[397]
The Blessed One named Piyadassī, the Self-Arisen (sayambhū), the Leader of the World, the Fully Awakened One who desired seclusion, skilled in concentration (samādhi), the Sage —
Entering a forest thicket, Piyadassī the Great Sage, the Supreme among Men, spread out his rag-robe (paṃsukūla) and sat down.
Formerly I was a deer-hunter in a wild woodland; seeking there a spotted deer (pasada), I was roaming about at that time.
There I saw the Fully Awakened One, who had crossed the flood (ogha), free from taints (āsava), like a sal-king in full flower, like the hundred-rayed sun arisen.
Having seen the God of Gods, Piyadassī of great fame, I plunged into a natural lake and brought back lotus in that moment.
Having brought the hundred-petalled, delightful lotus, I made a pinnacled house (kūṭāgāra) and roofed it over with lotus.
Compassionate, merciful, Piyadassī the Great Sage, the Buddha, the Victor, dwelt in that pinnacled house for seven nights and days.
Discarding the old [blossoms], I roofed it over with new; and raising my joined palms, I stood there at that very moment.
Emerging from concentration, Piyadassī the Great Sage, the Leader of the World, sat surveying the directions.
Then the attendant named Sudassana, of great psychic power, knowing the mind (citta) of the Buddha, the Teacher Piyadassī,
surrounded by eighty thousand bhikkhus, approached the Leader of the World, who sat at ease at the forest's edge.
And as many deities as dwelt within that forest thicket, knowing the Buddha's mind, all gathered together then.
When the yakkhas had assembled — the kumbhaṇḍas together with the rakkhasas — and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus had arrived, the Victor uttered these verses:
"He who for seven days has honored me and made an abode for me — him I shall proclaim; listen to my words.
What is exceedingly hard to see, exceedingly subtle, profound, well made known — that I shall proclaim by knowledge (ñāṇa); listen to my words.
For fourteen aeons he will exercise rulership among the devas; and for him a vast pinnacled house, roofed over with lotus flowers,
they will hold aloft in the sky — this is the fruit of his former deed. For fourteen hundred aeons he will transmigrate mingled [among gods and men].
There a mansion made of flowers will be borne [for him] in the sky. Just as water does not cling to the lotus leaf,
even so to this one's knowledge the defilements (kilesa) will not cling. Having turned back the five hindrances (nīvaraṇa) with his mind, this one,
arousing the mind toward renunciation (nekkhamma), will go forth from home; then he will depart with the flower-made mansion borne [above him].
As he dwells at the root of a tree, prudent, possessed of mindfulness (sati), there the flower-made mansion will be held above his head.
Having given robes and almsfood, requisites, and bed and seat to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, he will attain Nibbāna, free from taints."
When, faring with the pinnacled house, I set out into the going-forth, even as I dwell at the root of a tree the pinnacled house is borne [above me].
As to robe and almsfood, no volition (cetanā) [of concern] is found in me: endowed with meritorious kamma, I obtain them ready-made.
Through many crores of aeons of mine, incalculable by reckoning, the Leaders of the World passed by in vain — wholly let slip [by me].
Eighteen hundred aeons ago [arose] Piyadassī the Guide; having attended closely upon him, I have come to this birth.
I saw that Fully Awakened One, the one of lofty name (anoma), the One with Vision; having approached him, I went forth into homelessness.
The Buddha, maker of the end of suffering (dukkha), the Victor, taught the true Dhamma (saddhamma); having heard his Dhamma, I attained the unshakable state.
Having gladdened the Fully Awakened One, Gotama, Bull of the Sakyans, having fully understood all the taints, I dwell free from taints.
Eighteen hundred aeons ago I worshipped that Buddha: I know no bad destination (duggati) [since] — this is the fruit of worship of the Buddha.
My defilements are burnt out; all existences are extirpated; all taints are utterly destroyed; now there is no renewed existence.
Truly welcome was my coming into my Buddha's presence! The three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; done is the Buddha's teaching.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) too, and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; done is the Buddha's teaching.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Padumakūṭāgārika the Elder speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Padumakūṭāgārika is concluded.
The Sixth: the Apadāna of the Elder Bakkula (396)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.