[148. Phalakadāyaka1]

A carriage-maker in the city,
I was skilled in working with wood.
Having made a sandalwood plank
I gave it to the World’s Kinsman. (1) [1977]

Made of gold, this divine mansion
lights up [all of the directions].
Elephant, divine and equine
carriages are provided [me]. (2) [1978]

Palaces and palanquins too
are produced according to wish;
unsifted,2 gemstones come to me:
that is the fruit of a plank-[gift]. (3) [1979]

In the ninety-one aeons since
I gave [him] that plank-[gift back then],
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of a plank-[gift]. (4) [1980]

In the fifty-seventh aeon,
four [men named] Bhavanimmita3
were wheel-turning kings with great strength,
possessors of the seven gems. (5) [1981]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (6) [1982]

Thus indeed Venerable Phalakadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Phalakadāyaka Thera is finished.


  1. “Slab-Donor”

  2. lit., “unshaken”. I take this to mean that when he picks up a handful of gravel, it’s all gems. Ordinarily, gemmers must sift through vast amounts of sand and worthless stone to locate gems.

  3. “Existence-Constructors” or “Rebirth-Constructors”