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tha-ap.186 Thera Apadana

Pañcahatthiya

The Blessed One known as Tissa
was the World’s Best, the Bull of Men;
Honored by the monks’ Assembly,
he went out onto the highway.

Wishing to give an offering
to achieve my vow, I picked up
five handfuls of lotus blossoms
and four more handfuls placed by me.

Delighted by the Buddha’s rays,
I gave them to the Best Biped,
the Golden-Colored Sambuddha
who was walking through the bazaar.

In the ninety-two aeons since
I offered those flowers to him,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

In the thirtieth aeon hence
there were five Subhāsammatās,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength,
possessors of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Pañcahatthiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pañcahatthiya Thera is finished.

- Translator: Jonathan S. Walters

- Editor: Ayya Vimala