[407]
Not far from Himavant stands the mountain named Anoma; there my hermitage was well made, a leaf-hut well built.
And a river flows there, with lovely fords, delightful; on its moist banks grow paduma lotuses and uppala water-lilies in abundance.
Pāṭhīna and pāvusa fish, balaja, muñja, and rohita — covered over with fish and turtles, the stream glided along then.
Timiras are in flower there, asokas and khuddamālakas; puṇṇās and giripuṇṇās waft their fragrance over my hermitage.
Kuṭajas are in flower there, and groves of tiṇasūla jasmine; sālas and salaḷas are there, and campakas in flower in plenty.
Ajjunas and adhimuttas and mahānāmas are in flower; honey-scented asanas are flowering there at my hermitage.
Uddālakas, pāṭalikas, yūthikās, and piyaṅgukas — all around for half a yojana the land is covered with bimbijālas.
Mātakarās and sattalis, pāṭalīs and sindhuvāras; many aṅkolakas are there, and tālakuṭas in flower.
Many seleyyakas are there, blooming at my hermitage; amid these flowering growths many trees stand resplendent.
All around, my hermitage is fanned with that fragrance. Harītakas and āmalakas, mangoes and rose-apples, vibhedakas,
kolas, bhallātakas, bellās, and phārusaka fruits; tindukas and piyālas, madhukas and kāsamārīs,
labujas and jackfruit trees (panasa) are there, plantains and candarī-fruits; many ambāṭakas are there, and vallikāra fruits.
Ripening slowly to full savor, they have fruited at my hermitage; āḷakas and isimuggas, and besides, sora-fruits in plenty;
avaṭas laden with ripened fruit, and milakkhudumbaras; long pepper and black pepper are there, banyans and kapiṭṭhanas;
many udumbarakas, kaṇḍapakkas, and pārīs — these and many others have fruited at my hermitage.
Many flowering trees as well are in bloom at my hermitage — āluvās and kadambas, biḷālīs and takkalas;
ālakas and tālakas too are found at my hermitage. And not far from my hermitage there was a great natural lake,
of limpid water, of cool water, with lovely landing-places, delightful; many padumas and uppalas were there, mingled with white puṇḍarīkas,
covered over with mandālakas, breathing forth varied scents. Some lotuses are swelling in bud; others bloom, their filaments unfurled;
many, their petals fallen, stand as bare lotus-pods. Honey flows from the lotus-rhizomes, milk and ghee from the lotus-stalks.
All around, that fragrance mingles with fragrances of every kind; many kumudas, mango-scented, are seen borne upon it.
Along the margin of the natural lake many ketakas are in flower; bandhujīvas in full bloom, and setavārīs sweetly fragrant.
Crocodiles and susumāras and gahakas breed there; uggāhakas and pythons are many there in the natural lake.
Pāṭhīna and pāvusa fish, balaja, muñja, and rohita — it is covered over with fish and turtles, and with sapaṭakas besides.
Pārevata pigeons and ravihaṃsas, kukkutthaka watercocks ranging the river; dindibha lapwings and cakkavāka shelducks, cappakas and jīvajīvakas,
kalandaka squirrels and ospreys, hawks and uddharas in plenty; kotthakas and parrot chicks, kuḷīras and camaras in plenty;
kāseniyas and tilakas live in dependence on that lake. Lions, tigers, and leopards, bears, wolves, and hyenas,
monkeys and kinnaras too are seen at my hermitage. Breathing those fragrances, eating of the fruits,
and drinking the scented water, I dwell in my hermitage. Eṇi antelopes and boars, and pasada deer of small frame,
aggikas and jotikas dwell at my hermitage; geese, cranes, and peacocks, and cuckoos in their company.
Many mañjarikas are there, kosikas and potthasīsakas; pisācas and dānavas, kumbhaṇḍas and rakkhasas in plenty;
garuḷas and pannaga serpents too dwell at my hermitage. Sages of great might, peaceful in mind, concentrated,
all bearing water-pots, wearing antelope-hide as upper garment, weighed down with their loads of matted hair, dwell in my hermitage.
Looking no farther than a plough-yoke's length, prudent, of peaceful conduct, content alike with gain and with none, they dwell in my hermitage.
Shaking out their bark-cloth robes, slapping their antelope hides, buttressed by their own powers, they then travel through the sky.
They fetch fresh water, or wood as fuel for the fire; and they are of themselves accomplished — this is the fruit of wonder-working power (pāṭihīra).
Taking their copper vessels, they dwell in the midst of the forest, like great tusker elephants, like a lion undismayed.
Some go to Goyāna, others to Pubbavideha, and others to Uttarakuru, relying on their own strength;
bringing back alms-food from there, they eat it all together. As all of them set forth — mighty in fiery power, steadfast ones (tādī) —
the forest then resounds with the sound of antelope hides.
Such, O Great Hero, were those pupils of mine, of towering austerity; surrounded by them I dwelt in my hermitage.
Delighted in their own work, disciplined too, and gathered together, eager each for his own task, these sages gratified me —
virtuous and prudent, adept in the boundless states (appamaññā). Padumuttara, knower of the world, receiver of oblations,
discerning the fitting time, drew near — the Guide; and having drawn near, the Fully Awakened One, ardent (ātāpī), prudent, the sage,
taking up his bowl, the Fully Awakened One came for alms. When the Great Hero had come — he named for the supreme water-born flower [i.e., Padumuttara] —
I laid down a spread of grass and strewed it with sāla flowers; and having seated the Fully Awakened One, joyful, my heart deeply stirred,
I climbed the mountain swiftly and took aloes-wood (agalu); and taking a jackfruit of heavenly fragrance, large as a water-jar,
I hoisted it upon my shoulder and approached the Guide; and having given the fruit to the Buddha, I anointed him with the aloes.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I paid homage to the Best of Buddhas. Padumuttara, knower of the world, receiver of oblations,
seated in the midst of the sages, spoke these verses: "He who gave me fruit and aloes, and gave a seat to me —
him shall I proclaim: listen to my words. In village or in wilderness, on mountain slopes or in caves,
food will appear for him, discerning this man's mind. Reborn in the world of the gods or among human beings, this man
will be amply regaled with foods and with garments. Into whatever womb he passes, the divine state or the human,
possessed of unshakeable wealth, this man will wander on. For thirty thousand aeons he will delight in the world of the gods;
a thousand times he will be a king, a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti); and seventy-one times he will exercise kingship among the gods;
wide regional kingship will be his, incalculable by count. In a hundred thousand aeons hence, arisen in the Okkāka clan,
one named Gotama by name will be Teacher in the world. An heir to his teachings, his true-born son, formed of the Dhamma,
Upasīva by name will he be, a disciple of the Teacher; having fully understood all the taints (āsava), he will dwell free of taints."
Well-gained was the gain I gained, in that I saw the Leader; the three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
In village or in wilderness, on mountain slopes or in caves, food, discerning my intention, is there for me always.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned away; all existences (bhava) have been rooted out; like an elephant that has burst its bonds, I dwell free of taints.
Truly welcome was my coming into the presence of my Buddha; the three true knowledges have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha), and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
It was thus, indeed, that the Venerable Upasīva the Elder spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of Upasīva the Elder is concluded.
The Sixth: the Apadāna of Nandaka the Elder (406).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.