211. Hatthidāyaka

Tha-ap 213

Small tide pools reflect the sky among weathered coastal stones.

Walt 2319 I gifted a fine elephant,
with tusks like plough-poles, fully grown,
to Siddhattha, the Blessed One,
Lord of Bipeds, the Neutral One. Verse 1

Walt 2320 I grasp the ultimate meaning,
the unsurpassed pathway to peace.
I gave a very costly gift
to the Well-Wisher of All Worlds. Verse 2

Walt 2321 In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave him that gift at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of giving elephants. Verse 3

Walt 2322 In the seventy-eighth aeon
there were sixteen of royal caste,
named Samantapāsādika,
wheel-turning monarchs with great strength. Verse 4

Walt 2323 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 5

Thus indeed Venerable Hatthidāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Hatthidāyaka Thera is finished.

Connections

Collection & context

TherāpadānaThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

About this edition

Translation by Jonathan S. Walters · SuttaCentral · CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US

Noncommercial reuse with attribution and the same license. Original publication and digitization credits are preserved below.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.