[51]
Padumuttara, the Knower of the World, the recipient of oblations,
having lifted up the multitude, the One of Great Fame, was passing into Nibbāna.
And as the Sambuddha was attaining Nibbāna, the ten-thousandfold [world system] quaked;
great was the mass of people, and the gods assembled then.
Having filled a sandalwood [casket] with tagara and with jasmine,
glad, with a gladdened mind, I raised it up over the Supreme among Men.
Knowing my intention, the Teacher, unsurpassed in the world,
the Sambuddha, even as he lay there, spoke these verses:
"He who at my final hour covered me with perfume and garlands —
him shall I proclaim; listen to my words.
"Passing away from here, this man will go to the Tusita host;
having exercised rulership there, he will go on to Nimmāna [Nimmānarati].
"By this same means, having given the most excellent garland,¹
gratified by his own deed, he will enjoy success.
"Yet again² this man will be reborn in the Tusita host;
passing away from that host, he will go to the human state.
"The son of the Sakyans, the Great Nāga, foremost in the world with its gods,
having awakened many beings, the One with Vision (cakkhumā), will attain Nibbāna.
"Then he, having drawn near,³ urged on by the bright root [of merit] (sukkamūla),
approaching the Sambuddha, will at that time ask a question.
"The Sambuddha, the All-Knower, the Leader of the World, having gladdened him,
directly knowing his former deed, will unfold the truths.
"And this question having been taken up, pleased, with mind one-pointed,
having venerated the Teacher, he will ask for the going forth (pabbajjā).
"Seeing him confident in mind, delighted by his own deed,
that Buddha, skilled in the supreme Dhamma, will let him go forth.
"Having striven rightly in the Sambuddha's dispensation, this man,
having fully understood all the taints (āsava), will attain Nibbāna, free of taints."
The fifth recitation section (bhāṇavāra).
¹ Burmese ed.: mālaṃ ("garland"); European (PTS) ed.: mālayaṃ.
² European (PTS) ed.: cutopi ("and having passed away").
³ European (PTS) ed.: pabbajjūpagato santo ("having come for the going forth").
Conjoined with that former deed, one-pointed, well concentrated,
I am the Buddha's own breast-born son, well created from the Dhamma.
Having approached the King of the Dhamma, I asked a supreme question;
and in answering my question he led me up to the stream of the Dhamma.
Having understood his Dhamma, I dwelt delighting in the dispensation;
having fully understood all the taints, I dwell free of taints.
A hundred thousand aeons (kappa) from this one, the Leader [named for] the supreme water-born [lotus, Padumuttara]
attained Nibbāna without clinging (upādāna), as a lamp [goes out] through the exhaustion of its oil.
And there was a stūpa made of jewels, seven yojanas [in height];
there I offered in homage a banner, wholly auspicious, delightful.
And Tissa by name, the chief disciple of the Buddha Kassapa,
was my own breast-born son, an heir in the Victor's dispensation.
To him, with a base mind, I spoke an ill-favoured word;
through the ripening of that deed, only afterward did the good come to me.¹
In the sāla grove at Upavattana, upon his final bed, the Sage,
the Great Hero, benevolent, compassionate, the Victor, gave me the going forth.
This very day, even now, the going forth; this very day, the higher ordination (upasampadā);
this very day, Parinibbāna — face to face with the Supreme among Two-footed Beings.
The four analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
and the six direct knowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
¹ Burmese ed.: pacchime addasaṃ jinaṃ ("at the last I saw the Victor").
Thus indeed the Venerable Subhadda the Elder spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of Subhadda the Elder is concluded.
The Tenth: the Apadāna of Cunda the Elder (50)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.