5.
The Chapter on Upāli
1.
The Life History of the Elder Bhāgineyyupāli
1.
Engaged in seclusion, he goes to be in seclusion.
2.
Surrounded by the community of monks, I saw the leader of the world.
3.
Having paid respect to the self-enlightened, I praised the leader of the world.
4.
All birds such as crows and so on, always moving through the sky.
5.
All these are within your knowledge, plunged inside.
6.
All those do not equal even a fraction of your morality.
7.
When your knowledge is shining, the darkness is destroyed.
8.
So when a Buddha has not arisen, the world is gone to darkness.
9.
Just so you, O best of Buddhas, always destroy darkness.
10.
By your accomplished work, you please many people.
11.
The wise one rose up into the sky, like a king of swans in the firmament.
12.
The Teacher, standing in the sky, spoke these verses.
13.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
14.
Three hundred times kingship on earth, he will inhabit the earth.
15.
Principality over a district, extensive, incalculable by counting.
16.
Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.
17.
Being as if low by birth, he will be named Upāli.
18.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, he will attain nibbāna, without mental corruptions.
19.
Will establish him in the foremost position for attainment in the Discipline.'
20.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, I dwell without mental corruptions.
21.
Satisfied by my own deeds, I dwell without mental corruptions.
22.
I uphold the whole monastic discipline, the consummate jewel-mine.
23.
Having sat down in the community of monks, established me in the foremost position.
24.
The six higher knowledges have been realized, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Upāli spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Bhāgineyyupāli is the first.
2.
The Life History of the Elder Soṇakoḷivisa
25.
Having made a coating with lime, I had a walking path built.
26.
Having made a canopy in space, I fed the highest Buddha.
27.
I dedicated the Dīghasāla to the Blessed One then.
28.
The Blessed One accepted, the one with vision, out of compassion.
29.
Having sat down in the community of monks, he spoke these verses.
30.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
31.
A chariot yoked with a thousand horses will appear at that very moment.
32.
The gods will give thanks when one of wholesome existence has arrived.
33.
Endowed with excellent pinnacle buildings, he will dwell in the divine mansion.
34.
For twenty-five cosmic cycles, he will be a king of gods.
35.
All of them named Yasodhara, all having the same name.
36.
In the twenty-eighth cosmic cycle, he will be a wheel-turning monarch.
37.
That place, secluded from the ten sounds, will dwell in the middle of the city.
38.
Okkāka by name, will be a king in the realm.
39.
A well-born woman of the warrior caste, she will give birth to nine sons.
40.
And a young, dear maiden will become the chief queen.
41.
Having obtained the boon, that maiden will cause her sons to go forth.
42.
All, fearing the mixing of birth, will dwell with their sisters.
43.
Lest our lineage be broken,' the warriors will bury her.
44.
There will be a schism then, of the Okkāka clan origin.
45.
There he will experience no small human wealth.
46.
There too he will obtain an excellent divine mansion, delightful.
47.
Having come to human existence, he will be named Soṇa.
48.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, he will attain nibbāna, without mental corruptions.
49.
The great hero, knower of distinctions, will establish him in the highest state.'
50.
Having stood firm, for one devoted to exertion, such a one, beyond that the highest state is not found.
51.
All my burden has been laid down, I am quenched, without mental corruptions.
52.
Having sat down in the community of monks, established me in the foremost position.
53.
Thus the Venerable Elder Soṇa Koḷivisa spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Soṇakoḷivisa is the second.
3.
The Life History of the Elder Kāḷigodhāputtabhaddiya
54.
All the populace approaches, the foremost leader of the entire world.
55.
All give to the Teacher, in the unsurpassed field of merit.
56.
Having invited the foremost Buddha, and also the unsurpassed Community.
57.
And the whole community of monks, the unsurpassed field of merit.
58.
With a cotton-mattress and a woollen coverlet embroidered with flowers, with linen and cotton;
Very precious I prepared, a seat fit for a Buddha.
59.
Surrounded by the community of monks, came to my door.
60.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I bowed down to the home of the Community.
61.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I satisfied them with the finest food.
62.
Having sat down in the community of monks, he spoke these verses.
63.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
64.
He will experience success, honoured by the nymphs.
65.
And fifty-one times he will be a wheel-turning monarch.
66.
And he, having gone forth afterwards, urged on by wholesome root;
Bhaddiya by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.
67.
And all the fruition has been attained, today I have abandoned the mental defilements.
68.
Having sat down in the community of monks, established me in the foremost position.'
69.
Thus the Venerable Elder Bhaddiya the son of Kāḷigodhā spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Bhaddiya the son of Kāḷigodhā is the third.
4.
The Life History of the Elder Sanniṭṭhāpaka
70.
Content with gain and loss, with fame and disgrace.
71.
Came to my presence with a hundred thousand masters.
72.
Having prepared a grass mat, I gave it to the Teacher.
73.
Gave to one upright, with a clear mind.
74.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the gallnut.
75.
Endowed with the seven treasures, a wheel-turning monarch of great power.
76.
