A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

Walking about for leg exercise, I came to the monastery of the Community.

He praised the excellent disciple among those of sweet voice.

Having paid homage at the Teacher's feet, I aspired for that state.

'In the future time, you will obtain that wish.

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Bhaddiya by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

Difficult to approach, difficult to overcome, the Conqueror, highest in all the world.

Seeking the welfare of all beings, he freed many from bondage.

Near the perfumed chamber, in a mango tree I dwelt.

Having gladdened my mind, I chirped with a sweet sound.

Having taken a lump of mangoes, I offered it to the Enlightened by himself.

The Leader took up the bowl from the attendant's hand.

Having put it in the bowl with my wings, having made a salutation charmingly.

Singing for the purpose of honouring the Buddha, having gone to my nest, I lay down.

A hawk, having approached, killed me, with a corrupted mind.

I came to the human realm, owing to that action.

Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers arose.

Having trained those accessible to instruction, he, together with his disciples, attained final Nibbāna.

For the purpose of venerating the Buddha, they make a monument to the Teacher.

We shall make for the great sage,' thus they consult.

Having been, I spoke the measure at the shrine of the immeasurable one.

For the hero among men, adorned with various jewels.

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

In the excellent city of Sāvatthī, prosperous, opulent, of great riches.

Having gone forth, not long after, I attained arahantship.

I was born with a dwarfish body, worthy of contempt.

I attained pre-eminence among monks of sweet voice.

Accomplished in the fruit of asceticism, I dwell without mental corruptions.

Like an elephant having cut the bond, I dwell without mental corruptions.

The three true knowledges have been attained, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled.

The six higher knowledges have been realised, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

With a gait like an elephant's stride, with radiance like the moon, sun, and so on.

The greatly compassionate protector, the dispeller of great darkness.

Expounded the Teaching, the removal of much that is tractable.

Praising in the assembly, the Conqueror pleased the populace.

Having heard the Teaching, joyful, I aspired for that state.

'Be joyful, Brahmā, you will obtain that wish.

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Revata by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

In a family of the warrior caste, prosperous, opulent, of great riches.

Then devoted to the Fortunate One, I went forth into homelessness.

All that the Buddha removed, having expounded the highest teaching.

I was dwelling when the Buddha, having seen me, said this.

Those who are meditators abandon all of them, ardent, living the holy life.'

Well released like the speed of an arrow, I burnt up my defilements.

The great wise man declares him foremost among meditator monks.

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

His excellent knowledge is incalculable, and his liberation is incomparable.

Crowded with ascetics and brahmins, the Leader expounded the Teaching.

He established me in the foremost position, confident in the assemblies.

Having heard that word of the Conqueror, the many virtues of the disciple.

Having given a great gift, I aspired for that state.

The hero spoke these words with a great voice.

Gods, titans, and gandhabbas, and Brahmās of great supernormal power.'

'Homage to you, thoroughbred among men, homage to you, highest of men.

Wishing to hear its fruit, explain it, O great sage.'

Established in the immeasurable Buddha, together with the Community.

Even if one of great wealth aspires to the highest state.

May I also become thus', you will obtain that in the future.

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Sīvali by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

On discarding the human body, I went to the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.

Arose, lovely to behold, one with insight into all phenomena.

Beloved and trusted indeed, I was engaged in work.

Made a food distribution, great and very famous.

Fresh curds and honey too, selecting they did not see.

I went to the employer's house, those seeking me saw me.

Then I thought thus, 'This will not be a trivial matter.

I too shall make an offering to the leader of the world together with the Community.'

Having mixed, I gave to the Protector of the World, together with the monastic community.

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

Angered at Sattuka then, I caused the blocking of the doors.

Then by the result of that, I fell into hell exceedingly.

And Suppavāsā was my mother, Mahāli the Licchavi was my father.

For seven years I dwelt, afflicted in my mother's womb.

My mother, by giving her consent, was thus greatly distressed.

On the very day of departure, I went forth into homelessness.

While shaving my hair, the great wise man instructed me.

Gods, serpents, and humans bring requisites to me.

Whom I worshipped greatly delighted, with requisites distinctively.

I obtain material gain everywhere, in the forest, in the village, in the water, on dry ground.

Together with thirty thousand monks, the chief leader of the world.

The great hero, together with the Community, the leader of the world.

Then having gone to Jeta's Grove, he established me in the foremost position.

The Teacher, beneficial to the whole world, praised me in the assemblies.

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

Thus his Scriptures, adorned by Worthy Ones.

The supreme conqueror, amidst the people crowded with ascetics and brahmins.

With his words awakening the lotuses of those to be guided, he.

Having abandoned fear and impurity, having attained security, self-confident.

The chief of the world acknowledges, there is no accuser anywhere.

Neither god nor man nor Brahmā, no one who speaks against is found.

He sets in motion the wheel of the Teaching, confident in the assemblies.

Having praised his many virtues, he established him in the foremost position.

Born skilled in all the Vedas, Vāgīsa, subduer of debaters.

I obtained excellent joy, delighting in the virtues of the disciple.

Having fed them for seven days, I then covered them with cloth.

