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A hundred thousand aeons ago there arose the Leader, the Victor (jina) named Padumuttara, possessed of the eye regarding all dhammas.
The most excellent Teacher among leaders, the Victor who knows what is virtue and what is not, grateful and acknowledging what has been done, he joins living beings to the ford.
The All-Knowing One, having weighed [them] with that knowledge (ñāṇa), his disposition tender compassion, an accumulation of infinite virtues, teaches the most excellent Dhamma.
At one time that Great Hero, the wise one, taught the sweet Dhamma connected with the four truths to an endless multitude of people.
Having heard that excellent Dhamma, beautiful in the beginning, the middle, and the end, a hundred thousand living beings attained the breakthrough to the Dhamma.
Then the earth resounded and the rain-clouds thundered; devas, brahmās, humans, and asuras raised cries of approval:
"Oh, the compassionate Teacher! Oh, the teaching of the true Dhamma! Oh, the Victor has lifted up those who were sunk in the ocean of existence!"
While humans, immortals, and brahmās were thus stirred with urgency (saṃvega), the Victor extolled the disciple foremost among those who inspire confidence in families.
At that time I was born in a minister's family in Haṃsavatī, pleasing, fair to behold, possessed of abundant wealth and grain.
Having approached the Haṃsārāma and paid homage to that Tathāgata, I heard the sweet Dhamma and did service to the One Such (tādī).
Having prostrated at his feet, I spoke these words: "He who in your dispensation, O Sage, is foremost of those who inspire confidence in families —
may I be such a one, O Great Hero, in the dispensation of the supreme Buddha." Then the Greatly Compassionate One, sprinkling me as it were with the deathless (amata),
said to me: "Rise, son; you shall obtain this heart's desire. How indeed could one who has done service to the Victor be without fruit?
A hundred thousand aeons from now, one arisen in the Okkāka lineage, Gotama by name, will be Teacher in the world.
His heir in the dhammas, a true-born son fashioned by the Dhamma, Udāyī by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher."
Having heard that, I was gladdened, and then for as long as life lasted, with a mind of loving-kindness (mettacitta) I attended upon the Victor, the Guide, with requisites.
By the ripening of that kamma and by my volition and aspirations, on abandoning the human body I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
And now, in my final existence, in delightful Kapilavatthu, I was born in the family of a chief minister — Suddhodana was lord of the earth.
Then Siddhattha, the bull of men, was born in the delightful Lumbinī grove for the welfare and the happiness of all the world.
On that very day I was born, and I grew up together with him — a dear and beloved companion, trusted, skilled in statecraft.
At twenty-nine years of age he departed and went forth; having passed six years, he became the Buddha, the Guide.
Having conquered Māra together with his army, having exhausted the taints (āsava), having crossed the ocean of existence, he became the Buddha in [the world] with its devas.
Having gone to the alighting-place named after the seers — Isipatana — he trained the group of five (pañcavaggiyā); then the Blessed One, going from place to place, trained [beings] here and there.
Training those fit for training, showing kindness to [the world] with its devas, the Victor then approached the mountain in Magadha and dwelt there.
Then, sent by Suddhodana, protector of the earth, I went, saw the Ten-Powered One (dasabala), went forth, and became an arahant.
Then, having entreated the Great Seer (mahesi), I brought him to [the city] called Kapila; and going on ahead, I inspired confidence in the great family.
Pleased with that quality of mine, the Victor, the bull of men, spoke of me: the Guide designated me the foremost of those who inspire confidence in families.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned up; all existences have been uprooted; like an elephant that has severed its bonds, I dwell without taints.
Welcome indeed was my coming into my Buddha's presence; the three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha), and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Kāḷudāyī spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Kāḷudāyī is concluded.
The seventh: the Apadāna of the Elder Abhaya (547).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.