[253. CChitapūjaka1]
The Buddha known as Ānanda,
the Self-Become, Unconquered One,
passed away2 in [his] forest haunt,
in the woods, devoid of people. (1) [2507]
Coming here from the world of gods
[and] having made a pyre3 I then
did burn [his] body in that place
and I attended upon [it].4 (2) [2508]
In the ninety-one aeons since
I did that [good] karma back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. (3) [2509]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (4) [2510]
Thus indeed Venerable CChitapūjaka Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of CChitapūjaka Thera is finished.
“Pyre-Worshipper”. BJTS reads CChitakapūjaka. which gets the proper word for pyre (cchita) even though BJTS retains in v. 2 [2508] the form cchitaṃ↩
“reached nirvana”↩
taking cchitaŋ as cchitakaṃ↩
lit., “I made attendance upon [it].” Sakkāra = hospitality, attendance, service upon, i.e., cleaning it up, placing flowers there, providing it with water and food offerings, etc.↩