[135] The Victor (jina) named Padumuttara, the One with Vision into all dhammas (dhamma),
the Leader, arose in the aeon (kappa) one hundred thousand before this one.
For the welfare of all beings, for their happiness, for their benefit,
the best of speakers, the thoroughbred among men (purisājañña), he practiced in the world with its devas.
Attained to the summit of fame, glorious, the Victor who bore renown and praise,
honored by all the world, well famed in every direction.
He had crossed over doubt (vicikicchā) and passed beyond perplexity;
with his mind's intention fulfilled, he had attained the supreme awakening (sambodhi).
The arouser of the path (magga) that had not arisen, the supreme among men,
he declared what had not been declared and brought forth what had not been brought forth.
The knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the declarer of the path, the bull among men,
the Teacher skilled in the path, the supreme man among charioteers.
Then the Leader of great compassion taught the Dhamma:
he lifts up living beings sunk in the mire of delusion (moha).
Praising the disciple deemed chief in the exhortation of the bhikkhunīs,
the Great Sage designated him in that foremost place (etadagga).
Hearing that, gladdened, I invited the Tathāgata,
and having fed him together with the Saṅgha, I aspired to that supreme station.
Then the Protector, the Great Seer, rejoicing, said to me:
"Be happy and long-lived; you shall obtain this, your heart's desire (manoratha).
A hundred thousand aeons from now, one arisen in the Okkāka clan,
Gotama by name, will be the Teacher in the world.
His heir in the dhammas, a true-born son formed by the Dhamma,
Nandaka by name, he will be a disciple of the Teacher."
Through that deed well done, and through volition and resolve,
on abandoning the human body I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
And now, in my final existence, I was born in a merchant's (seṭṭhi) family
in Sāvatthī, best of cities — rich, flourishing, and of great wealth.
Seeing the Well-Gone One (Sugata) at his entry into the city, my mind struck with wonder,
at the acceptance of the Jeta Grove (Jetārāma) I went forth into homelessness.
In no long time I attained arahantship (arahatta);
then, having crossed saṃsāra, I was instructed by the All-Seeing One.
I gave the bhikkhunīs a talk on the Dhamma, conducting it by questioning;
instructed by me, those bhikkhunīs all became free of taints (āsava) —
fully five hundred of them. Then the One of Great Benefit, well pleased,
established me in the foremost place among those who exhort the bhikkhunīs.
The deed done a hundred thousand aeons ago showed me its fruit here:
well released, like an arrow's flight, I have burned up my defilements (kilesa).
My defilements have been burned up; all existences have been extirpated;
like an elephant that has burst its bonds, I dwell free of taints.
Welcome indeed was my coming into the presence of my Buddha:
the three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) as well,
and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Elder Nandaka speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Nandaka is concluded.
Sixth: the Apadāna of the Elder Kāḷudāyī (546)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.