[95. Gandhamāliya1]

I made a perfumed stupa for
[him], Siddhattha, the Blessed One,
the Buddha, Top Chief of the World,
blazing up like a fire-altar,
bright as a blue water lily,
as superb as a tiger bull,
of noble birth as is a lion,
seated, the Top of [all] the Monks,
Honored by the Monks’ Assembly,
[and] covered it with jasmine flowers
appropriate for the Buddha.
[Then] worshipping the Teacher’s feet
I departed facing the north. (1-3) [1576-78]

In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave that perfumed garland [then],
distinguished by the fruit of doing
what should be done for the Buddha,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. (4) [1579]2

In the thirty-ninth aeon [hence]
there were sixteen [different] people;
[all] were known as Devagandha3
[and] they were [all] wheel-turning kings. (5) [1580]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (6) [1581]

Thus indeed Venerable Gandhamāliya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Gandhamāliya Thera is finished.


  1. “Perfumed Garland-er.” Cf. #332 {BJTS only}, below, which is virtually identical save the addition of a verse here (v. 5) and related corruption of v. 4.

  2. BJTS agrees with PTS in presenting this as a six-footed verse

  3. “Divine Perfume”