52.
The Chapter on Phaladāyaka
1.
The Life History of the Elder Kurañciyaphaladāyaka
1.
"Formerly I was a deer hunter, wandering in the forest;
I saw the stainless Buddha, who has gone beyond all phenomena.
2.
"Having taken a kurañciya fruit, I gave it to the foremost Buddha;
To such a one, the field of merit, devoted, with my own hands.
3.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, when I gave that fruit then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
4.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, all existences have been uprooted;
Like an elephant having cut the bond, I dwell without mental corruptions.
5.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, in the presence of the Buddha, the foremost;
The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
6.
"The four analytical knowledges, and these eight deliverances;
The six higher knowledges have been realized, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Kurañciyaphaladāyaka spoke these
verses.
The Life History of the Elder Kurañciyaphaladāyaka is the first.
2.
The Life History of the Elder Kapitthaphaladāyaka
7.
"The golden-coloured self-enlightened one, the receiver of oblations;
Proceeding along the road, I gave a wood-apple fruit.
8.
"Ninety-one cosmic cycles ago from now, when I gave that fruit then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
9.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
10.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
11.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Kapitthaphaladāyaka spoke these
verses.
The Life History of the Elder Kapitthaphaladāyaka is the second.
3.
The Life History of the Elder Kosambaphaliya
12.
"Like a shining hump of a bull, the god of gods, the lord of men;
Proceeding along the road, I gave Kosamba then.
13.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, when I gave that fruit then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
14.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
15.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
16.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Kosambaphaliya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Kosambaphaliya is the third.
4.
The Life History of the Elder Ketakapupphiya
17.
"On the bank of the Vinatā river, the highest of men dwelt;
I saw the stainless Buddha, fully focused, well concentrated.
18.
"With a flower of the honey-scented ketaka, I then;
With a confident mind, glad at heart, honoured the foremost Buddha.
19.
"Ninety-one cosmic cycles ago from now, the flower that I honoured;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
20.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
21.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
22.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Ketakapupphiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Ketakapupphiya is the fourth.
5.
The Life History of the Elder Nāgapupphiya
23.
"The golden-coloured self-enlightened one, the receiver of oblations;
Proceeding along the road, I venerated him with nāga flowers.
24.
"Ninety-one cosmic cycles ago from now, the flower that I honoured;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
25.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
26.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
27.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Nāgapupphiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Nāgapupphiya is the fifth.
6.
The Life History of the Elder Ajjunapupphiya
28.
"On the bank of the Candabhāgā river, I was a kinnara then;
I saw the stainless Buddha, the Self-Become One, the unconquered.
29.
"With a confident mind, glad at heart, filled with joy, with joined palms;
Having taken an arjuna flower, I venerated the Self-Become One.
30.
"By that well-done action, and by volition and aspirations;
Having abandoned the kinnara body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
31.
"Thirty-six times as lord of the gods, I exercised divine kingship;
Ten times as a wheel-turning monarch, I exercised great kingship.
32.
"Principality over a district, extensive, incalculable by counting;
A seed sown in a good field, in the Self-Existent One, oh, mine!
33.
"Wholesome deed is found in me, I went forth into homelessness;
Worthy of veneration am I today, in the Sakyan son's Dispensation.
34.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
35.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
36.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Ajjunapupphiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Ajjunapupphiya is the sixth.
7.
The Life History of the Elder Kuṭajapupphiya
37.
"Not far from the Himalayas, there is a mountain named Vasala;
The Buddha named Sudassana dwelt in the mountain caves.
38.
"Having taken a golden flower, I went through the sky;
There I saw the self-enlightened one, a crosser of the mental floods, without mental corruptions.
39.
"Having taken a kuṭaja flower, having made a salutation with joined palms at my head;
I placed upon the Buddha, the self-born great sage.
40.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, the flower that I honoured;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
41.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
42.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
43.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Kuṭajapupphiya spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Kuṭajapupphiya is the seventh.
8.
The Life History of the Elder Ghosasaññaka
44.
"Formerly I was a deer hunter, in the forest grove;
I saw the stainless Buddha, honoured by the host of gods.
45.
"Making known the four truths, teaching the Deathless state;
I heard the sweet teaching, of Sikhi, the kinsman of the world.
