[73] Having plunged into a lotus pond frequented by elephants of many kinds,
I pulled up lotus roots there; at that time it was for the sake of food.
At that time the Blessed One named Padumuttara,
the Buddha, wearing a red woolen robe, was passing along the pathway of the wind.
As he was shaking out his rag-robes (paṃsukūla), I heard the sound then;
gazing upward, I beheld the Leader of the World.
Standing right there, I entreated the Leader of the World:
"Honey is flowing from the lotus roots, milk and ghee from the lotus stalks;
may the Buddha, the One with Vision (cakkhumā), accept it from me out of compassion."
Then the compassionate Teacher, of great fame, descended,
and, the One with Vision, he accepted my alms out of compassion;
having accepted it, the Fully Awakened One expressed his appreciation (anumodanā) to me:
"Be happy, O one of great merit! May your destination (gati) be fulfilled!
By this gift of lotus roots, may you obtain abundant happiness."
Having spoken thus, the Fully Awakened One whose name is that of the supreme water-born flower [Padumuttara],
the Fully Awakened One, the Victor (jina), took the alms and departed through the sky.
Then, taking the lotus roots, I came back to my hermitage;
having hung the lotus roots upon a tree, I recollected my gift.
Then a great wind arose and shook the forest;
the sky resounded as the thunderbolt crashed.
Then that thunderbolt fell down upon my head;
and seated right there, on that very spot I met my death.
Conjoined with my meritorious deed (puññakamma), I arose in Tusita;
my corpse fell away, while I delighted in the world of the gods.
Eighty-six thousand women, fully adorned,
attended upon me evening and morning: this is the fruit of the gift of lotus roots (bhisadāna).
Coming to the human womb, I was happy then;
of wealth I had no lack: this is the fruit of the gift of lotus roots.
Shown compassion by him, the God of Gods (devadeva), the Stable One (tādī),
I have all taints (āsava) utterly destroyed; now there is no renewed existence (punabbhava).
A hundred thousand eons (kappa) from the present, because of the alms that I gave then,
I know of no bad destination: this is the fruit of the gift of lotus roots.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burned away; all existences (bhava) have been extirpated;
like an elephant that has sundered its bonds, I dwell without taints.
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 analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā), and also these eight liberations (vimokkha),
the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Elder Bhisadāyaka spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of the Elder Bhisadāyaka is concluded.
The Fourth: The Apadāna of the Elder Ñāṇatthavika (484)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.