[339]
In the city of Bandhumatī I was a laborer for others,
engaged in the business of others' work, dependent on others' food.
Gone into seclusion and seated, I then thought thus:¹
"A Buddha has arisen in the world, yet I have no act of service (adhikāra) [to my credit].
It is time for me to purify my destination (gati); the opportune moment (khaṇa) has been granted me;
for painful (dukkha) is the touch of hell (niraya) for beings without merit."
Having thought thus, I approached the master of my work;
having asked [leave from] work for a single day, I entered the great forest.
Then, having brought grass and sticks and creepers,
I set them up upon three poles and made a grass hut.
Having made over that hut for the benefit of the Saṅgha,
I came back on that very day and approached the master of my work.
Through that deed (kamma) well done, I went to Tāvatiṃsa;
there a well-made mansion was fashioned for me on account of the grass hut.²
Thousand-sectioned, hundred-globed, festooned with banners, made of green [gems] —
a hundred thousand turrets appeared in my mansion.
Into whatever womb I am reborn, in the state of a god or of a human,
a palace, knowing my intention, rises up [for me].
Fear, or trembling, or horripilation is not found [in me];
I know of no dread in myself: this is the fruit of the grass hut.
Lions and tigers and leopards, bears, wolves, and hyenas³ —
all avoid me: this is the fruit of the grass hut.
Creeping creatures and spirits (bhūta), snakes, kumbhaṇḍas, and rakkhasas —
these too avoid me: this is the fruit of the grass hut.
I do not recall having seen an evil dream;
my mindfulness (sati) is established: this is the fruit of the grass hut.
Having enjoyed attainments (sampadā) through that very grass hut,
I realized the Dhamma of the Blessed One Gotama.
Ninety-one aeons (kappa) ago from now, the deed that I did then —
I know of no bad destination (duggati): this is the fruit of the grass hut.
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 Tiṇakuṭidāyaka spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Tiṇakuṭidāyaka is concluded.
The Eighth: The Apadāna of the Elder Uttareyyadāyaka (338)
[Variant readings noted in the Siam Raṭṭha edition: ¹ The European edition reads "cintesi tāvade" (for "cintesahaṃ tadā"). ² The Burmese edition reads "kuṭikāya sunimmitaṃ" (for "tiṇakuṭikāya nimmitaṃ"). ³ The Burmese edition reads "acchakokataracchakā."]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.