34.
The Chapter on Gandhodaka
1.
The Life History of the Elder Gandhadhūpiya
1.
Covered with jasmine flowers, and that befitting a Buddha.
2.
Like a blazing blue water-lily, like a burning fire.
3.
Seated, the foremost of ascetics, honoured by the community of monks.
4.
Having paid homage at the Teacher's feet, I departed facing north.
5.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the offering of fragrance.
6.
The six higher knowledges have been realised, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Gandhadhūpiya spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Incense-Burner is the first.
2.
The Life History of the Elder Udakapūjaka
7.
Like a blazing ghee-fed fire, like a burning sacrificial fire.
8.
The great hero received it, the Buddha, the compassionate sage.
9.
Having understood my thought, spoke this verse.
10.
Even for a hundred thousand cosmic cycles, you will not be reborn in an unfortunate realm.'
11.
I have attained the unshakeable state, having abandoned victory and defeat.
12.
In sixty-five hundred cosmic cycles, lords of men with four quarters.
13.
Thus the Venerable Elder Udakapūjaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Water-Worshipper is the second.
3.
The Life History of the Elder Punnāgapupphiya
14.
Having seen the flowering Punnāga tree, I recollected the foremost Buddha.
15.
Having made a monument on the sandbank, I placed it upon the Buddha.
16.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
17.
Endowed with the seven treasures, a wheel-turning monarch of great power.
18.
Thus the Venerable Elder Punnāgapupphiya spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Alexandrian Laurel Flower is the third.
4.
The Life History of the Elder Ekadussadāyaka
19.
I live by carrying grass, by that I support my children.
20.
Having removed the darkness of ignorance, the leader of the world arose.
21.
'A Buddha has arisen in the world, and I have no gift to give.
22.
Painful is the contact with hell, I shall plant an offering.'
23.
Having taken one cloth, I gave it to the foremost Buddha.
24.
If you are a Buddha, O hero, help me cross, O great sage.
25.
Praising my gift, he gave me thanksgiving.
26.
For a hundred thousand cosmic cycles, he does not go to the nether world.
27.
Thirty-three times he will be a king, a universal monarch;
Principality over a district, extensive, incalculable by counting.
28.
Beautiful, accomplished in virtues, with a body not overcome;
Imperturbable, boundless cloth, you will obtain at will.'
29.
The wise one rose up into the sky, like a king of swans in the firmament.
30.
There is no deficiency in my wealth, this is the fruit of one cloth.
31.
Below I stand on cloth, above is my roof.
32.
If I wished, today I could cover it with cloths.
33.
Having become golden-coloured, I wander in the round of rebirths from existence to existence.
34.
This is my last birth, it ripens for me even here.
35.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of one cloth.
36.
Like an elephant having cut the bond, I dwell without mental corruptions.
37.
Thus the Venerable Elder Ekadussadāyaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder One-Cloth-Giver is the fourth.
5.
The Life History of the Elder Phusitakampiya
38.
The Perfectly Enlightened One, the elder of the world, the lord of men.
Together with those who have eliminated the mental corruptions, he dwelt then in a monastery for the Community.
39.
Together with eight hundred thousand who had eliminated the mental corruptions.
40.
Having taken flower-water, I approached the Perfectly Enlightened One.
41.
Having taken flower-water, I sprinkled it over the Buddha.
42.
Having praised my action, went where he wished.
43.
With two and a half thousand, I exercised divine kingship.
44.
By the remaining action, I attained arahantship.
45.
That very same was my appellation, Phusita by name was I.
46.
All around from a fathom of me, it rains down like drops.
47.
With all mental corruptions eliminated, this is the fruit of one who has attained."
48.
From my body, the odour blows forth for half a kosa.
49.
Having smelled the odour they know, "One who has attained has come here."
50.
Having understood my thought, the odour arises in a moment.
51.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of one who has attained.
52.
Thus the Venerable Elder Phusitakampiya spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Trembling at Touch is the fifth.
6.
The Life History of the Elder Pabhaṅkara
53.
There was a shrine in the forest, crowded with beasts of prey.
54.
Overgrown with grass, wood and creepers, the shrine was crumbling.
55.
I saw in the forest a monument, broken down, entangled with grass and creepers.
56.
This stupa of the foremost Buddha, crumbled, remains in the forest.
57.
Without having cleaned the Buddha's stupa, he should engage in other work.
58.
Having paid homage eight times, bowing down, I went.
59.
On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
60.
Sixty yojanas in height, thirty yojanas in width.
61.
And twenty-five times I was a wheel-turning monarch.
62.
There is no deficiency in my wealth, this is the fruit of cleansing.
63.
Whatever direction I go, the forest falls down as a refuge.
64.
Connected with meritorious action, they are removed by themselves."
65.
Ringworm and scab I have not, this is the fruit of cleansing.
66.
I do not know of a boil or blister arisen on my body.
67.
I wander in two existences, in divinity and also in humanity.
68.
Golden-coloured everywhere, radiant I become.
69.
