[542. {545.}1 Nandaka2]
The Victor, Padumuttara,
the One with Eyes for everything,
the Leader [of the World,] arose
a hundred thousand aeons hence. (1) [6165]
Out of friendship for all beings,
for [their] happiness and profit,
the Best Debater, Well-Bred Man,
practiced3 in [the world] with [its] gods. (2) [6166]
Who Reached the Height of Fame,4 Splendrous,5
Supported by Praise,6 the Victor,
the Worshipped One7 of every world,
Well-Known8 in all directions, (3) [6167]
who Crossed Over Perplexity,9
who Moved Beyond Saying “How? How?,”10
whose Mind’s Intentions are Fulfilled,11
Attained supreme Awakening.12 (4) [6168]
The Ultimate Man, Producer13
of the road to non-production,14
declared what had not been declared
and gave birth to what was unborn. (5) [6169]
Road-Knower,15 Road-Discerner,16 he’s
the Road-Teller,17 the Bull of Men.
Skilled18 on19 the road, the Teacher is
the Ultimate Best20 of drivers.21 (6) [6170]
Then the Great Compassionate One,
the Leader is preaching Dhamma,
lifting up beings who are stuck
on the road [known as] delusion. (7) [6171]
The Great Sage praised a follower
who was regarded as the best
in exhorting of [Buddhist] nuns,
[and] placed22 [him] in that foremost place. (8) [6172]
After hearing that I was thrilled.
Inviting [him], the Thus-Gone-One,
having fed [him] with Assembly,
I aspired to that supreme place. (9) [6173]
At that time, the Lord, [also] thrilled,
the Great Sage said [these words] to me:
“Be happy, O long-lived one; you
will receive that beautiful [place]. (10) [6174]
In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. (11) [6175]
Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
the one whose name is Nandaka
will be the Teacher’s follower.” (12) [6176]
Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and [firm] resolve,
discarding [my] human body,
I was gone to Tāvatiṃsa. (13) [6177]
And now, in [my] final rebirth,
I’m born in a millionaire’s clan,
rich, prosperous, very wealthy,
in the great city, Śrāvasti. (14) [6178]
Seeing the Well-Gone-One at the
city gate, I was astonished;23
when [he] got Jeta Hermitage,24
I went forth into homelessness. (15) [6179]
After not a very long time,
I attained [my] arahantship.
Then I’m one who’s crossed existence,
instructed by the All-Seer.25 (16) [6180]
I preached Dhamma to the nuns [and]
performed the question and answer.
Instructed by me, all of them
became [arahants], undefiled. (17) [6181]
Five hundred [of them], none lacking;
the Great Friend,26 gladdened at that time,
placed me in the foremost place of
those who give instruction to nuns. (18) [6182]
Karma done a hundred thousand
[aeons hence] showed me [its] fruit here:
well-liberated, arrow-quick,
I have destroyed my defilements. (19) [6183]
My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (20) [6184]
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! (21) [6185]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (22) [6186]
Thus indeed Venerable Nandaka Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Nandaka Thera is finished.
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.↩
a historical monk, famous as foremost among the exhorters of nuns. See DPPN II: 17-18. His name means “Joyful” or “Joy-er”↩
or “observed”: paṭipanno↩
yasaggapatto↩
sirimā↩
kittivaṇṇabhato, lit., “Feeding (°bhato) on Praise (kittivaṇṇa°)”↩
lit., “pūjā-recipient” (pūjito)↩
suvissuto↩
utiṇṇavicchikicchcho↩
vītivatta-kathaŋkatho↩
paripuṇṇa-mana-saṅkappo↩
patto sambodhiŋ uttamaŋ↩
uppādetā↩
anuppannassa maggassa↩
maggaññū↩
maggavidū↩
maggakkhāyī↩
kusalo↩
lit., “of”↩
varuttamo↩
sārathīnaŋ, lit., “charioteers” “coachmen”↩
lit., “appointed”↩
lit., “I had an astonished mind”↩
jetārāmapaṭiggahe, i.e., when Anāthapiṇḍika gave him the Jetavana grove as his hermitage↩
sabbadassinā↩
mahāhito↩