[424. {427.}[1] Ekadhammasavanīya[2]]
The Victor, Padumuttara,
was the Master of Everything.
[While] preaching the Four Noble Truths,
he ferried many folks across. (1) [4548]
A matted-haired ascetic[3] then,
I practiced fierce austerities.[4]
Throwing off [my] clothes made of bark,
I traveled in the sky back then. (2) [4549]
I am not [then] able[5] to go
over [him,] the Best of Buddhas.
Like a bird that has struck a rock,
I am unable to proceed.[6] (3) [4550]
Having walked[7] upon the water,
so I am flying through the sky.
Previously my behavior
never had been interrupted. (4) [4551]
“Well now I’ll investigate that.
I might get some small benefit.”
Descending from the sky I then
heard the [sweet] sound of the Teacher,
who was preaching impermanence
with a voice that was enticing,
good to listen to, beautiful.
I took up that [Teaching] back then. (5-6) [4552-4553]
Having perceived impermanence,[8]
I went [back] to my hermitage.
Remaining as long as I lived,
I [later] passed away [right] there. (7) [4554]
In subsequent existences,
I recalled hearing the Teaching.[9]
Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and [firm] resolve,
discarding [my] human body,
I went to Tāvatiṃsa [then]. (8) [4555][10]
For thirty thousand aeons I
delighted in the world of gods,
and fifty-one times [while there], I
exercised rule over the gods. (9) [4556]
And twenty-one times I was [then]
a king who turns the wheel [of law].
[And I enjoyed] much local rule,
innumerable by counting. (10) [4557]
I enjoyed [my] own good karma,[11]
being happy from birth to birth.
Recalling that perception, I
transmigrated from birth to birth.
I do not comprehend the end,[12]
nirvana, the eternal state. (11) [4558][13]
Sitting down in my father’s house,
a monk with senses [well-]controlled
was [then] explaining this sermon,[14]
spoken about impermanence:[15] (12) [4559]
“In flux indeed is all that is;
things that arise and [then] decline
are being born [and then] dying;
happy is the relief from them.” (13) [4560]
Right after having heard [that] verse,
I recalled my past perception.
Sitting down on a single seat,
I attained [my] arahantship. (14) [4561]
When [only] seven years of age,
I attained [my] arahantship.
The Buddha [himself] ordained me:
the fruit of hearing the Teaching. (15) [4562]
In the hundred thousand aeons
since I heard the Teaching back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of hearing the Teaching. (16) [4563]
My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. (17) [4564]
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! (18) [4565]
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (19) [4566]
Thus indeed Venerable Ekadhammasavanīya Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Ekadhammasavanīya 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. ↩︎
“One-Teaching-Hearer.” BJTS spells the name Ekadammasavaṇīya ↩︎
jaṭila, an ascetic who wears his hair in a matted braid (jaṭā) ↩︎
lit., “I was one who practices fierce austerities,” reading ugga-tāpano with BJTS (and PTS alternative) for PTS uggata-āpaṇa, “rising over the bazaar” ↩︎
na gantuŋ visahām’ ahaŋ ↩︎
lit., “I do not receive going” ↩︎
reading ‘vokammitvāna (“set out”) with BJTS for PTS vomisitvāna (?). ↩︎
lit., “taking the perception of impermanence” ↩︎
lit., “the Good Teaching,” saddhamma° ↩︎
PTS and BJTS agree in presenting this as a six-footed verse. ↩︎
lit., “merit,” sakaŋ puññaŋ ↩︎
na koṭi paṭivijjhāmi ↩︎
PTS and BJTS agree in presenting this as a six-footed verse. ↩︎
kathāyaŋ (BJTS reads kath’ ayaṃ) ↩︎
reading aniccchchatam udāhari ↩︎