[189. Ekacchāriya1]

At that time a great din arose
among the Tāvatiṃsa gods:
“The world’s Buddha has passed away2
and we’re [still] afflicted with lust.” (1) [2202]

Among them who had [thus] been moved,
afflicted with arrows of grief,
made firm by [my] own [mental]3 strength,
I went into Buddha’s presence. (2) [2203]

Plucking a mandārava bloom,
tender, created with magic,
I [then] offered [it] at the time
of the Buddha’s Passing Away.4 (3) [2204]

All the gods and celestial
nymphs rejoiced for me at that time.
For one hundred thousand aeons
I was not born in a bad state.5 (4) [2205]

Sixty thousand aeons ago
there were [born] sixteen [great] people
[all] named Mahāmallajana6
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength. (5) [2206]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (6) [2207]

Thus indeed Venerable Ekacchāriya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Ekacchāriya Thera is finished.

  1. “Once Practicer”↩

  2. “reached nirvana”↩

  3. I follow BJTS in assuming the implied cchitta here↩

  4. reading parinibbāṇakālamhi with BJTS for PTS parinibbānākālamhi↩

  5. duggatiŋ nûpapajj’ ahaŋ↩

  6. this reading follows BJTS; PTS gives the name as Mahāmallājanā. The meaning is “Great Wrestling Men”.↩