[416. {419.}1 Patthodanadāyaka2]

Back then I traveled the forest,
doing regular forest work.3
Taking half a pint of cooked rice,4
I went to work[ in the forest]. (1) [4435]

There I saw [him], the Sambuddha,
the Self-Become, Unconquered One,
gone out from the forest for alms.
Having seen [him, my] heart was pleased. (2) [4436]

“I’m bound to working for others,5
and no merit exists for me.
I have this half-pint of cooked rice;
I will feed [it] to the [Great] Sage.” (3) [4437]

Taking that half-pint of rice, I
gave it to the Self-Become One.
While I meditated [on him],
the Sage then consumed [that cooked rice]. (4) [4438]

Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and [firm] resolve,
discarding [my] human body,
I went to Tāvatiṃsa [then]. (5) [4439]

Thirty-six times the lord of gods,
I exercised divine rule [there].
Thirty-three times I was a king,
a king who turns the wheel [of law]. (6) [4440]

There was [also] much local rule,
innumerable by counting.
I’m [always] happy and famous:
the fruit of half a pint of rice. (7) [4441]

Transmigrating from birth to birth,
I receive wealth without limit.
I have no lack of possessions:
the fruit of half a pint of rice. (8) [4442]

Possessions come to be for me,
resembling a river stream;6
I cannot [even] measure them:
the fruit of half a pint of rice. (9) [4443]

[People say,] “Eat this,” “enjoy this,”
“lit down [to sleep] in this [good] bed.”
Due to that I’m [always] happy:
the fruit of half a pint of rice. (10) [4444]

In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave [him] that gift at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of half a pint of rice. (11) [4445]

My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (12) [4446]

Being in Best Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (13) [4447]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (14) [4448]

Thus indeed Venerable Patthodanadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Patthodanadāyaka Thera is finished.

  1. Apadāna numbers provided in {fancy brackets} correspond to the BJTS edition, which contains more individual poems than does the PTS edition dictating the main numbering of this translation.↩

  2. “Half-Pint of Cooked Rice-er”↩

  3. satataŋ vanakammiko, lit., “continually a forest-worker”↩

  4. pattha (a unit for measure, = 1/4 of a quart; 1/2 of a pint) + odanaṃ; BJTS Sinh gloss (sahal) pataka batak, “cooked rice [boiled from] a half pint (of uncooked rice)”↩

  5. parakammāyane yutto, lit., “yoked to going for the work of others,” i.e., doing coolie labor, being an intinerant worker, being a servant↩

  6. we might say, “a flood of possessions”↩