The Victor, Padumuttara,
Lust-less, Unconquered Vanquisher,
the Leader came into being,
one hundred thousand aeons hence.The Hero, with Lotus-Leaf Eyes,
with a Mouth as Pure as the Moon,
Shining like a Mountain of Gold,
Bright as the Sun when it’s Blazing,Transporting Beings’ Eyes and Minds,
Adorned with the Excellent Marks,
Traveled the Roads of All Sayings,
Honored by People and the Gods,Sambuddha, waking beings up,
Eloquent One, Sweet-Sounding One,
Compassion’s Continuous Nest,
Confident among Multitudes,
is preaching the sweet Teaching there,
taking up the Four Noble Truths.
He is lifting up those with breath,
when they’re sunk in delusion’s muck.Being an ascetic, alone,
my home was Himalaya then.
I saw the Victor, traveling
the world of humans through the sky.Having gone into his presence,
I then heard him preaching Dhamma
and praising the great virtue of
one of that Hero’s followers:“Whereby this monk Kaccāyana
provides lengthy explanations
of what’s been said by me in brief,
he gladdens multitudes, and me.
I see no other follower
or anyone preaching this way.
Thus he’s top, in that foremost place;
so should you consider him, monks.”At that time, being astonished,
having heard that lovely speaking,
going to the Himalayas,
bringing back a heap of flowers,
having worshipped the World’s-Refuge,
I aspired to attain that place.
At that time, discerning my wish,
the Refuge-less One prophesied:“All of you, look at this great sage,
skin the color of polished gold,
hair growing upward, broad-shouldered,
standing steadfast, hands together,
with eyes which are full of laughter,
at home in praising the Buddha,
grasping the Teaching superbly,
resembling sprinkled ambrosia.Hearing of Kaccāna’s virtue,
he stands there wishing for that place.
When very far in the future,
the Sage So Great is Gotama,
Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
this one will be that Teacher’s follower;
his name will be Kaccāna then.Very learned, with great knowledge,
clever at conclusions, a sage,
he will attain that wished-for place,
as this has been foretold by me.”In the hundred thousand aeons
since I did that karma back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.I transmigrate in just two states:
that of a god, or of a man.
I don’t go to other rebirths:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.When human I‘m born in two clans:
the kṣatriyan or the brahmin.
I don’t get born in lesser clans:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Now, in my final existence,
I was born in Ujjain city,
sharp, a master of the Vedas,
the son of Tiriṭivaccha,
who was the brahmin counsellor
of the king, Pajjota Caṇḍa;
my mother’s Candapaduma;
I’m Kaccāna, with superb skin.Dispatched by the earth’s protector
to go and invite the Buddha,
having seen the Heap of Virtue,
Leader, Door to Freedom City,
and having heard his flawless speech
which cleanses the muck of rebirth,
I attained deathless peacefulness,
with five hundred associates.Clever at conclusions by birth,
very wealthy and good-looking,
I was placed in that foremost place
of the Well-Gone-One, the Wise One.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 Mahākaccāna Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Mahākaccāna Thera is finished.