[78] Now the Blessed One Atthadassī, the Self-Existent One (Sayambhū), the Leader of the World, the Tathāgata, came to the bank of the river Vinatā.
Coming up out of the water, I — a tortoise whose range was the water — wishing to ferry the Buddha across, approached the Leader of the World:
"Let the Buddha Atthadassī, the Great Sage, mount upon me! I shall carry you across: you are the maker of the end of suffering (dukkha)."
Knowing my intention, Atthadassī of great fame, the Leader of the World, mounted upon my back and stood there.
From the time I could first remember myself, from the time I reached the age of discretion, no happiness of mine was ever such as when the soles of his feet touched me.
Having crossed over, the Fully Enlightened One Atthadassī, of great fame, standing upon the river bank, spoke these verses:
"In but the time a thought takes to occur I cross the stream of the Gaṅgā; yet this king of tortoises, possessed of merit, ferries me across.
By this ferrying of the Buddha across, and through his possessing a mind of loving-kindness (mettā), for eighteen hundred aeons (kappa) he will delight in the heavenly world.
Having come here from the heavenly world, urged on by his wholesome roots, seated on a single seat he will cross the stream of doubt (kaṅkhā)."
Just as even a little seed sown in a good field, when the rain duly pours down its torrent, gladdens the farmers with its fruit,
even so is this Buddha-field, taught by the Fully Self-Enlightened One: when the torrent is duly bestowed, its fruit will gladden me.
I am one resolute in striving (padhāna), calmed, free from acquisitions (nirūpadhi); having fully understood all taints (āsava), I dwell without taints.
Eighteen hundred aeons ago I did that deed: since then I know of no bad destination — this is the fruit of the ferrying-across.
My defilements (kilesa) have been burnt up; all existences (bhava) have been eradicated; 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 analytic insights (paṭisambhidā), and these eight liberations (vimokkha) as well, and the six superknowledges (chaḷabhiññā) have been realized; the Buddha's teaching has been done.
Thus indeed the Venerable Taraṇiya the Elder spoke these verses.
The Apadāna of Taraṇiya the Elder is concluded.
The Ninth: the Apadāna of Dhammaruci the Elder (489)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.