The Sambuddha named Sumedha,
Chief, Compassionate One, the Sage,
the World’s Chief, Seclusion-Lover,
came up to the Himalayas.Plunged into the Himalayas,
Sumedha, Leader of the World,
the Ultimate Person, sat down,
getting into lotus posture.Sumedha, Leader of the World,
his meditative state attained,
the Ultimate Person, Buddha,
sat there for seven nights and days.Taking a carrying pole-load,
I too plunged into the forest.
There I saw him, the Sambuddha,
Flood-Crosser, the Undefiled One.After having picked up a broom,
I then swept out the hermitage.
Fixing sticks in the four corners,
I made him a pavilion then.Bringing flowers from a sal tree,
I then covered the pavilion.
Happy, with pleasure in my heart,
I worshipped him, the Thus-Gone-One.The one whom they call “Sumedha,”
Very Wise and Intelligent,
seated in the monks’ Assembly,
spoke these verses about me then:Knowing that Buddha would speak, the
gods all came together, thinking,
“the Best Buddha, the Eyeful One,
will doubtlessly preach the Dhamma.”The Sambuddha named Sumedha,
Sacrificial Recipient,
seated in the gods’ assembly,
spoke these verses about me then:“Who for a week did bear for me
a sal-bloom-covered pavilion,
I shall relate details of him;
all of you listen to my words:Born as a god or as a man,
he will be the color of gold.
Being one with abundant wealth,
he’ll feast on sensual pleasures.Then sixty thousand elephants,
decked out in all the ornaments,
mātaṅgas with gold headdresses,
clothed in harnessing made of gold,mounted by elephant-trainers
with lances and goads in hand,
will come to be owned by this man,
and attend him evening and morn.
Surrounded by those elephants,
this man will delight in the world.Sixty thousand horses as well,
decked out in all the ornaments,
thoroughbreds of good pedigree,
horses from Sindh, fast vehicles,mounted by trainers of horses
carrying bows and one-edged swords,
will constantly wait on this man:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Sixty thousand chariots too,
decked out in all the ornaments,
covered in the skins of leopards
and likewise tigers, flags hoisted,mounted by animal-trainers
wearing armor with bows in hand,
will constantly wait on this man:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.And sixty thousand villages,
completely full in all regards,rich in grain and abundant wealth,
altogether magnificent,
will appear for him all the time:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.The four-part army: elephant,
horse, chariot and foot-soldier,
will constantly wait on this man:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.For eighteen hundred aeons he
will delight in the world of gods.
A thousand times he’ll be a king,
a king who turns the wheel of law.During that time three hundred times
he will exercise divine rule,
and there will be much local rule,
innumerable by counting.After thirty 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.”Thirty thousand aeons ago
I saw the Leader of the World.
In all the time from then to now,
I was seeking the deathless state.The gain for me was well-received,
that I knew the dispensation.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught!Praise to you, O Well-Bred Person!
Praise to you, Ultimate Person!
After having praised your knowledge,
I’ve now attained the deathless state.In whichever womb I’m reborn,
whether it’s human or divine,
I am happy in every place,
the fruit of my praising knowledge.This is the final time for me;
my last rebirth is proceeding.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.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 Bhaddāli Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Bhaddāli Thera is finished.