[391] In the dispensation (pāvacana) of Vipassī, a single cave (leṇa) was made by me
for the Saṅgha of the four quarters, in the royal capital Bandhumā.
Having spread the floor of the cave with cloths, I gave it away;
uplifted in mind (citta), joyful, I then made my aspiration:
"May I win the favor of the Fully Awakened One, and may I obtain the going forth (pabbajjā),
and may I touch the unsurpassed Nibbāna, the supreme peace."
By that very bright root [of merit] (sukkamūla) I wandered on for ninety eons;
as deva and as human, having made merit, I shone.
Then, by the residue of that kamma, here in my final existence,
I was born at Campā, the only son of the chief merchant (seṭṭhi).
On hearing of me just born, this wish arose in my father:
"I give to the boy twenty koṭis [two hundred million], with nothing lacking."
And hairs four fingerbreadths long grew on both my soles —
fine, soft to the touch, like cotton-down, beautiful.
Ninety eons have passed, and this one more besides:
I do not recall my foot being set down on unspread ground.¹
The Fully Awakened One was won over by me; I went forth into homelessness;
arahantship was attained by me; become cool, I am quenched.
By the All-Seeing One I was declared foremost of those of aroused energy (vīriya);
one whose taints (āsava) are destroyed,² an arahant, possessed of the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā), of great psychic power.
In the ninety-first eon from now — the gift that I gave then:
I know of no bad destination; this is the fruit of the gift of a cave.
Welcome indeed was my coming into the presence of my Buddha;
the three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned up; all existences have been extirpated;
like an elephant that has burst its bond, I dwell without taints.
The four analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā) and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
The Elder Koṭivisa Soṇa,³ before the Saṅgha of bhikkhus,
being asked a question, answered it at the great lake Anotatta.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Elder Soṇa Koṭivisa speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Soṇa Koṭivisa is concluded.
The tenth: the Apadāna of the Buddha (Buddhāpadāna) named Pubbakammapiloti (390).
Notes: ¹ Ma. (Burmese edition): "bhumyā." ² Ma.: "khīṇāsavomhi arahā" ("I am one whose taints are destroyed, an arahant"). ³ A variant-note marker stands here in the Siam edition; its note is not included in the supplied text.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.