[61]
Proclaiming the four truths (catusacca), the promulgator of the excellent Dhamma
rains down the shower of the Deathless (amata), quenching [the fires of] the great multitude.
Holding a lotus together with a banner, standing half a kosa away,
delighted, I hurled it up into the sky for the sage Padumuttara.
And as the lotus came on, at that very instant there was a marvel:
knowing my intention, the Best of Speakers took it up.
Taking up that supreme water-born flower with his most excellent hand,
the Teacher, standing amid the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, spoke these verses:
"He by whom this lotus was cast toward the Omniscient One, the supreme leader —
him I shall proclaim; listen to me as I speak.
For thirty aeons (kappa) he will exercise divine rule as lord of the devas;
seven hundred times he will hold kingship over the earth, dwelling upon the earth.
There, having taken up existence, he will become a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti);
then a rain of flowers will pour down from the sky.
In a hundred thousand aeons there will be a Teacher in the world,
arisen in the lineage of Okkāka, Gotama by name.
An heir in his teachings (dhamma), a true-born son formed by the Dhamma,
having fully understood all taints (āsava), he will attain Nibbāna, free from taints."
Having come forth from the womb, clearly comprehending and mindful,
at five years from birth I attained arahantship (arahatta).
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Paduma the Elder speak these verses.
The Apadāna of Paduma the Elder is concluded.
The Tenth: the Apadāna of Asanabodhiya the Elder (60)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.