith (saddhā) is of great fruit.
Welcome indeed was my coming into the presence of the supreme Buddha;
the three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
#1 Ma.: satasahassaṃ. 2 Ma., Yu.: sucārurūpaṃ. 3 Ma., Yu.: balādhipo.
#1 Ma.: na hontu. 2 Ma.: ṭhitā saddhammamācalā. Yu.: ṭhito saṅgāmamācalo.
The four analytical insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Ānanda the Elder speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Ānanda is concluded.
Summary (uddāna):
The Buddha, the Paccekabuddha, Sāriputta and Kolita,
Kassapa and Anuruddha, the Elder Puṇṇa and Upāli,
Koṇḍañña and Piṇḍola too, Revata and Ānanda the wise:
six hundred and fifty verses, all reckoned together.
In the Apadāna: the Buddha Chapter (Buddhavagga), the first.
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The Second Chapter: the Lion-Throne Chapter (Sīhāsaniyavagga)
First: the Apadāna of the Elder Sīhāsanadāyaka (the Giver of the Lion Throne) (11)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.