The Sambuddha named Sumedha,
Bearing the Thirty-two Great Marks,
Seclusion-Lover, Blessed One,
came up to the Himalayas.Plunged into the Himalayas,
the Chief, Compassionate, the Sage,
getting into lotus posture,
sat down, the Ultimate Person.I was a sorcerer back then,
one who could travel through the sky;
taking my well-gone trident I
was going through the sky right there.Like fire burning on a mountain,
like the moon on the fifteenth day,
the Buddha blazed forth in the woods,
like a regal sal tree in bloom.Coming down from atop the woods,
the Buddha’s rays filled all of space,
with the color of a reed-fire.
Seeing that, I pleased my own heart.Wandering, I saw a flower,
a dinner-plate with divine scent.
Carrying three of those flowers,
I offered them to the Buddha.Through Buddha’s majestic power,
just then those three flowers of mine,
stems turned upward, petals downward,
they’re making shade for the Teacher.Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then.There my well-constructed mansion
was known by the name “Dinner-Plate.”
It measured sixty leagues in length,
and it was thirty leagues in width.A hundred thousand pinnacles,
a mil-kaṇḍa cent-bheṇḍu large,
made of gold, covered in flags,
appeared for me on that mansion.Palanquins made out of crystal,
made of gold or made of gemstones,
and also made out of rubies,
go where I wish if I should wish.And there was an expensive bed,
which had an assembled mattress,
with a wool blanket on one end,
and furnished with lots of pillows.Going out from the palace, I’m
wandering in divine travels,
going according to my wish,
honored by the gods’ assembly.I stand on flowers underneath;
a canopy is above me.
A hundred leagues on every side
is covered with dinner-plate trees.There sixty thousand instruments
wait on me evening and morning.
They’re attending me constantly,
by night and day they’re not lazy.I delight in play and pleasures;
desiring desires, I rejoice
due to the dances and singing,
the percussion and speeches there.Eating and drinking there I’m then
rejoicing among the thirty,
together with troops of women
I rejoice in my great mansion.And five hundred different times,
I exercised divine rule there.
And three hundred different times,
I was a king who turns the wheel.
And I enjoyed much local rule,
innumerable by counting.Transmigrating from birth to birth,
I receive many possessions.
I have no lack of possessions:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.I transmigrate in just two states:
that of a god, or of a man.
I know no other rebirth state:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.I am born in the two high clans,
kṣatriyan and also brahmin.
I’m not aware of lesser clans:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Elephant- and horse-vehicles,
palanquins and chariots too,
I am receiving all of that:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Troops of slaves and troops of slave-girls,
and women who are all decked out,
I am receiving all of that:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Silk material, woolen stuff,
khoma cloth and cotton goods too,
I am receiving all of that:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.New clothing and fruit which is fresh,
pure food of foremost tastiness,
I am receiving all of that:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.People saying, “eat this, enjoy
this, please lie down on this fine bed,”
I am receiving all of that:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Everywhere I’m given honor
and I have very lofty fame,
always in the majority,
my retinue has no factions.I’m not aware of cold nor heat,
and burning fever is not known.
Likewise there is not found in me,
suffering of the mind or heart.Having been the color of gold,
I transmigrate from birth to birth.
I do not know a bad color:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Falling down from the world of gods,
incited by my wholesome roots,
I am reborn in Śrāvasti,
in a wealthy clan with big halls.Giving up the five sense pleasures,
I went forth into homelessness.
Being only seven years old,
I attained my arahantship.Knowing my virtue, the Buddha,
the Eyeful One, then ordained me.
A young boy worthy of honor:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.The divine eye is purified;
I’m skilled in meditative states.
Special knowledges perfected:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.Analytical modes attained,
skilled in all the superpowers,
perfect in special knowledges:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.In the thirty thousand aeons
since I worshipped the Buddha then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.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 Uttara Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Uttara Thera, the sixth.