[25] In the city of Candavatī I was then one who attended upon my mother;
my mother and father were blind, and I supported them at that time.
Having sat down in seclusion, I then thought thus:
"While I support my mother and father, I do not obtain the going forth (pabbajjā).
Shrouded in the darkness of gloom, [beings] are burned by the threefold fires;
when such an existence has come to be, there is no guide at all.
A Buddha has arisen in the world; now the teaching shines forth;
a person who desires merit is able to lift himself up."
Taking up the three refuges (saraṇa), I kept them in full;
by that deed well done, I shall be freed from the bad destination (duggati).
There was an ascetic named Nisabha, the chief disciple of the Buddha;
approaching him, I took the going for refuge (saraṇāgamana).
The lifespan obtaining at that time was a hundred thousand years;
for all that time I kept the going for refuge complete.
When my last [hour] was at hand, I recollected that refuge;
by that deed well done, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
While I dwelt in the world of the devas, endowed with meritorious deeds,
in whatever region I was reborn I obtained eight grounds:
I was honored in every quarter; I was of sharp wisdom;
all the devas complied with me; I obtained measureless wealth.
I was golden-hued; everywhere I was possessed of ready wit;
toward my friends I was unshakeable; and my fame rose exceedingly high.
Eighty times, as lord of the devas, I exercised rulership over the devas;
I experienced divine happiness, attended by celestial nymphs (accharā).
And seventy-five times I was a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti),
with extensive regional kingship beyond reckoning by count.
When the final existence had arrived, endowed with meritorious deeds,
I was born in the city of Sāvatthī, in a great and very wealthy family.
Having gone out from the city, surrounded by boys,
in the evening, given over to play, I came to the monastery (saṅghārāma).
There I saw an ascetic, fully released, free of acquisitions (nirūpadhi);
he taught me the Dhamma and gave me the refuge.
Having heard "refuge," I recollected my own refuge;
seated on a single seat, I attained arahantship (arahatta).
At seven years from birth I attained arahantship;
the Buddha, the One with Vision, knowing my quality, gave me the full ordination (upasampadā).
Aeons beyond measure from now, I went to the refuges;
even so long [after], that deed of mine, well done, has shown me its fruit here.
Well guarded was my refuge, and well directed my mind (citta);
having enjoyed glory of every kind, I have attained the unshakeable state.
You who have ears to attend, listen to me as I speak:
I shall declare to you the goal, the state seen by me for myself.
"A Buddha has arisen in the world; the Conqueror's teaching prevails;
the drum of the Deathless has been sounded, dispelling the dart of sorrow.
Each according to his own strength, in the unsurpassed field of merit,
you should render service: you will behold quenching (nibbuti).
Taking up the three refuges and guarding the five precepts (pañcasīla),
having made the mind confident in the Buddha, you will make an end of suffering (dukkha).
Making me your example and guarding the precepts well,
before long all of you also will attain arahantship."
Possessed of the three true knowledges (tevijja), attained to psychic power (iddhi), skilled in comprehending the minds of others,
O Great Hero, as your disciple I venerate the Teacher's feet.
Aeons beyond measure from now, I went to the Buddha for refuge;
I know of no bad destination: such is the fruit of going for refuge.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized: the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Tīṇisaraṇāgamaniya spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Tīṇisaraṇāgamaniya is concluded.
Fourth: the Apadāna of the Elder Pañcasīlasamādāniya (24)
[Variant readings in the Siam edition apparatus: (footnote ๑ of the first block, "M. ussīsanti; Yu. dassissanti," anchors a word preceding this excerpt); Candavatiyā] Po. Bandhamatiyā; mātupaṭṭhānako] M. mātupaṭṭhāko ahuṃ, Yu. mātupaṭṭhāyako ahuṃ; tamandhakārapihitā] M. mahandhakārapihitā; dāni (sāsanaṃ)] Yu. jinasāsanaṃ; paṭibhāṇo] M., Yu. paṭikkanto; sāyaṃ khiḍḍāsamaṅgīhaṃ] M. hasakhiḍḍasamaṅgīhaṃ, Yu. sahassakhiḍḍāsamaṅgīhaṃ; (jātiyā) sattavassena] M. sattame vasse; tāva] M., Yu. tato; atthaṃ] M. ahaṃ.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.