[341]
The Victor (jina) named Padumuttara, gone to the far shore of all dhammas,
proclaiming the four truths, brought many people across.
At that time I was a matted-hair ascetic (jaṭila) of intense austerity;
shaking my bark-cloth garments, I then went travelling through the sky.
I could not manage to pass above the supreme Buddha;
like a bird that has struck against a crag, I did not obtain passage then.
Never before had this befallen me — such thwarting of my movement;
as one who has opened his eyes in the water, even so did I move through the sky.
"Some exalted being in human form must be seated below.
Come now, I shall search this out; perhaps I may gain some good."
Descending from the sky, I heard the voice of the Teacher
as he was discoursing on impermanence (aniccatā); that I learned then.
Having grasped the perception (saññā) of impermanence, I went back to my hermitage;
having dwelt there for the full span of my life, there I died.
As my last hour was passing, I recollected that hearing of the Dhamma;
by that well-performed deed I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
For thirty thousand aeons (kappa) I delighted in the deva world,
and fifty-one times I exercised the rulership of the devas.
And seventy-one times I was a universal monarch (cakkavatti),
with extensive regional kingship beyond reckoning by count.
An ascetic (samaṇa) with developed faculties, seated in my father's house,
elucidating by means of a verse, set forth the theme of impermanence.
Recollecting that perception as I wandered on from existence to existence,
I had not penetrated to the culmination — Nibbāna, the imperishable state.
"Impermanent indeed are conditioned things (saṅkhārā); it is their nature to arise and pass away;
having arisen, they cease; their stilling is bliss."
Together with hearing that verse, I recollected my former deed;
sitting on that single seat, I attained arahantship.
At seven years from birth I attained arahantship;
the Buddha, the One with Vision (cakkhumā), knowing my quality, gave me the full ordination.
While still a mere boy, I brought to completion what had to be done;
what is there today that I must do in the dispensation of the Sakyan Son?
In the hundred-thousandth aeon from now I did that deed;
I know of no bad destination — such is the fruit of hearing the true Dhamma (saddhammassavana).
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Elder Dhammassavaniya speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Dhammassavaniya is concluded.
Tenth: The Apadāna of the Elder Ukkhittapadumiya (340)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.