[386. {389.}[1] Soṇakoṭivīsa[2]]
When Vipassi’s dispensation[3]
[arose], I made a single cave[4]
in Bandhumā, royal city,
for the monks[5] in four directions. (1) [3326]
Covering[6] the floor of the cave
with rugs, I dedicated [it].
Happy, with rapture in [my] heart,
I then made this aspiration: (2) [3327]
“Were I to please[7] a Sambuddha
and to get to renounce [the world],[8]
I should attain ultimate peace
and the unexcelled nirvana.” (3) [3328]
Just because of those good roots,
transmigrating ninety aeons,
born as a god or else a man,
I shined, a doer of merit. (4) [3329]
As the remainder of that deed,
here in this final existence,
I was born as the only son
of CChampa’s foremost millionaire. (5) [3330]
Having heard that I had been born,[9]
this was the wish of my father:
“I am giving to this [young] boy
an entire two hundred million.”[10] (6) [3331]
Hair four fingers wide was produced
on the soles of both of my feet.
It was fine and soft to the touch,
beautiful, just like cotton wool.[11] (7) [3332]
In the past for ninety aeons,
[and] this [aeon] one more than that,
I’ve not come to know my feet placed
on [any] ground that lacks a rug. (8) [3333]
The Sambuddha was pleased by me;
I went forth into homelessness.
I have attained arahantship;
cooled off, I am in nirvana.[12] (9) [3334]
Appointed by the All-Seer
“foremost among resolute [monks,]”[13]
[I’m] undefiled, an arahant,
six knowledge-holder, powerful.[14] (10) [3335]
In the ninety-one aeons since
I gave [the Buddha] that gift then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of giving a cave. (11) [3336]
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! (12) [3337]
My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (13) [3338]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (14) [3339]
Soṇa Koṭivisa Thera
in front of the monks’ Assembly,
being asked questions [then] answered
on the great Lake Anotatta. [3340][15]
Thus indeed Venerable Soṇakoṭivīsa Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Soṇakoṭivīsa 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. ↩︎
“Golden One [Worth] Two Hundred Million.” Apparently identical with Soṇa Koḷivisa, “the Golden Koḷiyan,” a.k.a. Koḷiyavessa, “the Koḷiyan vaiśya,” see DPPN, II:1293-1294. ↩︎
pāvacchane, lit., “word” ↩︎
lit., “a single cave was made by me” ↩︎
saṅgha, lit., “Assembly [of monks]” ↩︎
santharitvā, lit., “having spread out on” ↩︎
ārdhayeyyan, please, propitiate ↩︎
lit., “and were I to receive going forth/renunciation” ↩︎
lit., “right when I had been born, having heard” ↩︎
lit., “twenty koṭis.” ↩︎
reading tūlapicchusamā subhā with BJTS ↩︎
lit., “I am cooled off, nirvana-ed (or gone out, nibbuto)” ↩︎
aggo āraddhaviriyānaŋ ↩︎
chaḷabhiññāmahiddhiko, lit., possessors of the six special knowledges who have great (magical, iddhi) power.” ↩︎
This verse does not appear in the PTS edition, hence only has a BJTS number in this translation. The Pāli is: thero koṭiviso soṇo/bhikkhusaṅghassa aggato/pañhaṃ puṭṭho viyākāsi/anotatte mahāsare ti// ↩︎