Piyadassi, the Blessed One,
the Self-Become One, World-Leader,
Solitude-Lover, Sambuddha,
Skilled in Meditation, was Sage.Entering a grove in the woods,
Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,
spreading out his robe made of rags,
sat down, the Ultimate Person.I was a deer-hunter back then,
within a grove in the forest.
I was wandering around back
then, searching for a spotted deer.Then I saw the Sambuddha there,
Flood-Crosser, the Undefiled One,
like a regal sal tree in bloom,
like the risen hundred-rayed sun.Having seen him, the God of Gods,
Piyadassi, the Great-Famed One,
entering a natural lake,
I brought some lotuses back then.After bringing those lotuses,
hundred-petaled and beautiful,
having built a gabled hut, I
then covered it with lotuses.Pitier, Compassionate One,
Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,
seven nights and days the Buddha,
Victor, dwelt in that gabled hut.Throwing out the old lotuses,
I covered it with new ones then.
I stood there for that entire time,
hands pressed together in worship.RIsing up from meditation,
Piyadassi, the Sage So Great,
looking out in all directions
the Leader of the World sat down.At that time Sudassana was
Buddha’s powerful attendant.
Knowing the thoughts of the Buddha,
of Piyadassi, the Teacher,
surrounded by accomplished monks
whose number was eighty thousand,
he went up to the World-Leader,
seated happily in the woods.All the gods who were residing
throughout that grove in the forest,
knowing the thoughts of the Buddha,
then assembled together there.When the spirits, the kumbhaṇḍas
and the demons came together,
and the monks’ Assembly arrived,
the Victor uttered these verses:“He who worshipped me for a week
and made a residence for me,
I shall relate details of him;
all of you listen to my words:I shall relate through my knowledge
what’s very hard to point out, deep,
very subtle and well-explained;
all of you listen to my words:For fourteen aeons this one will
exercise rule over the gods.
They will carry up in the sky
a lofty gabled hut for him,
well-covered with lotus flowers:
that’s the fruit of former karma.For twenty-four hundred aeons
he will transmigrate here and there.
A flying mansion made of blooms
will be carried in the sky there.Just as water does not stick to
the surface of a lotus-leaf,
so defilements do not stick to
a possessor of this knowledge.This one, after shattering the
five obstacles with his own mind,
giving birth to the intention,
setting out from home he’ll renounce;
after that the floral mansion
will set forth too, being carried.When he’s dwelling beneath a tree,
or when his mindfulness is sharp,
there that mansion made of flowers
will be carried over his head.Having given robes and alms-food,
requisites and dwelling places
to the Assembly of the monks,
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”Through actions with the gabled hut,
I went forth to ordination;
when I’m dwelling beneath a tree,
the gabled hut’s carried for me.Intentions don’t exist in me
for getting robes or food as alms.
In connection with my karma,
I get both already prepared.I’ve lived many million aeons,
innumerable by counting.
They’ve elapsed for me emptily;
the World-Leaders have been set free.Eighteen hundred aeons ago
lived the Guide named Piyadassi.
Having served him attentively,
I came into this present womb.Here I saw Sambuddha named
Anoma, the One with Five Eyes.
Having then gone up to him, I
went forth into the homeless life.The Buddha, Ender of Dis-ease,
the Victor preached the path to me.
Having listened to his Teaching,
I realized the deathless state.Having pleased him, the Sambuddha,
Gotama, Bull of the Śākyas,
knowing well all the defilements,
I am now living, undefiled.In the eighteen hundred aeons
since I worshipped the Buddha then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
All defilements are exhausted;
now there will be no more rebirth.My being in Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught!The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!
Thus indeed Venerable Padumakūṭāgāriya Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Padumakūṭāgāriya Thera is finished.