The disagreeable departs, the agreeable stands close.
70.
My mind becomes pure, fully focused, well concentrated.
71.
Having sat down on one seat, I attained arahantship.
72.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of cleansing.
73.
Thus the Venerable Elder Pabhaṅkara spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Light-Maker is the sixth.
7.
The Life History of the Elder Tiṇakuṭidāyaka
74.
Engaged in working for others, dependent on others' food.
75.
A Buddha has arisen in the world, and I have no aspiration.
76.
Painful is the contact with hell, for living beings of demerit.
77.
Having asked for one day's work, I entered the forest.
78.
Having set up a tripod, I made a grass hut.
79.
Having come on that very same day, I approached the master of work.
80.
There my divine mansion was well made, well-fashioned like a hut.
81.
With a hundred thousand turrets, divine mansions appeared to me.
82.
Having understood my thought, a mansion stands close.
83.
I know no fright in myself, this is the fruit of the grass hut.
84.
All avoid me, this is the fruit of the grass hut.
85.
They too avoid me, this is the fruit of the grass hut.
86.
Mindfulness is established in me, this is the fruit of the grass hut.
87.
I realised the Teaching of the Blessed One Gotama.
88.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the grass hut.
89.
Thus the Venerable Elder Tiṇakuṭidāyaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the elder Tiṇakuṭidāyaka is the seventh.
8.
The Life History of the Elder Uttareyyadāyaka
90.
A reciter, a bearer of sacred texts, one who has gone beyond the three Vedas.
91.
For the purpose of water ablution, I departed from the city then.
92.
Surrounded by a thousand who eliminated the mental corruptions, the Conqueror entered the city.
93.
Surrounded by Worthy Ones, having seen, I gladdened my mind.
94.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I gave a cloak.
95.
As far as the Buddha's assembly extended, so far the cloth covered.
96.
Making a covering, he stood, gladdening me then.
97.
The Teacher, standing right in the street, gave me thanksgiving.
98.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
99.
Fifty times as lord of the gods, he will exercise divine kingship.
100.
All around for a hundred yojanas, there will be a canopy of cloth.
101.
Principality over a district, extensive, incalculable by counting.
102.
All that is wished for by mind, will arise at that very moment.
103.
And costly cloths, a man obtains.
104.
The result of one cloth, he will experience always.
105.
Will realise the Teaching of the Blessed One Gotama.'
106.
Having given a cloth for one day, I have attained the Deathless state.
107.
He holds a cloth canopy, all around from a fathom of me.
108.
An obtainer of food and drink, this is the fruit of the upper robe.
109.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of giving cloth.
110.
Thus the Venerable Elder Uttareyyadāyaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the elder Uttareyyadāyaka is the eighth.
9.
The Life History of the Elder Dhammasavaniya
111.
Making known the four truths, he helped many people cross over.
112.
Shaking off my bark garments, I then go into the sky.
113.
Like a bird having struck against a rock, I do not obtain passage.
114.
As if having emerged from water, thus I go into the sky.
115.
Well then, I shall seek him, perhaps I might obtain benefit."
116.
While he was speaking of impermanence, that I learned then.
117.
Having lived there for my whole life span, there I deceased.
118.
By that well-done action, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
119.
And fifty-one times, I exercised divine kingship.
120.
Principality over a district, extensive, incalculable by counting.
121.
Explaining in verse, spoke of impermanence.
122.
I do not penetrate the end, Nibbāna, the imperishable state.
123.
Having arisen, they cease; their appeasement is blissful.
124.
Having sat down on one seat, I attained arahantship.
125.
The Buddha, the one with vision, gave me full ordination, having understood my virtues.
126.
What is to be done by me today, in the Sakyan son's Dispensation?
127.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of hearing the Good Teaching.
128.
Thus the Venerable Elder Dhammasavaniya spoke these verses.
The life history of the elder Dhammasavaniya is the ninth.
10.
The Life History of the Elder Ukkhittapadumiya
129.
Having plunged into the lotus pond, I gathered a hundred-petalled lotus.
130.
Together with a hundred thousand, with peaceful minds, such ones.
131.
Investigating my growth, he came to my presence.
132.
Having cut a lotus at the stalk, I raised it in the sky then.
133.
Having gone by themselves, let the lotuses rest upon your head."
134.
By the Buddha's power, they bore them on their heads.
135.
On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.
136.
Sixty yojanas in height, thirty yojanas in width.
137.
And seventy-five times I was a universal monarch.
138.
I experience my own action, well done by myself in the past.
139.
I realised the Teaching of the Blessed One Gotama.
140.
Like an elephant having cut the bond, I dwell without mental corruptions.
141.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of a single lotus.
142.
Thus the Venerable Elder Ukkhittapadumiya spoke these verses.
The life history of the elder Ukkhittapadumiya is the tenth.
The Gandhodaka chapter is the thirty-fourth.
Its summary:
Phusita and Pabhaṅkara, Kuṭidāyaka, Uttarīyaka.
One hundred and forty-four.