Standing to one side, joyful, I praised the supreme conqueror.

Homage to you, highest in all the world, homage to you, giver of fearlessness.

Homage to you, giver of peaceful happiness, homage to you, maker of refuge.

Resting ground for the peaceful, refuge for those seeking refuge.'

I said, 'I attain the destination of a monk who subdues disputants.'

'He who fed the Buddha for seven days together with his disciples.

This one aspires to the state of a monk who subdues disputants.

Having experienced not a little success among gods and humans.

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Vaṅgīsa by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

With requisites I attended on, with a mind of friendliness, the Truth-finder.

On discarding the human body, I went to Tusita.

When I was reborn, seven years old by birth.

Lord of debaters, a brilliant speaker, crusher of opponents' views.

Vaṅgīsa, thus my name, became acknowledged by the world.

Then in charming Rājagaha, I saw the great Sāriputta.

With eyes not wandering about, speaking moderately, looking only a yoke's length ahead.

A variegated line of a stanza, like an accumulated kaṇikāra tree.

Then that wise hero spoke further to me.

I was pleased by him, such a one, with variegated discernment.

Then he, the one of great wisdom, brought me to the foremost Buddha.

The foremost of speakers said to me, "Vaṅgīsa, do you know?

A dead head thrown away in the forest, even twelve years old;

Among those reborn in hell, among humans, among gods, I taught.

Thereupon I, with effort destroyed, requested the going forth at the right time.

Therefore monks here grumble at me, 'You are a poet.'

These rationalist verses, with reason they come to your mind.

Well then, now Vaṅgīsa, on the spot make acquaintance with me.

Satisfied with me with reason and cause, the Conqueror established me in the foremost position.

Agitated by that towards the well-behaved, I attained arahantship.

As this monk Vaṅgīsa, thus remember, monks.'

Well released like the speed of an arrow, I burnt up my defilements.

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

For the benefit of those including the gods, the remarkable man is practicing.

Venerated by the whole world, renowned in all directions.

With mind and thought perfected, he has attained the highest enlightenment.

And the undeclared he declared, and the unproduced he produced.

The Teacher skilled in the path, the most excellent among charioteers.

He lifts up living beings sunk in the mire of sensual pleasure.

Praising him in this foremost position, the great sage declared.

Having fed him together with the Community, I aspired to the highest state.

'May you be happy, long-lived, you will obtain that wish.

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Nandaka by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

On discarding the human body, I went to the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.

In the excellent city of Sāvatthī, prosperous, opulent, of great riches.

At the acceptance of Jeta's park, I went forth into homelessness.

Then I, one who has crossed over the round of rebirths, instructed by the All-Seeing One.

All of them were instructed by me, they became without mental corruptions.

Established me in the foremost position among those who exhort the nuns.

Well released like the speed of an arrow, I burnt up my defilements.

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

Grateful and thankful, he yokes living beings to the ford.

He teaches the excellent Teaching, the accumulation of infinite virtues.

He teaches the sweet Teaching, endowed with the four truths.

There was the full realisation of the teaching for a hundred thousand living beings.

Gods, brahmās, humans and titans uttered applause.

Oh, the Conqueror lifted up those sunk in the ocean of existence."

The Conqueror praised the disciple foremost among those who inspire confidence in families.

Pleasing, handsome, with abundant wealth and grain.

Having heard the sweet Teaching, and having made an offering to such a one.

'The foremost among those who inspire confidence in families, who was praised by you, O sage.

Then the greatly compassionate one, sprinkling me as if with the deathless.

How indeed could one who has done service to the Conqueror be without fruit?'

Gotama by name, by clan, the Teacher in the world will be.

Udāyī by name, will be a disciple of the Teacher.'

With a mind of friendliness I tended, with requisites, the Guide.

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

I was born in a chief minister's family, of King Suddhodana.

For the welfare of the whole world, for happiness, the lord of men.

Dear, a friend, beloved, accomplished, skilled in guidance.

Having spent six years, he became the Buddha, the great leader.

Having crossed the ocean of existence, he became the Buddha in the world with its gods.

From there the Blessed One trained, having gone here and there.

Having approached the mountain in Magadha, the Conqueror then dwelt there.

Having gone and seen the one of ten powers, having gone forth I became a Worthy One.

Having gone to the city before that, I gladdened the great family.

Declared me foremost among those who inspire confidence in families, the great leader.

A hundred thousand cosmic cycles ago from now, the Leader arose.

Some he established in morality, in the highest ten courses of action.

Likewise the eight attainments, the three true knowledges he bestows.

That protector gives to someone the four analytical knowledges.

Having approached in a moment, the trainer of men trains them.

One gone beyond all the Vedas, esteemed in grammar.

Learned in verse, knowing the rituals, skilled in the analysis of metre.

I saw the excellent giver of boons, honoured by the multitude.

Having approached his good, having heard the spotless, I.

I did not see in that sage, therefore I went forth.

Subtle in the word of the Buddha, I was esteemed as one possessed of good qualities.

Having praised the chief of the three worlds, I will teach day by day.

Out of compassion you did not attain Nibbāna, therefore the sage is compassionate.

