[23. Tīṇisaraṇāgamaniya[1]]
In the city, CChandavatī,[2]
I was waiting on my parents.
I constantly provided for
my blind mother and father [there]. (1) [920]
Gone off alone and sitting down
this thought occurred to me back then:
“while providing for my parents
I cannot [yet] renounce the world.[3] (2) [921]
Being shrouded[4] in dark blindness
I’m being scorched by the three fires.[5]
Though in such straits, [and now] afraid,
there is no one [who can] guide [me]. (3) [922]
The Buddha’s been born in the world;
the Victor’s dispensation shines.
The Self can [now] be moved beyond
by people [who do] good[6] karma. (4) [923]
Taking up the Three Refuges
I’ll [henceforth] guard them completely.
Through that karma which is done well
I will be released from ill-states.” (5) [924]
The Buddha’s foremost follower
was the monk known as Nisabha.
After going up to that [monk]
I took the three-fold refuge [then].[7] (6) [925]
In those days the normal lifespan
[numbered] one hundred thousand years.[8]
For all that time I did protect
[my] taking refuge totally. (7) [926]
When [my] last [breath] was taking place,
I remembered that refuge [then].
Through that karma which was done well
I went on to Tāvatiṃsa. (8) [927]
Departed, in the world of gods
well-placed due to [my] good karma,
in every region I was born
I received the eight good things [there].[9] (9) [928]
Worshipped in [every] direction,
I developed piercing wisdom.
All the gods submitted [to me].
I received food beyond measure. (10) [929]
Everywhere, the color of gold,
I was beloved[10] [by everyone].
Remaining steadfast for my friends,
my glory had achieved great heights. (11) [930]
Eighty times as the king of gods
I exercised divine rule [then].
Anointed by celestial nymphs
I enjoyed [much] divine pleasure. (12) [931]
[Full] five hundred times I ruled [then]
as a monarch who turns the wheel,
[and I did have] much local rule
innumerable by counting. (13) [932]
When [my] last rebirth was attained,
well-placed due to [my] good karma,
I was born in a rich family
with a big house in Śrāvasti.[11] (14) [933]
Setting out from that [great] city
placed in front by [other] children
I approached a monastery
[hoping to find] sports and laughter.[12] (15) [934]
There I did see a [Buddhist] monk,
set free, and having no desires.
He explained the Teaching to me
and gave me the [three] refuges. (16) [935]
After I heard [the word] “refuge,”
recalling my [former] refuge,
I sat down on a single seat
[and then] attained arahantship. (17) [936]
Being [only] seven years old
I attained [my] arahantship.
Knowing virtue, the Eyeful One,
the Sambuddha ordained [me then]. (18) [937]
Immeasurable aeons hence
I went for the [three-fold] refuge.
The fruit [of] that karma well done
is afterward shown to me here. (19) [938]
Well-protected was my refuge
firmly established in my mind.
After enjoying all of that
I realized the steadfast state. (20) [939]
Let those of you with ears to hear,
all of you, listen to my words.
I’m declaring as fact to you
that I have seen this state myself. (21) [940]
“The Buddha’s been born in the world;
the Victor’s dispensation shines.
The drum of deathlessness [now] sounds,
removing the arrows of grief. (22) [941]
In the unsurpassed merit-field
if you all [now] take ownership
with all the strength that you possess,[13]
[then] you all will see nirvana. (23) [942]
Taking up the three-fold refuge,
guarding the five moral precepts,
pleasing [your] heart in the Buddha
you’ll make an end to suffering. (24) [943]
Acting with me as [your] model[14]
guarding [all] the moral precepts
in a short time, [then] all you too
will attain [your] arahantship.” (25) [944]
Thrice-knowing,[15] with superpowers,
I’m skilled at the reading of minds.[16]
A follower of yours, Wise One
worships the Teacher’s refuges. (26) [945]
I went to Buddha for refuge
uncountable aeons ago.
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of taking refuge. (27) [946]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (28) [947]
Thus indeed Venerable Tīṇisaraṇāgamaniya Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Tīṇisaraṇāgamaniya Thera is finished.
“three-Refuge Goer,” cf. #113, #298, #356 ↩︎
some alt. PTS mss. as well as cty read Baṇḍumatī; BJTS like PTS reads CChaṇḍavatī. See DPPN I:851; the city is only “known” to have existed during the time of previous Buddhas (and during the previous lives of Gotama Buddha). ↩︎
lit., “I do not receive the pabbajja (renunciation, going forth, in these texts meaning becoming a Buddhist monk or nun).” ↩︎
pihitā, cut off. Cty. glosses the participle with chāditā, covered, concealed ↩︎
the cty on [352] explains these as the fires of rāga (lust), dosa (anger) and moha (ignorance, folly) ↩︎
lit., “meritorious,” puñña° ↩︎
lit., “I went for the going for refuge.” ↩︎
lit., “At that time the lifespan that existed was one hundred thousand years” ↩︎
lit., “the eight causes [of happiness] ↩︎
reading paṭikanto (BJTS) for paṭikkanto (“gone,” “departed,” PTS). ↩︎
lit., “in the city of Śāvasti (Sāvatthi)” ↩︎
reading hāsa-khiḍa-samaṅgīnaṃ (BJTS) for sahassa-khiḍḍa-samaṅgī ‘ham (PTS). ↩︎
lit., “with own strength as far as [you can]” ↩︎
lit., “acting out of analogy with me”: mamopamaṃ karitvāna ↩︎
tevijja: the threefold knowledge of an arahant, namely, recollection of former lives, insight into the deaths and births of beings, and recognition of the destruction of all passions. ↩︎
lit., “understanding the minds of others” ↩︎