The River named Bhāgīrathī
is fed by the Himalayas.
It is always flowing along,
past the gate of Haṁsavatī.The hermitage named Sobhita,
well-built, is on the river’s slopes.
The Buddha, Padumuttara,
the World’s Leader, was dwelling there.He was honored the people,
like Indra by the thirty gods.
The Blessed One was seated there
fearlessly just like a lion.I was a brahmin living in
the city of Haṁsavatī.
My name back then was Chalaṇga,
named thus because I was a sage.One thousand eight hundred students
were surrounding me at that time.
Joined together with those students,
I went up to the riverbank.At that place I saw Buddhist monks,
without deceit, cleansed of evil,
crossing Bhāgīrathī River.
At that time I reflected thus:“These sons of Buddha, of great fame,
are crossing evening and morning;
they are being troubled themselves,
and their things are getting ruined.The Buddha’s said to be the Chief
of the world including the gods.
I have not yet made donations
that would cleanse my road to rebirth.Why then don’t I get a bridge built
on the river for Best Buddha?
Causing that work to be done, I’ll
transmigrate in this existence.”Donating a hundred thousand
I had a bridge built for him there,
trusting that “doing this deed will
be of great advantage to me.”Having caused that bridge to be built,
I went up to the World-Leader.
Hands pressed together on my head,
I spoke these words to him back then:“Donating one hundred thousand,
I’ve caused this magnificent bridge
to be constructed for your sake;
please accept it, O Sage So Great.”Padumuttara, World-Knower,
Sacrificial Recipient,
seated in the monks’ Assembly,
spoke these verses about me then:“He who had this bridge built for me,
feeling well-pleased by his own hands,
I shall relate details of him;
all of you listen to my words:Fallen into a cave or from
the top of a mountain or tree,
even dying he will get caught:
that’s the fruit of giving bridges.As the wind does not disturb a
banyan spreading its growing roots,
enemies will not defeat him:
that’s the fruit of giving bridges.No thieves are going to defeat him
and the king will not despise him.
He’ll surpass all his enemies:
that’s the fruit of giving bridges.Even in an unsheltered space,
being scorched by the sun’s harsh heat,
conforming with his good karma,
he won’t feel any discomfort.In the world of gods or of men,
a well-built elephant-carriage
all of the time will come to be,
discerning what he is thinking.A thousand fast carriages with
Sindh horses as quick as the wind
will come to him evening and morning:
that’s the fruit of giving bridges.Having come to the human state,
this one is going to be happy;
here too for this very man the
elephant-carriage will appear.In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
knowing well all the defilements
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.”O! that karma well-done by me
for him whose name is “Best Lotus.”
Having done that deed for him there,
I attained my arahantship.Having put forth exertion, I’m
calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth;
like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
All defilements are exhausted;
now there will be no more rebirth.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 Dhotaka Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Dhotaka Thera is finished.