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tha-ap.199 Thera Apadana

Tindukadāyaka

Traveling a bad mountain road,
I was a monkey, strong and fast.
Seeing wild mangosteen in fruit,
I called to mind the Best Buddha.

Going forth for several days,
cheerful, with pleasure in my heart
I sought the Leader of the World,
Siddhattha, the Three-Worlds-Ender.

Realizing that thought of mine,
the Teacher, Supreme in the World,
came into my vicinity
with one thousand free of outflows.

Generating great delight then,
I approached him with fruit in hand.
The Blessed One accepted it,
the Omniscient, Best Debater.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave him that fruit at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a gift of fruit.

In the fifty-seventh aeon
there was one named Upananda,
a wheel-turning king with great strength,
possessor 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 Tindukadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Tindukadāyaka Thera is finished.

- Translator: Jonathan S. Walters

- Editor: Ayya Vimala