Thus the Venerable Elder Sanniṭṭhāpaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Sanniṭṭhāpaka is the fourth.
5.
The Life History of the Elder Pañcahatthiya
77.
With eyes downcast, speaking moderately, mindful, with controlled faculties.
78.
With those I venerated the Buddha, devoted, with my own hands.
79.
They honoured the great elephant, as pupils their teacher.
80.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
81.
Hatthiya by name, wheel-turning monarchs of great power.
82.
Thus the Venerable Elder Pañcahatthiya spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Pañcahatthiya is the fifth.
6.
The Life History of the Elder Padumacchadaniya
83.
Having taken a fully blossomed lotus, I placed it on the funeral pyre.
84.
Having made a covering in space, he held it over the funeral pyre.
85.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of honouring the Buddha.
86.
Ruler of the four quarters, victorious, a wheel-turning monarch of great power.
87.
Thus the Venerable Elder Padumacchadaniya spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Padumacchadaniya is the sixth.
7.
The Life History of the Elder Sayanadāyaka
88.
The finest bed was given by me, spread over with cloth goods.
89.
Having risen from that bed, the Conqueror rose up into the sky.
90.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the bed.
91.
Endowed with the seven treasures, a wheel-turning monarch of great power.
92.
Thus the Venerable Elder Sayanadāyaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Sayanadāyaka is the seventh.
8.
The Life History of the Elder Caṅkamanadāyaka
93.
Having piled up bricks, I had a walking path built.
94.
A hundred cubits in length, to be cultivated, delightful.
95.
Having taken the sand with his hand, he spoke these verses.
96.
He will experience a sandy bank endowed with the seven jewels.
97.
He will experience success, honoured by the nymphs.
98.
Thrice he will be a wheel-turning monarch upon the earth.'
99.
I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of the walking path.
100.
Thus the Venerable Elder Caṅkamanadāyaka spoke these verses.
The life history of the Elder Caṅkamanadāyaka is the eighth.
9.
The Life History of the Elder Subhadda
101.
Having lifted up the populace, the one of great fame is extinguished.
102.
The crowd of people was great, the gods gathered together then.
103.
Joyful, with a joyful mind, I placed the highest among men.
104.
The Fully Self-Enlightened One, while lying down, spoke these verses.
105.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
106.
Having exercised kingship there, he will go to the Nimmāna realm.
107.
Satisfied by his own deeds, he will experience success.
108.
Having fallen away from that class of beings, he will go to human existence.
109.
Having awakened many beings, the one with vision will attain final Nibbāna.
110.
Having approached the self-enlightened, will ask a question then.
111.
Having fully understood meritorious action, will reveal the truths.
112.
Having paid respect to the Teacher, he will ask for the going forth.
113.
That Buddha, skilled in the highest path, will give him the going forth.
114.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, he will attain nibbāna, without mental corruptions.'
The fifth recitation section.
115.
A legitimate son of the Buddha, I am born of the Teaching, well created.
116.
And speaking my question, he led me to the stream of the Teaching.
117.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, I dwell without mental corruptions.
118.
He attained Nibbāna without clinging, like a lamp with the elimination of oil.
119.
There I venerated a flag, entirely auspicious and delightful.
120.
He was my legitimate son, an heir in the Conqueror's Dispensation.
121.
By the result of that action, afterwards there was good fortune for me.
122.
The great hero gave me the going forth, beneficial, compassionate, the Conqueror.
123.
Today itself is the final nibbāna, in the presence of the highest of two-footed beings.
124.
Thus the Venerable Elder Subhadda spoke these verses.
The Life History of the Elder Subhadda is the ninth.
10.
The Life History of the Elder Cunda
125.
Having had an oblation post made, I covered it with jasmine flowers.
126.
Having held up the remaining flowers, I placed them upon the Buddha.
127.
With a confident mind, glad at heart, I offered a flower oblation.
128.
Having sat down in the community of monks, he spoke these verses.
129.
Him I will explain, listen to me as I speak.
130.
Surrounded by jasmine flowers, will go to the heavenly world.
131.
A divine mansion will appear, brought forth by meritorious deeds.
132.
He will experience success, honoured by the nymphs.
133.
And seventy-five times, he will be a universal monarch.
134.
Having experienced that merit, dependent on his own action.
135.
Unwrought gold accumulated for him, not less than a hundred million.
136.
The wise son of Vaṅganta, the dear legitimate son of Sārī.
137.
Cūḷacunda by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.
138.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, he will attain nibbāna, without mental corruptions.'
139.
I also attended on my brother, for the attainment of the highest goal.
140.
I offered it to the self-enlightened, the elder of the world, the lord of men.
141.
Displaying that relic, praised the chief disciple.
142.
Having fully understood all mental corruptions, I dwell without mental corruptions.
143.
The six higher knowledges have been realized, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
Thus the Venerable Elder Cunda spoke these verses.
The Life History of the Elder Cunda is the tenth.
The Chapter on Upāli is the fifth.
Its summary:
Roof, sleeping place and walking path, Subhadda, and the one named Cunda;
One hundred and forty verses, and four beyond that.