[140]
In this auspicious eon (bhaddakappa) there arose the kinsman of Brahmā, of great fame, Kassapa by name, the best of speakers.
Endowed with the minor characteristics, bearing the thirty-two excellent marks, surrounded by a fathom-wide radiance, suffused with a net of rays;
giving comfort like the moon, a maker of light like the sun, cooling like a rain-cloud, a mine of virtues like the ocean;
like the earth in virtue (sīla), like the Himavant in concentration (samādhi), like the sky in wisdom (paññā), unattached like the wind.
At that time I was reborn at Bārāṇasī in a great family, one of abundant wealth and grain, with stores of many kinds of gems.
Approaching the Leader of the World as he sat with a great retinue, I heard the Dhamma, ravishing to the mind, as it were the deathless (amata).
Bearing the thirty-two marks, like the moon amid a fine constellation; endowed with the minor characteristics, like a royal sāla tree in full flower;
girt about with a net of rays, like a golden mountain ablaze; surrounded by a fathom-wide radiance, like the hundred-rayed maker of day;
his countenance of gold, the excellent Victor, like a delightful mountain of rock; his heart full of compassion, like the ocean in virtue;
his renown famed throughout the world, like Sineru, highest of mountains; the wise one spread abroad in glory, a sage like unto the sky;
his mind unattached in every circumstance, like the wind — the Leader; the support of all beings, like the great earth — the sage supreme;
unsullied by the world, as a lotus by water, he abode like a mass of fire, burning up the thicket of false doctrines;
like a healing remedy in every case, destroying the poison of the defilements (kilesa); adorned with the fragrance of virtues, like Mount Gandhamādana;
a mine of virtues, the wise one, as the ocean is of gems; and like the Sindhu, the thoroughbred among men, bearing away the stain of the defilements;
like a great warrior victorious, the crusher of Māra's army; like a wheel-turning king, sovereign over the jewels of the factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga);
like unto a great physician, the healer of the disease of hatred (dosa); like the finest surgeon, the lancer of the boil of views (diṭṭhi).
Then he, the lamp of the world, honored by men and immortals alike, a sun of men amid the assemblies — the Victor — taught the Dhamma:
"By giving gifts one comes to great wealth; by virtue one reaches a happy destination; and by meditative development (bhāvanā) one is quenched [in Nibbāna]" — even so did he instruct.
All the assemblies listened to that teaching of great relish, lovely in the beginning, the middle, and the end, as though to the deathless of great savor.
Having heard the Dhamma so sweet, and gaining confidence in the Victor's dispensation, I went to the Sugata for refuge and paid homage to him for as long as life lasted.
Then, on eight days in the month, I rubbed the ground of the Sage's perfumed chamber (gandhakuṭi) with perfume of the four ingredients,
aspiring to fragrance for this body which was devoid of fragrance. Then the Victor declared the winning of a sweet-scented body:
"He who once anointed the ground of the perfumed chamber with scent — by the ripening of that kamma, wherever he is reborn,
this man will everywhere be sweet-scented of body; possessed of the fragrance of virtues, he will attain final Nibbāna, free of taints (āsava)."
By that deed well done, and by volition and aspiration, on abandoning the human body I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
And now, in my final existence, I was born in a family of brahmins; while I dwelt in her womb, my mother was sweet-scented of body.
And when I came forth from my mother's womb, then the city of Sāvatthi breathed fragrance as though perfumed with every scent;
and a fragrant rain of flowers, delightful heavenly scent, and incenses of great price wafted their fragrance at that very moment.
And the devas perfumed with sweet fragrance — with every scent, with incense and flowers — that house in which I was born.
And when I was a goodly youth, standing in the first prime of life, then the charioteer of men, having guided the rest together with their following,
came to the city of Sāvatthi accompanied by them all. Then, seeing that majesty of the Buddha, I went forth.
Having developed the four dhammas — virtue, concentration, wisdom, and unsurpassed liberation (vimutti) — I attained the destruction of the taints.
When I went forth, and when I became an arahant, and when I shall be finally quenched — then there was a rain of fragrance.
And the scent of my body, supreme, surpasses
precious sandalwood, campaka, and lotus;
and likewise, wherever I have gone, it wafts,
overpowering all other scents entirely.
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 the best of Buddhas! 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), and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Cūḷasugandha uttered these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Cūḷasugandha is concluded.
Summary (uddāna):
Bhaddiya, the Elder Revata, and Sīvali of great gains; Vaṅgīsa and Nandaka too; Kāḷudāyī, and likewise Abhaya;
Lomasa and Vanavaccha; and Sugandha is made the tenth. Three hundred verses are therein, with sixteen over and above.
The Bhaddiya Chapter, the Fifty-fifth.
Now the summary of the chapters:
The chapter called Kaṇikāra, the Phalada, the Tiṇadāyaka, the Kaccāna, and the Bhaddiya chapter — the verses thereof have been counted:
nine hundred verses and eighty-four; and five hundred and fifty-six apadānas have been set forth.
Together with the summary verses these come to six thousand and two hundred verses, with eighteen over and above.
Thus far the Apadāna of the Buddhas, the Apadāna of the Paccekabuddhas, and the Apadāna of the Elders are concluded.
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THE APADĀNA OF THE THERĪS (Therī-apadāna)
The First Chapter: the Sumedhā Chapter
First, the Apadāna of Sumedhā the Therī (1)
Now hear the apadānas of the therīs.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.