The Victor Padumuttara
the Self-Become One, Best Person,
did dwell in Cittakūṭa then,
in front of the Himalayas.I was then the king of beasts there,
fearlessly going on all fours.
Hearing the voice of that Buddha
many folks were assembling then.Picking up a blooming lotus
I approached him, the Bull of Men,
and gave it to the Buddha when
he’d risen from meditation.I worshipped from four directions
the Best Buddha, Ultimate Man
and bringing pleasure to my heart
I then roared out a lion’s roar.Padumuttara, World-Knower,
Sacrificial Recipient,
sitting down on his own seat then
uttered these verses about me:Knowing that Buddha would speak, the
gods all came together, thinking,
“the Best One, the Buddha has come;
let us listen to his Teaching.”The World-Chief, the Far-Seeing One,
the Great Sage Buddha then explained
the meaning of my roar before
those gods overcome with laughter.“I shall relate details of him
who gave me this lotus flower
and who has roared a lion’s roar;
all of you listen to my words:Eight aeons in the future he
will be a wheel-turning monarch,
possessor of the seven gems,
a lord of the four continents.He then will reign over the earth
for four more than sixty lifetimes.
He will be known as Paduma,
a wheel-turning king with great strength.In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama,
will be the Teacher in the world.This one will be a brahmin when
the Buddha’s words are broadcast then.
Leaving behind his brahmin-ness,
he’ll go forth in the Buddhist way.Being one bent on exertion,
calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth,
knowing well all the defilements,
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.Though of a frightful clan of beasts
living in the deepest forest,
knowing well all the defilements,
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.Being in Best 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 Piṇḍola-Bhāradvāja Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Piṇḍola-Bhāradvāja Thera is finished.