buddha daily wisdom image

tha-ap.481 Thera Apadana

Pānadhidāyaka

Anomadassi, Blessed One,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
gone out during the siesta,
got on the road, the Eyeful One.

Taking a well-made pair of shoes,
I also went along the road.
There I saw him, the Sambuddha,
Carrying a Bowl, Good-Looking.

Bringing pleasure to my own heart,
taking out those shoes that I had,
placing them at the Buddha’s feet,
I spoke these words to him back then:

“Put on these shoes, O Sage So Great,
O Well-Gone-One, O Lord, O Guide.
I will receive the fruit from this;
let the purpose succeed for me!”

Anomadassi, Blessed One,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
after having put on those shoes,
spoke these words about me back then:

“This one who gave these shoes to me,
feeling well- pleased by his own hands,
I shall relate details of him;
all of you listen to my words:”

Knowing that Buddha would speak, the
gods all came together there then,
happy, stirred up with emotion,
thrilled, with their hands together.

“Due to this offering of shoes,
this one is going to be happy,
and fifty-five different times,
he will exercise divine rule.

A thousand times he’ll be a king,
a king who turns the wheel of law,
And there will be much local rule,
innumerable by counting.

Aeons beyond measure from now,
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.

Merit-filled, he’ll be reborn in
the world of the gods or of men;
he will receive vehicles, which
resemble divine vehicles.”

My palaces and palanquins,
ornamented elephants and
chariots yoked with thoroughbreds
are always appearing for me.

When I’m departing from the house,
I depart on a chariot.
When my hair was being cut off,
I attained my arahantship.

The gain for me was well-received,
that carefully hiring merchants,
then giving just one pair of shoes,
I’ve attained the unshaking state.

During aeons beyond measure
since I gave those shoes at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a pair of shoes.

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 Pānadhidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pānadhidāyaka Thera is finished.

- Translator: Jonathan S. Walters

- Editor: Ayya Vimala