[2. Mahā-Moggallāna]

Anomadassi, Blessed One,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
was living in the Himalayas,
Honored by the Gods’ Assembly. (1) [374]

I was then a king of snake-gods,1
known by the name of Varuṇa.2
Taking on the form of Cupid3
I was dwelling in the ocean. (2) [375]

Being in a musical group,
I provided the percussion.4
After serving the Sambuddha,
the divine nymphs5 then sang [their songs]. (3) [376]

When the drums were being beaten
the gods then also beat on drums.
Upon hearing the sound of both,
the Buddha himself then listened. (4) [377]

Having invited Sambuddha
that he come over to my house,
providing an appointed seat.
I announced that it was [now] time. (5) [378]

With one thousand flawless arahants6
following behind, that World-Chief,7
shining light in all directions
did come over to my house [then]. (6) [379]

I satisfied with food and drink
the Great Hero who had arrived,
the God of Gods, the Bull of Men
along with the monks’ Assembly. (7) [380]

The Great Hero was delighted,
the Self-Existent, Top Human;
seated in the monks’ Assembly
he spoke these verses [about me]: (8) [381]

“He who worshipped the assembly
and also the Buddha, World-Chief,8
due to the pleasure in [his] heart,
will go into the world of gods. (9) [382]

He will exercise divine rule
seventy-seven [different] times.
He will reside upon the earth,
[and] have eight hundred earthly reigns. (10) [383]

And he’ll be a wheel-turning king
five and fifty [different] times.
All the time they will bring for him
uncountable [amounts of] wealth. (11) [384]

Aeons beyond measure from now,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. (12) [385]

After having come out of hell
he will go to a human state.
Known by the name of Kolita
he’ll be a kinsman of Brahma.9 (13) [386]

He’ll afterwards go forth, renouncing,
incited by [his] wholesome roots.
He’ll be second chief-follower
of the Blessed One, Gotama. (14) [387]

Resolved,10 with strenuous effort,11
he’ll excel in superpowers.
Knowing well all the defilements
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.” (15) [388]

Depending on [some] evil friends,
overpowered by lust [and] anger,
being cruel-minded I slew
my mother and my father too. (16) [389]

In whichever womb I’m reborn
in hell or [else] among humans
since12 I possess that bad karma
I get murdered,13 head split open. (17) [390]

This is the final time for me;
[my] last rebirth is proceeding.14
And also here, like that, for me
a time for getting killed will be. (18) [391]

Binding [myself] to solitude,
fond of samādhi-meditation,
knowing well all the defilements,
I am [now] living, undefiled. (19) [392]

Excelling in superpowers
I shake with only my left thumb
this very earth which is so deep,
thick and difficult to destroy. (20) [393]

I don’t feel the pride of “I am;”
no pride at all exists in me.
Even regarding novices
I act with reverence in [my] heart. (21) [394]

I brought forward the karma done
in an aeon so long ago.15
That I has now attained the earth;16
I’ve reached the end of defilements. (22) [395]

My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. [396]

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! [397]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (23) [398]

Thus indeed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahāmoggallāna Thera is finished.

  1. nāgarājā↩

  2. PTS reads Varūṇa.↩

  3. lit., “transformed into the form of Kāma;” could be less specific: transforming into sexy shapes↩

  4. lit., “established the turiya”↩

  5. acchcharā, Skt. apsarā↩

  6. lit., “with one thousand who were free of āsavas (outflows, defilements)”↩

  7. or “World-Leader:” lokanāyako↩

  8. or “World-Leader,” lokanāyakaŋ↩

  9. brahmabandhu, i.e., a brahmin↩

  10. pahittato. RD “of resolute will.” Cty (following Buddhaghosa) explains the term as derived from: peseti, “sent:” “having a mind that is sent forth to nirvana;” RD dismisses this as false etymology.↩

  11. āraddhaviriyā, lit., “with strenuous effort”↩

  12. following BJTS in reading samanginnā (sing. abl) for PTS samangīnaŋ (pl. dat/gen)↩

  13. reading, with BJTS and PTS alt, marām’ ahaṃ for PTS bhavām’ ahaŋ↩

  14. ccharimo vattate bhavo↩

  15. lit., “in an aeon immeasurably [past].”↩

  16. reading bhummanupatto (BJTS) for bhumim anuppatto (PTS).↩