[72] I was a Vedic reciter, a bearer of the hymns, one gone to the far shore of the three Vedas, versed in the marks (lakkhaṇa) and the ancient histories (itihāsa), together with the lexicons (nighaṇḍu) and the rituals (keṭubha).
Pupils came to me then like the stream of a river; unwearied by day and by night, I taught them the hymns.
Just then the Fully Awakened One named Siddhattha arose in the world; having dispelled the darkness of gloom, he set flowing the light of knowledge (ñāṇa).
A certain pupil of mine spoke of it to my pupils; and they, having heard of this matter, then informed me:
"A Buddha has arisen in the world, the All-Knowing One, the Leader of the World." The people follow after him; no gain will be found for me.
Buddhas are of rare arising, endowed with vision, of great glory; what if I were to see the Best of Buddhas, the Leader of the World?
Taking my antelope hide, my garment of bark, and my water pot, I went out from the hermitage and addressed my pupils:
"Like the flower of the udumbara fig, like the hare in the moon, like milk from crows — so hard to find is a Leader of the World.
A Buddha has arisen in the world; even the human state is hard to gain; and when both are present, the hearing [of the Dhamma] is exceedingly hard to gain.
A Buddha has arisen in the world; we shall obtain the eye that shall be ours. Come, let us all go into the presence of the Perfectly Awakened One."
All bearing water pots, clad in rough antelope hides, laden with the burden of their matted locks, they then went forth from the great wood.
Looking no farther than a yoke's length ahead, seekers of the supreme goal, they came on like young bull-elephants, fearless as a maned lion.
Free from alarm, free from greed, prudent, of peaceful conduct, wandering for gleanings, they drew near to the Best of Buddhas.
At a place a yojana and a half away, illness arose in me; recollecting the Best of Buddhas, I died there.
It was ninety-four aeons ago from now that I then gained that perception (saññā); I know of no bad destination: this is the fruit of the perception of the Buddha.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned away; all existences have been extirpated; like an elephant that has burst its bonds, I dwell free of taints (āsava).
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), and the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Buddhasaññaka Thera spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of Buddhasaññaka Thera is concluded.
Third: the Apadāna of Bhisadāyaka Thera (483).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.