The Victor, Padumuttara,
the One with Eyes for everything,
the One who had Five Eyes, arose
a hundred thousand aeons hence.I then lived in Haṁsavatī,
a millionaire’s son, very rich.
While wandering about on foot,
I went to the monks’ hermitage.At that time, the Torch for the World,
the Leader was preaching Dhamma.
He heaped praised on a follower,
distinguished among the sweet-voiced.After hearing that, being thrilled,
I did a deed for the Great Sage.
Having worshipped the Teacher’s feet,
I aspired to attain that place.Then amidst the monks’ Assembly,
the Buddha, the Guide, prophesied:
“Very far into the future,
he’ll receive that delightful place.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,
the one whose name is Bhaddiya
will be the Teacher’s follower.”Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.Then ninety-two aeons ago,
the Leader named Phussa arose,
Hard to Approach, Hard to Subdue,
Supreme in All Worlds, the Victor.He was Endowed with Good Conduct,
Lofty, Upright and Majestic,
Wishing Well for every being,
he freed many folks from bondage.I was then a speckled cuckoo,
in his fine hermitage, “Nanda.”
I’m living in a mango tree,
near Phussa Buddha’s perfumed hut.Having seen the Supreme Victor,
Worthy of Gifts, going for alms,
bringing pleasure to my own heart,
I cried out with a sweet tone then.Then going to the royal park,
taking a cluster of mangoes,
very ripe, with gold-colored skin,
I brought them to the Sambuddha.Then knowing my heart, the Victor,
with Great Compassion, the Leader,
took his bowl for accepting alms
from the hand of his attendant.“Happy-hearted I’m giving the
Great Sage a mango-cluster placed
in the bowl with both my wings pressed
in praise,” I cried with a sweet tone,
a sound delightful to the ears,
worth hearing, very beautiful,
for the sake of Buddha-pūjā,
then going to my nest laid down.Then a hawk with an evil mind,
after flying up slaughtered me,
loving-kindness in my heart, my
wishes turned to love of Buddha.Fallen from there, in Tusitā,
having enjoyed great happiness,
I came into a human womb ,
through the power of that karma.In this present lucky aeon
Brahmā’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
named Kassapa through his lineage,
Best Debater, Buddha, arose.Lighting up the dispensation,
overcoming evil rivals,
instructing the instruct-able, he
reached nirvana, with followers.When the World-Chief reached nirvana,
a numerous multitude, pleased,
are building the Teacher’s stupa,
in order to worship Buddha.They counseled one another thus:
“Let’s build for him, the Sage So Great,
a stupa that’s seven leagues tall,
adorned with all the seven gems.”As the leader of the army
of the king of Kāsi, Kiki,
I spoke of a trifling measure,
as the measure of the stupa.At that time, because of my word,
they built a stupa one league tall
for him the Hero among Men,
which was adorned with varied gems.Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.And now, in my final rebirth,
I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,
rich, prosperous, very wealthy,
in the great city, Śrāvasti.At the city’s entrance seeing
the Buddha, my mind astonished,
going forth, in not a long time,
I attained my arahantship.Due to the karma of making
the stupa’s measure smaller,
I’m born with a dwarfish body,
which is worthy of disrespect.Having worshipped the Seventh Sage
with a sound which was honey-sweet,
I attained the top place among
the monks with voices that are sweet.Due to giving the Buddha fruit,
and my conforming with virtue,
endowed with the fruit of monkhood,
I am now living, undefiled.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 Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Lakuṇṭakabhaddiya Thera is finished.