[18] In the city of Haṃsavatī I was then a farmer;
I made my living by farming, and by it I supported my children.
My field at that time was flourishing; my grain had come to ear.
When the very time of ripening arrived, I thought thus:
"It is not fitting for me, not proper — for one who knows what is worthy and what is not —
that I, without giving to the Saṅgha, should eat the first fruits myself.
The Fully Awakened One, without equal in the world, bearing the thirty-two excellent marks,
and the Saṅgha developed under him, an unsurpassed field of merit (puññakkhetta) —
therein I shall give a gift, the new crop, before all else."
Having thought thus, delighted, my mind filled with rapture (pīti),
I brought grain from the field and approached the Fully Awakened One;
and having approached the Fully Awakened One, the Eldest of the world, the Bull among men,
having paid homage at the Teacher's feet, I spoke these words:
"The new crop has come to perfection, and you, O Sage, are present here.
Out of compassion, consent to accept, O One with Vision."
Padumuttara, the knower of the world, the recipient of oblations,
understanding my intention, spoke these words:
"The four who are practicing and the four established in the fruits —
this is the Saṅgha, upright, endowed with wisdom, virtue, and concentration.
For humans who make offerings, for living beings who look for merit,
making merit that accumulates, what is given to the Saṅgha bears great fruit;
and to that Saṅgha your crop should be given, and other things likewise.
Having had bhikkhus designated from the Saṅgha and led them to your own house,
give to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus what stands prepared in the house."
Having had bhikkhus designated from the Saṅgha, I led the bhikkhus to my house
and gave to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus what I had prepared in my house.
By that deed well done and by the resolve of my intention,
on abandoning the human body I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
There I had a well-wrought mansion, golden and brilliantly shining,
sixty yojanas in height and thirty yojanas in breadth.
The Nineteenth Recitation Section (bhāṇavāra).
My dwelling was crowded, thronged with companies of women;
there, eating and drinking, I dwelt among the Thirty (Tidasa).
Thirty hundred times I exercised kingship over the devas,
and five hundred times I exercised kingship over the devas.
Five hundred times I was a universal monarch (cakkavatti),
and extensive regional kingship was mine, incalculable by count.
Wandering on from existence to existence, I obtain measureless wealth;
I have no lack of enjoyments — this is the fruit of the new crop.
Elephant carriages, horse carriages, palanquins and chariots —
I obtain all of this: this is the fruit of the new crop.
New cloth, new fruit, and food of new and choicest flavor —
I obtain all of this: this is the fruit of the new crop.
Silk and woolens, linen and cotton —
I obtain all of this: this is the fruit of the new crop.
Companies of female slaves, companies of male slaves, and women finely adorned —
I obtain all of this: this is the fruit of the new crop.
Neither cold nor heat afflicts me; no burning distress is found in me;
and no mental suffering (dukkha) is found in my heart.
"Eat this, partake of this, lie upon this bed" —
I obtain all of this: this is the fruit of the new crop.
This now is the last; my final existence is under way;
even today my offering (deyyadhamma) gladdens me at all times.
Having given the new crop to the Saṅgha, the most excellent of communities,
I experience eight benefits (ānisaṃsa) befitting my deed (kamma):
I am of fine complexion and of fame; I am of great wealth, untouched by calamity;
I always have food in abundance; my following is at all times undivided;
all who dwell upon the earth pay me honor;
and whatever offering there may be, I receive it first of all.
Whether in the midst of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus or face to face with the supreme Buddha,
donors pass over all others and give to me alone.
Because I first gave the new crop to the Saṅgha, the supreme community,
I experience these benefits — this is the fruit of the new crop.
In the hundred-thousandth aeon from now, because of the gift I gave then,
I know of no bad destination (duggati) — this is the fruit of the new crop.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned away; all existences have been rooted out;
like an elephant that has burst its bonds, I dwell free of taints (āsava).
Truly welcome 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 likewise these eight liberations (vimokkha),
and the six superknowledges (abhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Sucintita spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Sucintita is concluded.
The Ninth: the Apadāna of the Elder Soṇṇakiṅkaṇiya (429)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.