[45]
All the people approach the Sambuddha Padumuttara,
the Great Sage whose mind (citta) is loving-kindness (mettā), the supreme Leader of all the world.
Lumps of parched flour and powdered meal,¹ material gifts, drink and food —
all these they give to the Teacher, in the unsurpassed field of merit (puññakkhetta).
"I too shall give a gift to the Deva of devas, the Stable One (tādī),
having invited the supreme Buddha and the unsurpassed Saṅgha as well."
Sent out by me, these men invited the Tathāgata
and the entire Bhikkhu Saṅgha, the unsurpassed field of merit.
A hundred thousand golden couches spread with long-fleeced coverlets,
with cotton-stuffed mattresses and flower-embroidered covers, and with cloths of linen and of cotton —
such costly seating did I make ready, befitting the Buddha.
Padumuttara, the Knower of the world, the Deva of devas, the Bull among men,
surrounded by the Bhikkhu Saṅgha, came to my door.
Having gone out to meet the Sambuddha, the renowned Protector of the world,
with a mind full of confidence, glad at heart, I led him into my own home² —
the hundred thousand bhikkhus together with the Buddha, the Leader of the world.
With a mind full of confidence, glad at heart, I satisfied them with the choicest food.
Padumuttara, the Knower of the world, the receiver of oblations (āhuti),
sitting amid the Bhikkhu Saṅgha, spoke these verses:
"He by whom this seat was given, golden, spread with long-fleeced coverlets —
him I shall proclaim; listen while I speak.
Seventy-four times he will exercise rulership over the devas;
attended by celestial nymphs (accharā), he will enjoy prosperity.
A thousand times he will dwell upon the earth wielding regional kingship;
and fifty-one times he will be a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti).
In all existences and births he will be of lofty family.
And afterwards, spurred on by his bright root of merit, he will go forth
and become the Teacher's disciple, Bhaddiya by name."
I am devoted to seclusion (viveka), a dweller in remote lodgings;
every fruit has been attained,³ and today I have cast off the defilements of mind.
Having direct knowledge of all that concerned me, the All-knowing One, the Leader of the world,
sitting amid the Bhikkhu Saṅgha, established me in the foremost place (etadagga).
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) too,
and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) — all have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Bhaddiya Kāḷigodhāyaputta the Elder speak these verses.
The Apadāna of Bhaddiya Kāḷigodhāyaputta the Elder is concluded.
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Variant notes (Siam edition apparatus): ¹ M. and Yu. read "baddhakañca." ² M. reads "abhināmayiṃ saṅgharaṃ"; Yu. "… saghāraṃ." ³ M. reads "cādhigataṃ"; Yu. reads "phalañca vigataṃ sabbaṃ vattakleso'mhi ajjahaṃ."
The Apadāna of Sanniṭṭhāpaka the Elder, the fourth (44)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.