Fully aware, endowed with mindfulness, therefore this one is inconceivable.

Burnt all around by the fire of knowledge, they were not exhausted - that is wonderful.

So too he is the teacher of the world, the world is his follower.

Having done so for as long as life, he went to heaven, having passed away from there.

I do not know of an unfortunate realm, this is the fruit of praising.

A universal monarch's great kingdom, I experienced many times.

I know no other destination, this is the fruit of praising.

I am not born in a low family, this is the fruit of praising.

I am the son of King Bimbisāra, Abhaya by name.

Sent by Nāṭaputta, I approached the Buddha, the foremost one.

Having gone forth, not long after, I attained arahantship.

With a fragrant body and face, I was endowed with happiness.

And of varied discernment, owing to that action.

Did not go to the plane of misery for a hundred thousand cosmic cycles by the power of that.

Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers arose.

Having fulfilled the teaching limited with the end of life, in the Dispensation.

There with divine dancing, singing, and music.

Having lived for my whole life span, having experienced great happiness.

I was born in Kapilavatthu, a son of the Sākiyans.

Having compassion for the Sakyans, he approached the city called Kapila.

Do not bow down to the Enlightened by himself, proud of birth, disrespectful.

He rained like the Rain-God, he blazed like fire.

Having been one, he became many, and again became one.

Having performed a miracle, the sage trained his relatives.

For at that time the Buddha taught the Vessantara birth story.

Went to the Buddha for refuge, Suddhodana then said.

When you were born the earth quaked, and when the rose-apple tree's shade did not leave you.'

Having gone forth right there, I dwelt as one who venerated my mother.

About the auspicious night then, the method in brief and in detail.

Having heard the Bhaddekaratta, agitated, I went to the forest.

My mother, saying 'You are delicate', prevented that word then.

I shall push aside with my chest, developing seclusion.

The exhortation on 'One Auspicious Night', I attained arahantship.

What is past has been abandoned, and the future has not yet arrived.

Unshakable, unagitated, knowing that, one should develop it.

For there is no bargaining with that one, Death with his great army.

That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."

Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers arose.

Having lived the holy life for as long as life, passed away from there.

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

Accomplished in virtues, a monk always delighting in meditative absorption dwells.

Equanimous, the great hero, skilled in the boundless states.

I was confident before long, in that disciple of the Fortunate One.

Sometimes he gives food, and sometimes he expounded the Teaching.

Passing away from there, he went to heaven, like a sojourner to his own home.

Having abandoned the house, I went forth repeatedly.

Having been so, I dwelt in the forest, for many hundreds of lives.

Vacchagotta the twice-born, into his wife I descended.

When the time of birth was near, the determination was for dwelling in the forest.

As I was coming forth from the womb, she received me with an ochre robe.

I was his dear friend, intimate and highly esteemed.

I too, having gone forth, approached the Himalayas.

Having seen and heard of the arising of the Conqueror, I approached the trainer of men.

Then I, having gone forth, returned again to the forest.

Oh, well-gained is my gain, shown compassion by a good friend.

Kassapa by clan, the best of speakers arose.

Surrounded by a fathom-wide radiance, covered with a net of rays.

An extinguisher like a cloud, a mine of virtues like the ocean.

Like space in wisdom, unattached like the wind.

With abundant wealth and grain, with an accumulation of various jewels.

Having approached, I heard the teaching, charming like the Deathless.

Endowed with the features, like a king of sal trees in full bloom.

Surrounded by a fathom's radiance, the hundred-rayed sun.

With a heart full of compassion, like the ocean in virtue.

The hero, spread wide in glory, the sage, like space.

The support of all beings, like the earth, the seventh sage.

Burning where bad doctrines go, you shine like a mass of fire.

Like Mount Gandhamādana, adorned with the fragrance of virtues.

Like a river for the forest groves, a remover of the stain of defilements.

Like a universal monarch, that king, lord of the jewel of the factors of enlightenment.

A surgeon like a doctor, one who lances the boil of wrong view.

The sun among men in the assemblies, the Conqueror expounded the Teaching.

And by meditation one is extinguished, thus you should instruct."

All the assemblies hear it, like the Deathless of great flavour.

Having gone for refuge to the Fortunate One, for as long as life I paid homage.

With the four kinds of perfume, for eight days in a month.

Then the Conqueror explained, the obtaining of a fragrant body.

By the result of that action, he was reborn here and there.

Having become endowed with the fragrance of virtue, he will attain nibbāna, without mental corruptions.'

On discarding the human body, I went to Tāvatiṃsa.

While I was dwelling in the womb, my mother was fragrant in body.

Seemed to blow as if perfumed with all the fragrances of Sāvatthī.

And very costly incenses, blew towards at that very moment.

They perfumed with fragrance, in which house I was born.

Then the trainer of men, having trained Sela together with his following.

Then, having seen that majestic power of the Buddha, I went forth.

Having developed these four qualities, I attained the elimination of mental corruptions.

When I shall attain nibbāna, at that time there was the odour of the rains retreat.

Likewise other odours altogether, having overcome by force, I blow from there here and there.