[340] In the city of Haṃsavatī I was then a brahmin,
a reciter, a bearer of the mantras, gone to the far shore of the three Vedas.
Attended by my own pupils, well-born and well-trained,
I went out from the city at that time to perform the water-ablution.
Padumuttara, the Knower of the World, gone to the far shore of all dhammas,
the Victor (jina), entered the city together with thousands whose taints (āsava) were destroyed.
Seeing him of form so surpassingly lovely, imperturbable as though a fashioned image,
seeing him surrounded by arahants, I made my mind (citta) confident.
Raising my joined palms to my head and paying homage to the One of Excellent Vows,
with confident mind, glad at heart, I gave an upper garment (uttariya).
Taking it up with both hands, I lifted the cloth (sāṭaka) aloft;
as far as the Buddha's assembly extended, so far did the cloth spread its cover.
While he walked on his alms round at the head of the great company of bhikkhus,
it remained forming a canopy, gladdening me at that time.
As he came out from a house, the Self-Become One (sayambhū), the Supreme Person,
the Teacher, standing in the street, made this expression of appreciation (anumodanā):
"He who with confident mind, glad at heart, presented me with a cloth —
him I shall proclaim; listen to my words.
For thirty thousand aeons (kappa) he will delight in the deva-world;
fifty times, as lord of the devas, he will exercise rulership among the devas.
While he dwells in the deva-world, endowed with his meritorious deed,
for a hundred yojanas all around there will be a covering of cloth.
And thirty-six times he will be a king, a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti);
his regional kingship will be vast, beyond reckoning by count.
While he wanders on through existence, endowed with his meritorious deed,
everything wished for in his mind will come into being at that very moment.
Silks and woolen cloths, linens and cottons,
and cloths of great price — this man will obtain them.
Everything wished for in his mind this man will obtain;
at all times he will experience the result (vipāka) of that single cloth.
Afterwards he will go forth and, urged on by his bright root of merit (sukkamūla),
he will realize the Dhamma of the Blessed One Gotama."
Oh, the deed well done by me for the Fully Awakened One, the Great Seer!
Having given a single cloth, I have attained the deathless state (amata pada).
Whether I dwell in a pavilion, at the root of a tree, or in an empty house,
a canopy of cloth is held over me, a fathom's span all around.
I put on a robe obtained without intimation (viññatti),
and I gain the requisite of food and drink: this is the fruit of the upper garment (uttareyya).
It was a hundred thousand aeons ago that I did that deed;
I know of no bad destination (duggati): this is the fruit of the gift of cloth.
The four analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha),
and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized: the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Uttareyyadāyaka the Elder speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Uttareyyadāyaka is concluded.
The Ninth: the Apadāna of the Elder Dhammassavaniya (339)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.