46.
"I gladdened my mind in his utterance, in the matchless person;
Having gladdened my mind there, I crossed over existence, hard to cross.
47.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, when I obtained that perception then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the perception of sound.
48.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
49.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
50.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Ghosasaññaka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Ghosasaññaka is the eighth.
9.
The Life History of the Elder Sabbaphaladāyaka
51.
"Varuṇa by name, a brahmin gone beyond the sacred texts;
Having abandoned ten sons, I entered into the midst of the forest then.
52.
"Having made a well-crafted hermitage, well arranged and delightful;
Having made a leaf-hut, I dwell in the forest.
53.
"Padumuttara, knower of the world, the receiver of oblations;
Wishing to uplift me, he came to my hermitage.
54.
"As far as the jungle thicket, the light was vast;
By the Buddha's power, the forest blazed forth then.
55.
"Having seen that miracle, of the Buddha, the foremost, such a one;
Having taken a leaf-container, I worshipped with fruit.
56.
"Having approached the Self-enlightened One, together with a khāri-measure of liquor I,
Out of compassion for me, the Buddha spoke these words.
57.
'Having taken a carrying-pole burden, come behind me, you;
And when the monastic community has been served, merit will be yours.'
58.
"Having taken a basket, I gave to the community of monks;
Having gladdened my mind there, I was reborn in Tusita.
59.
"There with divine dancing, singing, and music;
Connected with meritorious action, I always experience happiness.
60.
"Whatever realm of rebirth I am reborn in, whether divinity or human;
There is no deficiency in my wealth, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
61.
"As far as the four islands, with their oceans and mountains;
Having given fruit to the Buddha, I make him lord.
62.
"As far as my flocks of birds, if they fly up in space;
They too follow my control, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
63.
"As far as the jungle thicket, demons and spirits and goblins;
Kumbhaṇḍas and garuḷas too, they come to me for service.
64.
"Water-pots, dogs, bees, gadflies and mosquitoes both;
They too follow my control, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
65.
"The birds named supaṇṇas, born with wings, of great power;
They too go to me for refuge, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
66.
"Even those serpents who are long-lived, possessing supernormal power, of great fame;
They too follow my control, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
67.
"Lions, tigers and panthers, bears, wolves and hyenas;
They too follow my control, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
68.
"Those dwelling in medicinal plants and grass, and those dwelling in space;
All go to me for refuge, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
69.
"Very difficult to see, very subtle, profound, well proclaimed;
Having touched it, I dwell, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
70.
Having touched the eight deliverances, I dwell without mental corruptions;
Ardent and prudent am I, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
71.
"Those sons of the Buddha stationed in fruition, with hate eliminated, of great fame;
I am a certain one among them, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
72.
"Having gone to the perfection of direct knowledge, urged on by wholesome root;
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, I dwell without mental corruptions.
73.
"Possessors of the threefold true knowledge, attainers of supernormal power, sons of the Buddha, of great fame;
Attainers of the divine ear, I am one of them.
74.
"A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, when I gave that fruit then;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving fruit.
75.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
76.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
77.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Sabbaphaladāyaka spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Sabbaphaladāyaka is ninth.
10.
The Life History of the Elder Padumadhārika
78.
"Not far from the Himalayas, there is a mountain named Romasa;
And a Buddha named Sambhava, dwelt in the open air then.
79.
"Having gone forth from the dwelling, I held a lotus;
Having held it for one day, I came again to the dwelling.
80.
"Thirty-one cosmic cycles ago from now, when I honoured the Buddha;
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
81.
"Mental defilements have been burnt by me, etc.
I dwell without mental corruptions.
82.
"Indeed welcome it was for me, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.
83.
"The four analytical knowledges, etc.
the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Padumadhārika spoke these verses.
Thus he spoke.
The Life History of the Elder Padumadhārika is tenth.
The Phaladāyaka Chapter is the fifty-second.
Its summary:
Kurañciya and Kapittha, Kosamba and Ketaka;
Nāgapuppha and Ajjuna, Kuṭajī and Ghosasaññaka.
The elder and Sabbaphalada, likewise Padumadhārika;
Here there are eighty verses, and three verses beyond that.
