[4. Anuruddha]
I caught a glimpse of the World-Chief,
the Blessed One [named] Sumedha,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
while he was dwelling in solitude.1 (1) [423]
So I approached that Sambuddha,
Sumedha, the Chief of the World,
and holding up hands pressed together
I said to [him], the Best Buddha: (2) [424]
“With your permission,2 Great Hero
o World’s Best One, O Bull of Men,
I shall light a lamp for you while
you meditate beneath that tree.” (3) [425]
That Wise One signaled his assent3
the Self-Existent, Best Debater.4
I then contrived a mechanism
by piercing through some tree [trunks there]. (4) [426]
I set afire a thousand wicks
for the Buddha, the World’s Kinsman.
For a week I kept them [all] lit
[and then] those lamps were extinguished. (5) [427]
Due to the pleasure in [my] heart
and that intention and resolve,
discarding [my] human body
I’m born in a [divine] mansion. (6) [428]
There was a pillar, well-proportioned
for me born in that divine state.
It blazed forth on every side [then]:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. (7) [429]
On every side for a whole league
I [myself] shined forth at that time.
I surpassed all the [other] gods:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. (8) [430]
For thirty aeons, king of gods
I exercised divine rule [then].
No one at all neglected me:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. (9) [431]
And also eight and twenty times
I was a wheel-turning monarch.
Both day and night I could [then] see
an entire league surrounding [me]. (10) [432]
With knowledge of one thousand worlds,
I see in the dispensation.5
The “divine eye” is [now] attained:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. (11) [433]
That Sambuddha named Sumedha
lived thirty thousand aeons hence.
To him a lamp was given by me
with a mind that was very clear. (12) [434]
My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. [435]
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! [436]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (13) [437]
Thus indeed Venerable Anuruddha Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Anuruddha Thera is finished.