buddha daily wisdom image

tha-ap.17 Thera Apadana

Pilindavaccha

When the World-Leader Sumedha,
the Best Person, reached nirvana,
with a pleased heart and happy mind
I did pūjā to his stupa.

Gathering together there those
whose defilements had been destroyed,
special knowledges, superpowers,
I gave the monks’ Assembly a meal.

At that time I also waited
on Sumedha the Blessed One.
He who was known as Sumedha
then provided his thanks to me.

Due to the pleasure in my heart
I‘m born in a divine mansion.
Eight-six thousand divine nymphs
delighted me in that mansion.

They submitted only to me,
with every pleasure constantly.
I surpassed all the other gods;
that is the fruit of good karma.

In the twenty-fifth aeon thence
I was the king named Varuṇa.
I was then a wheel-turning king
endowed with extra special food.

They did not have to plant the seed
nor did they need to yoke the plough;
all the folks were able to feed
on rice uncooked with firewood.

After reigning there in that way
I went back to the divine state.
Then too in that same way for me
success in food came into being.

No living being, friend or foe
is doing any harm to me.
I am beloved of them all;
that is the fruit of good karma.

In the thirty thousand aeons
since I provided that gift then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;
that’s the fruit of scented ointment.

In this present lucky aeon
one time I was the lord of men.
I was a wheel-turning king then
of great majesty and power.

I established many people
in the five moral precepts then
and made them achieve good rebirths;
I was beloved of the gods.

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!

Thus indeed Venerable Pilindavaccha Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pilindavaccha Thera is finished.

- Translator: Jonathan S. Walters

- Editor: Ayya Vimala