[270. Taraṇiya1]

Vipassi Buddha,2 Golden One,
was standing on a river bank,
Worthy of Homage, the Teacher,
Honored by the Monks’ Assembly. (1) [2578]

Boats for crossing the great ocean
were not to be found in that place.
Having gone forth from [that] river
I helped the World’s Leader across.3 (2) [2579]

In the ninety-one aeons since
I helped the Best Person to cross,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of ferrying. (3) [2580]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (4) [2581]

Thus indeed Venerable Taraṇiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Taraṇiya Thera is finished.

The Summary:

Ukkhepi, Tela and CChandi,
Dipada and Biḷālida,
Macchcha, Java, Salaḷada,
Rakkhasa, Taraṇa [makes] ten
and here the verses are counted
as exactly forty plus one.

The Padumukkhepa Chapter, the Twenty-Seventh

  1. “Boatman” or “Ferryman.” cf. #204, #280, #485 {488}. Perhaps in this instance better, “Cross-Over-er” since it is not clear just how he performs the deed. Are we to imagine him as a fish?↩

  2. lit., Sambuddha↩

  3. lit., “I caused the World’s Leader to cross”↩