[2]
On the bank of the river Candabhāgā my hermitage was well made,
strewn with pure white sand, and a leaf-hut well constructed.
The little river, its banks gently shelving, with lovely fords, delightful,
abounded in fish and turtles and was frequented by crocodiles.
Bears, peacocks, and leopards, karavīka birds and mynahs —
these cry out at all times, adorning my hermitage.
Sweet-voiced cuckoos and geese of melodious call
warble there, adorning my hermitage.
Lions, tigers, and boars, herons, wolves, and hyenas
roar in the mountain fastness, adorning my hermitage.
Eṇi-antelopes and sarabha deer, jackals and swine in numbers
cry out in the mountain fastness, adorning my hermitage.
Uddālaka and campaka trees, pāṭalī and sinduvārikā,
adhimutta and asoka trees — they adorn my hermitage.
Aṅkola trees and yūthikā jasmine, sattapaṇṇa and bimbijālikā,
kaṇikā and kaṇikāra blossom in my hermitage.
Nāga trees, sālas, and salaḷas, and puṇḍarīka here in flower,
wafting divine fragrances, are resplendent in my hermitage.
Assattha and asana trees here, and mahānāma in bloom,
sāla trees and kaṅgu blossoms are resplendent in my hermitage.
Mango and jambu and tilaka, nipa and sālakalyāṇī,
wafting divine fragrances, adorn my hermitage.
Asoka and kapiṭṭha trees and bhaginimālā in bloom,
wafting divine fragrances, adorn my hermitage.
Kadamba trees and plantains and isimugga, planted there,
constantly bear their fruits, adorning my hermitage.
Harītaka and āmalaka, mango, jambu, and vibhītaka,
kola, bhallātaka, and bella bear fruit in my hermitage.
Not far off is a lotus-pond with lovely fords, delightful,
covered over with mandālaka flowers, with paduma lotuses and uppala water-lilies.
Some lotuses are forming buds, others bloom with filaments spread,
and some, their petals fallen, pericarps bared, bloom in my hermitage.
Pāṭhīna and pāvusa fish, valaja, muñja, and rohita,
gliding in the clear water, adorn my hermitage.
Nayita trees, mango-fragrant, and ketakas along the bank,
wafting divine fragrances, adorn my hermitage.
Honey streams from the lotus stalks, milk and ghee from the lotus roots;
wafting divine fragrances, they adorn my hermitage.
There beautiful sands lie strewn about, washed by the water;
strewn with fallen blossoms and blooming white flowers, they adorn my hermitage.
Laden with masses of matted locks, wearing antelope-hide as upper garment,
all clad in robes of bark-fibre, [the ascetics] adorn my hermitage.
Looking no further than a yoke's length before them, prudent, of peaceful conduct,
without longing for the greed of sensual pleasures, they dwell in my hermitage.
With armpit-hair, nails, and body-hair grown long, with grimy teeth and dust-covered heads,
all bearing dust and dirt, they dwell in my hermitage.
Attained to perfection in the superknowledges (abhiññā), coursing through the air,
soaring up into the sky, these adorn my hermitage.
Surrounded by those pupils, I dwelt then in the woodland;
absorbed in delight in meditative absorption (jhāna), I knew not night from day.
At that time the Blessed One Atthadassī, the great sage,
the Leader of the World, arose, destroying the darkness of gloom.
Then a certain pupil came into my presence,
wishing to study the mantras and the science of marks called the Six Limbs (chaḷaṅga).
A Buddha had arisen in the world — Atthadassī, the great sage;
making known the four truths, he taught the deathless state.
Glad, joyful, and elated, my heart's resolve gone into the fold of the Dhamma,
I came out from the hermitage and spoke these words:
"A Buddha has arisen in the world, bearing the thirty-two excellent marks!
Come, let us all go into the presence of the Fully Self-Enlightened One."
Responsive to instruction, gone to perfection in the true Dhamma (saddhamma),
seekers of the supreme goal, they assented, saying, "It is well!"
Laden with masses of matted locks, wearing antelope-hide as upper garment,
seeking the supreme goal, they then departed from the forest.
At that time the Blessed One Atthadassī, of great renown,
making known the four truths, taught the deathless state.
Taking a white parasol, I held it over the supreme Buddha;
having held it for a single day, I paid homage to the supreme Buddha.
Then the Blessed One Atthadassī, the Eldest of the World, the Bull among Men,
seated amid the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, spoke these verses:
"He who, with confident heart, held the parasol over me with his own hands —
him I shall proclaim. Listen to my words.
When he is born, whether in a divine state or among humans,
they will always hold a parasol over him: this is the fruit of the gift of a parasol.
For seventy-seven aeons (kappa) he will delight in the world of devas,
and a thousand times he will be a king, a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti).
And seventy-seven times he will exercise kingship among the devas,
and [wield] extensive regional kingship, incalculable by count.
In the eighteen-hundredth aeon, Gotama, bull of the Sakyans,
the One with Vision (cakkhumā), will arise, destroying the darkness of gloom.
He will be an heir in that one's teachings, a true-born son formed by the Dhamma;
having fully understood all the taints (āsava), he will attain Nibbāna, free from taints."
Since the time I did that deed — held the parasol over the Buddha —
throughout that interval I know of no white parasol left unheld [over me].
This is my very last; my final existence is now proceeding;
even today the holding of a parasol over my head continues, constant for all time.
Oh, the deed well done by me for Atthadassī, the Steadfast One (tādī)!
All taints are utterly destroyed; now there is no renewed existence.
My defilements (kilesa) are burnt up; all existences are uprooted;
like an elephant that has burst its bonds, I dwell free from taints.
Welcome indeed was my coming into the presence of my Buddha!
The three true knowledges (vijjā) have been attained; the Buddha's teaching (sāsana) has been done.
The four analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) too,
and the six superknowledges have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed did the Venerable Elder Ekachattiya speak these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Ekachattiya is concluded.
The Apadāna of the Elder Tiṇasūlakachādaniya, the Third (413)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.